Bad reaction to hair dye skin test

[ILoveLeedsMoreThanLeads]

I've been having my hair dyed at various salons without any issue for about 30 years. I went in to a salon I've been to many times before yesterday morning for my skin test before my colour being done tomorrow... and it's left me with a badly burnt, scabby, raised and sore mark behind my ear. It did feel quite stingy when it was applied but I thought nothing of it at the time as I've always been fine before. I went back into the salon this morning and they said they'd never actually seen that happen before. Obviously I cancelled my apt and they said to come back in a week to try a skin test of a different type of dye. Has anyone else had this happen out of the blue after always being ok before? What could cause it?

Yes I’ve heard that those who have had covid and even after the vaccine need to be patch tested and no colour applied for 14 days after range vaccine, at least that’s what the salons near me are saying

@dontgobaconmyheart

I'm surprised they didn't insist on a patch test to be honest, unless you've been and had a colour recently.

The guidelines have changed since covid. Having had covid 19 can affect the way people respond to allergens in hair dye, H&S policies have been altered to reflect this. Anyone who hasn't had a dye applied within 6 months, or using dyes at home needs a patch test before salon colour and certain other treatments. Not participating in this would invalidate their insurance policy.

Obviously no need to divulge any health info OP but if you may have had covid (whether you knew or not) then that could explain why it's happened.

It was a patch test the op had.....

I had this with gel nails. Had them done no weekly for years then out of the blue itching, escalating to skin peeling and nerve pain.
Awful. Just can’t go near it anymore.

I had the same with at home dyes. Switched to semi permanent and they were ok for a while but now they all make me react. Henna is ok though.