Hair dye colors are one of the things I love the most in the world! My sister and I would spend weeks dreaming about what our next hair color would be.
Sadly, our cousin didn’t have the same luck – she was allergic to hair dye. Allergy to hair dye sounds like a nightmare to me, but how do you know if you really are allergic to this product?
Fantasy Hair Lovers, let’s discover how to know if I’m allergic to hair dye by checking fact-proven pieces of data.
Quick Answer
You can know if you are allergic to hair dye by going to an allergy clinic and doing a test, performing a homemade patch test before dyeing your hair, and checking for hair dye allergy reactions listed below.
Can Hair Dye Cause Allergic Reactions?
So, can hair dye colors create allergic reactions? The answer is a resounding yes.
Let me put it this way – hair dye colors can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your body’s response to them. While some people can achieve the perfect hair color without any issues, others may experience a reaction that is anything but perfect.
In fact, hair dye colors are one of the most common causes of allergic reactions when it comes to hair products, and it’s not hard to see why. Hair dyes contain a wide variety of chemicals, many of which can be irritating or even toxic. Some of these chemicals are necessary for the dye to work, while others are added for color, texture, or scent.
The United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) has a list of common hair dye reactions that a few unfortunate fantasy hair lovers are prone to experiencing.
Are Allergic Reactions to Hair Dye Common?
Not quite – allergic reactions to hair dye can be as rare as a unicorn sighting or as common as a rainy day in London (I’ve never been to London, but I know what it’s like!).
Research by the Department of Pharmacology of Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College shows that hair dye colors can cause small to big allergic reactions.
It really depends on many different factors, such as the type of hair dye used, the person’s sensitivity to certain ingredients, and the frequency of exposure.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to predict how your body will react to these chemicals. Even if you’ve used hair dye before without any problems, you could still develop an allergy at any time.
Some fantasy hair lovers may find themselves with a rash or itching sensation after using hair dye, while others may experience more severe symptoms like swelling and difficulty breathing.
What Does an Allergic Reaction to Hair Dye Feel Like?
I have never personally experienced a hair dye allergy before, but I have seen someone experiencing it firsthand.
I’m talking about my cousin, who sadly never accompanied my sister and me in our fantasy hair adventures. She says that allergic reaction to hair dye colors feels like this:
“An allergic reaction to hair dye is no walk in the park. It’s like a swarm of angry bees decided to set up camp on your scalp and start stinging away.
At first, there’s just a little bit of tingling and itching, but before you know it, your entire head feels like it’s on fire. And if that wasn’t bad enough, you start to feel nauseous and dizzy, like the world is spinning around you.
After living this miserable experience, I decided to stay with my natural brown hair forever and ever!”
How to Test if Allergic to Hair Dye: 3 Ways
Believe me when I say that allergies to hair dye should not be threatened lightly! Although it is very unlikely that most of us have allergies to hair dyes, it is still necessary to check your body’s reaction to them before they take place.
These are the three things that you can do to test if you are allergic to hair dye or not.
1. Do a Patch Test at Home
Before you apply hair dye to your entire head, my recommendation is to do a patch test first.
Apply a small amount of dye behind your ear or on your inner elbow and wait 24 hours to see if there’s a reaction.
If you experience any itching, redness, or swelling, you may be allergic to the hair dye. If there are no reactions, then congratulations – you are good to go!
2. Check Out for Hair Dye Allergy Symptoms
Hair dye allergy symptoms are the worst! The chemicals on hair dyes can cause mild to severe symptoms that you should watch out for. These are the most common and annoying hair dye symptoms in a scale from “a bit annoying” to “severe symptoms:”
- Itching: Your scalp may feel like a tiny army of ants is marching across it, leaving a trail of itching in its path.
- Redness: Your scalp or skin may turn a shade of red that would make a tomato blush.
- Swelling: Your scalp, face, or neck may puff up like a balloon, making you feel like Bloat from Nemo.
- Burning or stinging: Your scalp may feel like it’s on fire, or like someone is jabbing it with a thousand tiny needles.
- Hives: Your skin may break out in a rash of angry red bumps that feel like they’re trying to escape your body.
- Difficulty breathing: Your airways may feel constricted, making it difficult to take a deep breath or causing you to wheeze or cough.
- Nausea or vomiting: Your stomach may feel like it’s doing somersaults, or you may feel like you need to make a quick dash to the bathroom.
- Dizziness: Your head may spin like a merry-go-round, making it difficult to stand or walk.
3. Go to An Allergy Clinic
Experts recommend hair dye users, male or female, to go to allergy clinics to determine if they are allergic to the components of hair dye products.
Believe it or not, allergy clinics are ready to identify potential allergies to the chemicals in hair dyes.
This method might be kind of expensive and annoying, but it is the best scientific way to learn if you are allergic to hair dye.
Can You Dye Hair if Allergic to Hair Dye?
In my experience, it really depends on the severity of your allergy and the type of hair dye you’re using.
If you’ve had a mild reaction in the past, you may be able to use a hair dye that’s formulated for sensitive skin or that doesn’t contain the same ingredients that caused your previous reaction.
But if your allergy is more severe, it’s best to avoid hair dye altogether and explore alternative options like henna or vegetable-based dyes.
And if you do decide to dye your hair, make sure to do a patch test first and always follow the instructions on the box. With a little bit of caution and care, you can rock a fabulous new hair color without sacrificing your health.
What Am I Allergic to in Hair Dye?
At first, it is hard to tell the exact chemical component that is causing your hair dye reaction. There are five different chemicals that might cause allergic reactions in hair dye colors, which are the following:
- Paraphenylenediamine (PPD): This is one of the most common allergens found in hair dye, and it’s used to create darker shades of color. PPD can cause a variety of allergic reactions, ranging from mild itching and redness to more severe symptoms like hives and difficulty breathing.
- Ammonia: This is a chemical that’s used to open up the hair cuticle and allow the dye to penetrate. It can be irritating to the skin and can cause itching, redness, and burning.
- Resorcinol: This is another common hair dye ingredient that’s used to create darker shades. It can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people.
- Fragrance: Many hair dyes contain fragrances, which can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.
- Hydrogen peroxide: This is a common ingredient in hair bleach and can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions.
Is There a Non-Allergic Hair Dye?
Yes! The good news among all these disgraces is that there are plenty of non-allergic hair dye options available. Here are a few creative examples of hair dyes that are formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin:
1. Henna: Henna is a natural hair dye that’s made from the leaves of the henna plant. It’s been used for centuries to create beautiful, rich colors, and it’s a great choice for people with sensitive skin.
2. Plant-based dyes: These are hair dyes that are made from natural ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They’re often free from harsh chemicals and are a great choice for people who want to avoid synthetic ingredients.
3. PPD-free dyes: As I mentioned above, PPD is a common allergen found in hair dye. Nonetheless, there are some hair dyes that are formulated without PPD, making them a great choice for people with sensitive skin.
Fantasy Recap: How to Check if Your Allergic to Hair Dye
Being allergic to hair dye is a bummer – we all want to show our true selves by turning our hair into a fairy tale!
But this is not possible for all of us. The good news is that allergies to hair dyes are fairly uncommon, and even if you experience certain allergies, there are great hair dye alternatives out there.
Did you like this awesome guide? Get more hair dye color guides written by professionals here, at Fantasy Hair Lovers.
FAQ
What Happens if I’m Allergic to Hair Dye?
If you are allergic to hair dyes, then the world is not over for you – there are plenty of allergy-free hair dye alternatives that you can use to rock your hair with some awesome dreamy colors. But if the allergy is too severe, then your best choice would be to embrace your natural hair color and show your personality through other creative ways.