Hello,
When I have my hair coloured at the salon I experience a severe reaction. Yet when I dye it myself at home the reaction is not so severe - just a bit of itching!
Why is this?
Katrina, Australia
There are two types of reaction to hair colour, a sensitivity to the colour which is immediately felt upon application - often characterised by stinging, itching or tingling. The other is an allergic reaction which occurs after the application, maybe a few hours or a day later. This reaction is the dangerous one which can cause severe medical problems.
Different manufacturers create their hair colours in their own way. Some contain a high ammonia content, which you can normally smell. This ingredient sometimes causes irritation.
Take your colour that you use at home to your stylist and see what is different. It may be that they use a permanent dye and you use a semi-permanent one (which is usually gentler).
If you are having reactions, I strongly suggest that you always conduct a skin test before every application!!