Bolton hairdresser's warning to anyone getting their hair dyed this April

This is great news for those of us with long tresses and overgrown roots.

However, if you are planning to get your hair coloured you could be turned away from many salons if you don’t remember to make time for an allergy test or ‘patch test’.

Allergy tests have always been common place in salons, but the guidelines were tightened in January when salons were in lockdown.

According to the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), which represents businesses across the UK, salons should carry out a ‘patch test’ on all new and existing clients every six months- previously it was every 12 months.

These tests should be undertaken 48 hours before the colouring service takes place.

Salons must also follow the manufacturer's instructions/protocols if they state that allergy alert tests are required more often- in some cases, a patch test will be required before every single dye or colour touch up even if they are weeks apart.

The NHBF say the salon could face financial repercussions if they don’t follow these guidelines.

They added: “If a client does have an allergic reaction and seeks financial compensation, the salon will not be covered by their insurance if they have not followed the manufacturer's instructions/protocols.”

(Facebook/Splendore Hairdressing)

Karen Burtonwood is the managing director of Splendore Hairdressing on Sapling Road.

She said the stricter guidelines will prove to be a challenge when salons reopen next week as the team will be patch testing clients before every dye.

Karen Burtonwood

She said: “Skin testing has always been at the highest importance for me.

“However, it’s going to cause absolute turmoil as I am going to make sure every client has been allergy tested before they come in.

“It’s fine for the people who live locally- but for those who live further afield in Lancashire it’s understandably a long way to come for a patch test.”

However, Karen stressed that patch tests are worth the journey as the last thing you want after dyeing your hair is to have a bad allergic reaction.

Ms Burtonwood added that she would even turn customers away if they failed to turn up for a patch test in advance.

She added: “It would break my heart to turn them away after being closed for so many months- but it just isn’t worth the risk.”

Karen explained that the stricter patch test rules will only add to the overwhelming workload of the coming weeks.

She explained: “I’m going to be working seven days a week and I will have to get on the books every night and make sure people have an allergy test 48 hours in advance.

“It’s will be really hard and it feels like they’re doing everything they can to stop us working.”

Patch testing will be even harder with social distancing rules in place.

Karen said: “We are going to have to work it all out days in advance as we can’t have an overcrowded shop filled with people getting patch tests all at once.

“I am worried that people with think it’s not convenient for them and to another salon where they won’t be as strict on patch testing.

“However, clients need to understand that this is my insurance guideline and we need to cover our backs.”

Is heightened skin sensitivity linked to Covid?

Late last years, rumours spread around the hairdressing community that clients had developed allergies to hair dye after having Covid-19 or  Covid-19 vaccine.

However, the NHBF have said the allergic reactions are “not specifically” linked to Covid and there is no scientific evidence pointing to this.

A spokesperson for the federation said: “Following lockdown, clients may be more sensitive, concerned or nervous about visiting the salon. They may have heard speculation about increased sensitivity due to COVID 19.”

The federation added that heightened skin sensitivity may be due to the fact that people haven’t had their hair dyed for a long time, naturally developing a sensitivity during these months.

They added: “Due the length of the lockdowns and regional tier restrictions many clients may have not visited a salon for over six months, they may have also used a home colouring product or treatment.”

“It is NHBF recommended best practice to carry out a full consultation including allergy alert and industry tests following manufacturer’s instructions and protocols before the client’s first service following lockdown.  

“By offering advice, support and tests a salon will reassure their clients that their safety and care of clients remains their top priority. 

“The NHBF guidelines are in place to protect the client, the hair professional and the salon.” 

Even though these claims aren’t backed by scientific evidence, Karen said it has scared some of her clients:

She said: “Throughout the world people are having slight skin reactions and linking it to Covid or their vaccination.

“[While it has not been proven]it has scared people- some people have messaged me for a patch test before they even tightened the rules on patch testing.”