Newly allergic to hair colour, after 25 years!

[overthinkersanonnymus]

I'm devastated.

The last two times I've had my hair done, I've come out with a rash. First time on the back of my neck, which was like little itchy spots and the second time, my face got what I can only describe as small lines of puffy, red skin.

The strangest thing is though, it takes about 48 hours to start developing.

What can I do! Is taking an antihistamine enough? I'm terrified I'm going to get a chemical burn from the reaction after googling and seeing a poor woman scarred for life after a reaction.

The same thing has started to me too ! My hairdresser told me that she is seeing it more and more in woman aged 40 plus . Im still getting my hair dyed, my scalp is incredibly itchy and sore now but I feel im not ready to go grey yet . I met two ladies recently with grey hair in their early 40's both told me that they also developed reactions to hair dye after years of no issues at all

Another one chiming in here. You want to stop now before you get a full blown reaction.
Mine started with just a bit itchy, then a bit sore/spotty... then massive burning.
My hair has been all natural for 6 years now as a result. I recently considered highlights instead but have chickened out for now!

You can dye hair but you have to have it with foils so it's near to root/scalp but doesn't completely touch scalp.

Might not be true but hairdresser told my mum it's said to be a side effect of the covid vaccine. Not sure if I would agree to that rumour though...

Happened to me peri menopause and my hair was falling out. Had a bit of balayage then COVID lockdowns started so I gave up completely. Thank goodness the hair grew back. I'd rather have thick grey hair to be honest.

I can use purple shampoo, touch wood

I never expected to get my mind blown clicking on this thread but me too! For the last two times I've been to my hairdresser (of 15 years) for color, I have ended up with a rash in random parts of my body and I didn't even connect the dots until now. I'm 50 and not grey at all but I would be so sad if I have to go to mousy blonde. I'd rather have my Mum's startling white!

In case anybody else finds this useful: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/allergy-to-paraphenylenediamine
At the bottom it gives you list of other similar chemicals to avoid. Also note the mention of local anaetheics. I always show it to anaesthetist prior to surgery now. They do take note and usually put an allergy ID tag on me.

@scotmam925 the hairdresser mentioned the Covid connection to me to, not about vaccine but that after people have had Covid there has been more people developing allergies. It could be true as we don’t know exactly how Covid affects the immune system, however I know personally that I became much more sensitive to skin care products etc too during and after peri/menopause I can’t even use moisturisers that contain natural essential oils anymore.

You’re right bleach doesn’t contain PPD/PTD but if you use a toner on your hair it could contain this, just for other peoples information to patch test toner. I usually had my hair dyed dark about a level 4 but I even reacted to a very pale blonde hair dye (level 12) this was Wella Koleston permanent shade 12/1 so I’m guessing this has some small amount of PPD/PTD in it to tone it as it’s a cool blonde shade. It is also possible to get dermatitis type reaction to Resorcinol which is widely used in hair dye , this isn’t usually associated with the severe anaphylactic reactions linked to PPD etc but it would be difficult to know if a colour has PTD/PPD and Resorcinol together.

This is a product I’ve used previously but I only have about 15 to 20 percent grey and this blends it in. I’m in my late 50s if it was all grey I would leave it but I hate my natural colour as it’s very ashy and quite dark for me now at my age. https://www.tintsofnature.com/shop/semi-permanent-henna-cream-colours/dark-brown/?_gl=11shlnjo_gaOTQ3Mzc5NDU5LjE3MTA1ODExMTg._ga_LNWLZM96D9*MTcxMDU4MTExNy4xLjAuMTcxMDU4MTExNy42MC4wLjA.
I have also used Patrice Mullatto color one “permanent” hair dye I would say this is more of a Demi as it fades and grey hair comes out a shade lighter than what is on the box. It doesn’t contain PPD/PTD resorcinol ammonia or peroxide and due to this I find that the greys show through after a bit but it’s worth a try if you can’t use anything else. Even my non grey hair is generally resistant to dye anyway so someone else might get a better result.

Toner does contain ppd though so be careful with that. Sadly there are not much you can use if your truly allergic.

Another one who’s severely allergic to hair dye. I have been since a teenager (thank you dodgy ‘henna tattoo’ in Turkey circa 1997!) - think chemical burns, weeping scalp, swollen lips, face, neck and eyelids. It’s always required a hospital visit for IV steroids. An antihistamine wouldn’t have touched the sides.

Once we worked out what it was (it was the late 90s and the internet wasn’t much of a thing remember) I accepted my fate. I’ve never bothered with henna as it looks a faff and shit colours, I’ve just had highlights over the years and I was happy when balayage became popular but otherwise not bothered.

@667TheNeighbourOfTheBeast
Thanks for that, fingers crossed I've been okay with bleach, I don't do it myself though I go to a hairdresser (also I'm good with purple shampoo)
My hairdresser told me that lots of people are now allergic to PPD since covid. A doctor also told me that once you've had an allergic reaction your body sometimes becomes allergic to other chemicals that it wasn't before.
My reaction to hair dye took 3 days to come out (so a patch test would have been pointless anyway?) But the patch test I has behind my ear for eyebrow tint swelled up like a marble within 5 minutes.

Just to add that a PPD allergy tends to be progressive, so it will get worse each time it happens. It’s not worth the risk imo.

I tried this method before but even the briefest contact when rinsing it out was enough to induce a huge reaction.

Same here. Started with a few itchy blisters then progressed to full on swelling of head and weeping sores! Very scary. I’ve used Reflex semi permanent since from Holland and Barrett which just about keeps on top of it. Need to use it fairly often though.

This happened to me. Ended up with an anaphylactic reaction and hospital. My face looked like a balloon, eyes swollen almost shut, burns on scalp and ears. This was from a product I used for 20 years plus. Have tested many since and always have a reaction. Decided to let my silver go. I'm older than you and it was actually a lovely bright steel colour. Then I came across a product called Laganza. Available on Amazon in lots of colours. It's a colouring conditioner. Had no reaction at all. I have to do it regularly. Approx every two week and I leave it in for an hour or two but it completely covers my grey and works very well. I used the Bitter Chocolate colour and have it on subscription now! Worth a go?

Be really really careful because the allergy can suddenly become dangerous (hospital told me this) and warned me not to ever try again because the next one could kill me. Please be really careful.

I get dyeing your hair for fun, and I get that we live in a society that values the appearance of youth. But this is a great example of why we need to stop seeing grey hair as bad/horrible/unflattering. It's not worth risking your health and your life to pretend you don't have it.

Has anyone tried US brand Overtone for darker hair ? They do a range of colours not just for brown hair, but would be quite expensive as it’s shipped from USA. Also I have heard people on here mention this shampoo for grey hair that it covers grey and makes it look light brown/blonde, I’ve not used this personally but if you search it on mumsnet some people have posted photos
https://www.amazon.co.uk/plantur-39-phyto-caffeine-shampoo/dp/B07Y8JHT6R/ref=asc_df_B07Y8JHT6R/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463004977152&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7750141566455281536&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045696&hvtargid=pla-975631748065&psc=1&mcid=21715be586203792b6b43795477a32c3
I have tried John Frieda defy grey shampoo but you are supposed to use this with the conditioner as well to get the best effect which I didn’t as my hair is greasy at the roots I don’t apply conditioner to that area. It has good reviews on Boots etc. it does contain silicone though and that put me off, it doesn’t feel like my hair is clean enough with silicone shampoo but lots of people have no problem with it. I have also tried Naturevital hair masks and this does add some highlights etc I used chestnut this was too warm for me and the only other brunette one they had was black, this comes in blonde I think as well and may work to give grey some colour if you used regularly. It was very pigmented and I did notice the difference on my non grey hair after only leaving it for a few minutes. Please note though they do a permanent hair dye that they say is allergy safe but it does contain PTD, people are less likely to react to PTD but if you already have a PPD allergy they are very closely related and proceed with caution.

@TheFormidableMrsC thank you for that, I’ve seen the Leganza stuff how dark is bitter chocolate and is it a cool or warm brunette?

Could you try the semi permanent coloured conditioners? There is a few different ones on amazon and so many colours

Hav you tried the spray on root touch up colour? In the interim

It is very dark. I can just about get away with it as my eyebrows are a very dark brown. There are some lighter ashier ones but I didn't find coverage as good. I'd say they have a cool undertone. I do leave it in a lot longer than the instructions say because I want the coverage. I also don't wash my hair more than 2/3 times a week which helps preserve the colour.

@TheFormidableMrsC Thank you for that. It’s worth a try I guess the problem is I hate my natural colour it’s very ashy and it’s flat with no shine. I’ve got very dark almost black eyebrows too these have always been darker than my hair which is about a level 5. My daughter says it suits me darker but I’m really aware of going too dark at my age and looking like the oldest goth in town! My mum had beautiful silver grey hair from age 40 but I’ve not got her hair genes otherwise I would leave it as think it can look stunning.