Salon Focus Magazine
Article date: 01/07/2010
Day of Reckoning Arrives
Trichocare Diagnostics was expected to submit a proposal for marketing authorisation of a new Colourstart generic skin allergy-testing product to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)at the end of last month. The MHRA originally said the home-testing kit was not a medical product but changed this view more than two years ago although the government agency did not object to the product’s continued presence on the market “subject to a confidential understanding between Trichocare and the agency” (SalonFocus, September-October 2008). SalonFocus understands the new Colourstart product submitted will have slightly more para-phenylenediamine (PPD) than that currently available so that it meets with the parameters the MHRA has set. The existing product will continue to be available until the authorisation process is complete which could see Colourstart approved for sale through pharmacies as well as continuing to be sold through salons.
The issue of skin testing continues to be highly controversial: the Good Salon Guide (GSG) has taken issue
with a survey by home hair colorant company Naturtint which said it had found a “frightening” number of salons were “clueless” about how to perform a skin allergy test.
Naturtint said all 115 salons surveyed were taken from Good Salon Guide (GSG), although GSG director
Gareth Penn disputed this. He said GSG checked whether the salons were GSG- recognised salons. “We were disappointed to learn that over 5 per cent of the salons contacted and used as part of Naturtint’s press
release supporting home hairdressing are not actually GSG salons….”
The findings claimed to show that 80 per cent of salons questioned were prepared to dye without performing a test and the researcher was able to book an appointment on the same day in 28 per cent of salons.
Only a fifth of the salons surveyed adhered to the correct testing practice, including Charles Worthington and Essensuals, according to the press release Naturtint issued. Penn pointed out that although Naturtint claimed that 28 per cent of salons surveyed agreed to an appointment on the same day as booking, the
researcher never attended the appointment so they could not say whether the salon would or would not have carried out a skin and scalp test, following a professional consultation. He stressed the importance the GSG placed on skin and scalp tests, which SalonFocus columnist Beverly C also said was crucial: “Having to insist on a skin test may be a complete bore for the colourist – and can even result in losing the occasional client – but the consequences of not doing so could mean the end of your business.” Salons should use the opportunity to educate their clients on the importance and the risks, however small, and promote how professional and caring they were, she said. The Federation’s policy remains that all salons must follow manufacturers’ recommended procedures and to check with insurers before doing anything else.