Headline News
Article date: 27/03/2007
Dye Delilha
The NHF has issued an up-to-date policy on testing for client reaction to the chemical components contained in permanent hair dyes (see below).
The policy comes at a time when the issue of clients\' health and safety has been the subject of much media coverage following an article jointly published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) by Dr John McFadden and Dr Ian White, raising the question of safety of permanent hair dyes.
Ray Seymour, our secretary general, said: \'\'The purpose of the policy is to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of clients while taking pragmatic account of the difficulty they encounter in attending the salon not less then 48 hours before the colour treatment for an allergy test.\"
The BMJ article highlighted how the number of people seeking treatment for allergic reactions to hair dye had increased by a factor of eight in 30 years.
It said teenagers were particularly vulnerable, and it was believed that the popularity of dyeing hair, temporary tattoos using \'\'black\" henna, and the obsession with \"youth culture\" were to blame.
Rashes, facial swelling and dermatitis are the commonest reactions to a chemical in dye, para-phenylenediamine (PPD).
The most serious cases need hospital treatment and in the most severe instance death can occur.
Allergic reaction is not confined to salon treatments and can also arise from hair dye kits used at home. The Cosmetic Perfumery and Toiletry Association (CPTA) says that the cosmetics industry takes safety very seriously and that all hair colorants are thoroughly researched. It says it has fully co-operated with the European Commission in a comprehensive programme over many years to establish the safety of hair dye in use today.
HAIRDRESSERS SHOULD ALWAYS UNDERTAKE SENSITIVITY TESTING BEFORE USING PERMANENT HAIR DYES
• Where possible, hairdressers should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the product to be used on the client
• Where it is not practical or possible to follow the recommendations of the product manufacturer, a generic sensitivity test should be undertaken
WHERE NO SENSITIVITY TEST HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN, THE HAIRDRESSER SHOULD DECLINE TO APPLY A PERMANENT HAIR DYE
• At all times the onus is on the salon to keep a record of what action has been taken. In the event of trouble your records are your last line of defence.
The policy is available from www.nhf.biz