Will they be able to do anything to my hair?

[lovelylondonsky]

Have an appt tomorrow, was supposed to be having a full head of highlights (foils). Shamefully it's been over a year since I last had my hair done, so it's currently several inches of mousy brown with blonde ends. It really needs doing.

Had a patch test done at the salon Friday morning as it's been so long since my last appt. When I washed it off yesterday morning, there was a bit of irritation - not an allergic reaction but a sore patch.

I'm guessing they won't be able to colour my hair now? It's so frustrating as I've had my hair highlighted numerous times over the years and have never had any reaction to a test or the actual colour. I'm very ignorant of hair techniques - is there an alternative to foils that could be safely used?

Well fouls don't let the dye actually touch your skin do they? So hopefully it should be ok unless the irritation gets worse?

That's what I was thinking, but I suppose there would be some contact when they wash it off and I usually need a toner afterwards

Balayage?

Obviously follow the individual instructions given by your salon - however my salon told me that a bit of redness/soreness is fine, but to watch out for anything more serious and to let them know immediately, so you might still be okay to get the highlights if it’s truly quite mild of a reaction.

Have you been to this salon before/have you had the same brand of colourants on your hair in the past?

I've had my hair highlighted there twice before but not sure if they're still using the same dyes or not.

I have so much regrowth it kind of looks like balayage already fortunately the tone of my natural hair is ok against the blonde. But I want my roots doing.

I am not medical expert but can you take an antihistamine on the day of the appointment?

I get some sensitivity when having highlights, not a full allergic reaction but mild irritation and take an antihistamine afterwards.

Update - they couldn't colour my hair. Even with foils not touching the scalp they were concerned about if they needed to use a toner.

I had it cut and before I left they did a patch test on the other side with a lighter colour and it started burning straight away!

They've changed to loreal dyes since I last had it done there and obviously I'm sensitive. So frustrating as will need to find a new salon now.

That’s annoying! Do you know what brand they used to use? At least you’ll be able to ask a new salon in advance then

Yeah, goldwell apparently.

It's so annoying as this salon is attached to the local college, so because it's a teaching salon it's cheap even with the senior stylists. Plus it's a 5 min walk from home

Oh that is annoying.

I had to stop dyeing altogether as I developed a reaction to a dye that I'd been using for YEARS (especially irritating - pardon the pun - as I was at least 75% grey underneath). I was gutted at the time but now it feels so liberating not to be trapped by the dyeing regime any longer.

Presumably after a year, your hair must be a length where you could cut out the blonde, or most of it, and just have it natural?

It's really annoying for you but it's so good to see a salon taking it so seriously.

I like you, haven't had my highlights done at a salon for a year this month, I did put a few foils on the top myself, just before I went on holiday first week of june, but I can't do the underneath, I really want grow the bleach out and go natural, it's just I feel a bit drab after having highlights for around the last 35 years, my hair is boring mousey brown colour,