Going grey but allergic to hair dye! Help!

[sisterlover]

So I’m 36, I’m a naturally dark brown brunette however I am turning grey fast! My dilemma is I reacted very severely to having my hair dyed once which was a dark brown. I underwent test with the dermatologist which confirmed a severe allergic reaction to p-Phenylenediamine. Which is present in most permanent hair dyes.
I have tried henna type dyes which don’t give 100% coverage to my pesky greys.
At a recent visit to my salon for a cut and blow dry she suggested ‘baby lights’ using bleach and a toner to blend my greys. However I’m so undecided as I will have the contrast of my dark hair and the bleach and obviously my roots will grow through grey.
Four years ago I had a balayage done but I wasn’t as grey as I am now so I’m unsure of the outcome. Does anyone having suggestions as to the best options or a similar experience?
I really should just grey gracefully but I’m only 36 and I feel so embarrassed about this. I do sometimes use L’Oréal root spray but I find this makes my hair feel tacky and I use a lot all over my hair. Please any advice or tips welcome. Thank you so much. Added photos. Opinions welcome. 🤗

Check out Sali Hughes Instagram. She's allergic to dye but went down the bleach route and looks amazing with the grey.

When you say 'henna type dyes' have you tried pure henna? If you leave it on overnight, it will dye greys a reddish colour. Pure henna will always dye red, though, so it's no use if you don't want red tone highlights.

The balayage looks great on you; I don't see why you shouldn't have this done again.

Following as same situation, allergic to hair dye there is no way I would be embracing grey at 35 so following

Thank you I will have a look xxx

I’m thinking it’s my best option.. thank you! I was just worried as then I won’t be able to break it up if I get root touch up as I can’t have brown hair dye.. so will it be too blonde lol! I love being brunette but I look awful with greys! It makes me depressed actually.. I feel so like insecure around my partner.. I did let it grow out when I had the balayage so I guess I’m lucky my hair grows fast.. xx

what hair colour do you have? I hope you find something xx

My example is NOT a good one or one I would in any way recommend, but I just accept the allergic reaction.

I take an anti-histamine half an hour before dying my hair, try to be as careful as possible to not get the dye on my skin, use a brush to apply just before the root, and then tolerate a weeks worth of serious itching and taking anti-histamines.

I also accept the risk that one day I may have a more serious reaction than experienced previously and it could all go very wrong. This is mitigated by avoiding/reducing skin contact but it's not eliminated.

I've tried many many different hair dyes, there are several brands that are low or no ppd but I haven't found one where the colour takes well or lasts.

This is an example - www.gentlehairdye.com/colour/water-colour

If you can achieve your desired colour using just bleach and toner then you're more likely to be able to find something without PPDs that will work for you, but as soon as you need any colour pigments you start adding allergens. The only real exception to that is the temporary vivid colours like manic panic which are more akin to food colouring mixed with conditioner, no PPDs, no allergic reaction but also need to want a vivid unnatural colour and be willing to accept very frequent re-dying.

I use a mixture of camomile tea, red bush tea, turmeric and coffee to turn my greys blonde which tones in with my fair hair. I just make it up in a tea pot and saturate clean dry hair with it and leave it in. It stains the hair and lasts a least a couple of washes. I stain my hair like this once a week.

You could do with same with strong coffee to blend in your greys. 🙂

I'm dark brown, I don't want to go blonde because I'm mixed and don't think it would look good on me. I'm probably just going to do above and dye it anyway. I can't have grey hair I already feel a lot older than I am that's not going to happen so if it means dying it anyway so be it 😩

I became allergic to hair dye in my 40s.

Have since had no bother as I discovered the vegan hair dyes didn't have the same reaction. The other ones used to literally bubble and burn on my scalp!

It was my hairdresser who first switched me to vegan hair dye. During lockdown though, I found some online / in pharmacies.

If you do go grey, get the very best haircut you can, I have a friend who I thought dyed her hair a lovely silvery colour, always looks immaculate. I did stump up the courage to ask if she dyed hers as it's so even and nice, but she said no, went grey early 30s and can't be doing with the faff of dying. She's lucky in that her entire family (not her) are hairdressers so she gets it very regularly cut for free, which is why it looks intentionally dyed and cared for grey rather than unkept straggly bits of grey like mine!

This has happened to me recently as well. I'm 43 & pretty much 100% grey under the brown hair dye! I have had 2 allergic reactions now. The last one was like a chemical peel over my head, it was awful & so sore. It's taken months to calm it all down.

I have made the tough decision to go grey. I don't want to at all but for me it's not worth risking the same kind of reaction again - or potentially worse next time. I haven't come to terms with it yet though, I have about an inch of grey growth now and I hate it :(

Try a pod free dye, they are usually more subtle and you have to leave them longer so an hour instead of 30 mins for example. Skin test 48 hrs before and if there's no reaction you're safe to give it a go.

Sorry should say PPD not pod free