Hairdressers Journal
Article date: 25/07/2005
Playing It Safe
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last six months, you will have no doubt heard the big debate about hair colour. The story has been aired on radio and printed in national newspapers, and also perhaps the most concerning, covered on BBC’s Watchdog.
But is it all a load of hype or should we be concerned for the future of the colour industry?
Before you come to any conclusions, it’s worth knowing exactly what the controversy is about.
The problem is based around the chemical Para-Pheneylenediamine. It is found in hair dye, and is more commonly known as PPD. Some people have experienced allergic reactions to it, and we’re not just talking a small rash.
Despite manufacturers recommending patch testing when using home hair colour kits, isolated cases have still made the headlines. In one severe case, dating back to 2001, a woman died. Although a direct link to PPD was not proven, she had just used hair dye and it was later reported that the cause of death was most likely to have been a reaction to the dye.
Although this is an extremely rare case, in recent months the issue has arisen once again when severe allergic reactions to hair dye were reported on Watchdog. Symptoms included burning and swollen scalps, and open sores all over the body.
A reaction to PPD can occur, but rather than let this decrease your colour work, why not use the debate to your advantage by offering professional skin testing?
The important thing to remember is that the majority of the bad press has been focused on home hair colours, which no professional hairdresser wants their clients using. The fact that a salon can offer expert advice and most importantly, a colour sensitivity test, should make clients think twice about dyeing their hair at home.
Rather than avoiding the subject with your clients, talk to them so they are aware of the dangers. At the same time increase your clients’ confidence by always acting on manufacturers’ advice by offering a skin test before any colour work is carried out. Although this should be common practice in all salons, many still fail to recognise the importance of such tests.
Brian Plunkett is the managing director of Trichocare Diagnostics and has developed what he refers to as the ‘next generation of skin testing’. His product, Colourstart, is a sensitivity patch test that can be posted to a client prior to their salon appointment. It works by depositing a small amount of PPD on to the skin, indicating if there is a reaction.
“Hairdressers need to know more about the science behind the art, and education is a priority for every salon,” he says.
Quite rightly, Brian is constantly campaigning for salons to take the colour safety issue seriously and to always skin test. “We need to remind hairdressers of the importance of this procedure. We are very serious about it. Safety should always be a consideration at the start of every successful hair colour treatment,” adds Brian.
Another product that works in a similar way is Propatch, which can also be given to clients prior to visiting the salon.
The future of the home hair colour market is now under question. However, if the professional market can ensure clients’ safety and guarantee that colour testing is always carried out, then further unnecessary injuries will be avoided.
For further information about Colourstart contact: 01525 280147, or for Propatch contact 0131 220 3080.