I have a love-hate relationship with some hair dye products. Let me elaborate: I absolutely love semi-permanent hair dyes – they allow me to rock different colors that I can change whenever I want!
But I’m not a fan of permanent hair dyes, although I must say I have used them in the past, and they can look spectacular too.
However, there’s something I’m scared of when it comes to hair dye: chemical burns.
Chemical burns from hair dye are not a game – I’ll give you my tips so you can learn how to treat hair dye burns on the scalp, hands, and skin properly in 2023 and beyond.
Quick Answer
The treatment for hair dye burns varies depending on the area of the burn. If your scalp burns, use aloe vera and avoid heating styling tools. If your hands are on fire, wash them out and apply ice. If your skin is burnt from hair dye, avoid using skin care products and seek medical attention promptly.
Is It Normal for Hair Dye to Burn?
In my vast experience, I say that a burning sensation is not necessarily normal when using hair dye, but it is not uncommon. There are a few factors that can contribute to this sensation, and it’s essential to understand them to ensure you get the best possible results.
It’s important to note that a mild tingling or burning sensation can be normal when using hair dye, but I’m talking about a mild itching sensation and not a burning one!
A study by the Journal of Burn Care & Research shows that 4-6% of individuals tested with hair dye are prone to experiencing hair dye burns due to a chemical named para-phenylenediamine. You can see the study here: Burn Care & Research.
If you are allergic to hair dye, you might experience burning sensations while dyeing your hair, but this should not happen.
What Happens if Hair Dye Burns Your Head?
If hair dye burns after or while applying it, it will leave an uncomfortable mark on your skin that needs to be addressed immediately. These are some of the most common reasons why hair dye burns on your head:
- Hair dye products contain harsh chemicals, such as peroxide and ammonia. Learn how to tell if hair dye has ammonia here.
- If your hair is damaged or in poor condition, it can be more susceptible to burning and irritation from the chemicals in the hair dye.
- Applying too much heat during the dyeing process, such as with a hair dryer, can also contribute to a burning sensation.
- Using expired or old hair dye can also increase the likelihood of burning and irritation.
- Not properly washing or rinsing out the hair dye can leave residual chemicals on the scalp, causing burning and irritation.
How Long Does It Take for a Chemical Burn From Hair Dye to Heal?
In general, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a chemical burn from hair dye to heal completely.
However, more severe burns may take longer to heal and could leave scarring or discoloration, but this will only happen in severe cases.
If you deal with the problem immediately, the burn will go away sooner than later, so there’s no time to lose.
How to Treat Chemical Burn From Hair Dye
There are three possible scenarios where burns from hair dye can happen: on your scalp, on your hands, and on the skin of your face or shoulders.
This creates the need to identify the scenario so you can learn how to treat chemical burn from hair dye properly.
1. How to Treat Hair Dye Burns on Hands
Gloves, gloves, gloves! I always recommend everyone use gloves when applying semi-permanent or permanent hair dye!
Nevertheless, if you didn’t use gloves, then this is how you can treat hair dye burns on your hands:
- Wash your hands with cool water and a gentle soap to remove any residual hair dye.
- Use Aloe Vera gel after washing your hands. Aloe vera has natural anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties that can help soothe the burn and promote healing.
- If the burn is too noticeable or painful, then cover the affected area with a clean, damp cloth and wrap it with plastic wrap.
- In the worst-case scenario, seek medical attention to properly treat the chemical burns.
2. How to Treat Hair Dye Burns on Scalp
I have an article about how to soothe scalp after hair dye – it covers all you must do if your scalp itches, irritates, or burns after dyeing your hair.
This is a quick summary of the steps to follow to treat hair dye burns on your scalp:
- Rinse the affected area with cool water and use a cold compress if needed.
- Avoid heating tools and apply a thick layer of Aloe Vera gel to combat the pain.
- Use sulfate-free shampoo and keep the area clean and healthy at all times.
- If the burn is severe or does not show signs of improvement after a few days, it’s essential to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional.
3. How to Treat Skin Burn From Hair Dye
Your face skin or shoulder skin can burn from hair dye too. If this happens to you, then this is what you must do:
- Remove residual hair dye from your skin by applying cold water to it.
- Use Aloe Vera in the burnt area to reduce inflammation and soothe the burn.
- Do not use skincare products or cosmetics on the affected area until the burn heals.
- If you are going out, use broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- Seek medical attention if you believe that the burn is too serious.
How to Heal Hair Dye Burns
One thing is to treat hair dye burns, and another thing is to ensure their healing. These are the steps I recommend to properly heal hair dye burns after they take place:
- Do not scratch or pick the affected area: never put your finger on the affected area! This will only make things worse.
- Follow healing instructions properly: follow the instructions in this guide to properly heal chemical burns from hair dye.
- Be patient and go to the doctor if needed: healing takes time, so you need to be patient. Also, if you feel like the burn is not healing, then go to the doctor immediately.
How to Prevent a Chemical Burn From Hair Dye
Preventing chemical burns from hair dye is essential if you want to rock a new hair dye color without fearing bad consequences to your health.
To prevent chemical burns from hair dye, this is what you must do:
- Use gloves and safety equipment: always, always, ALWAYS use gloves! Also, use goggles and protective equipment to prevent skin burns or hair dye in the eyes.
- Only purchase high-quality hair dye products: high-quality hair dye products use less harsh chemicals than poor-quality, cheap products – that’s a fact.
- Always do a patch test: patch tests for hair dye work like magic. I always recommend everyone do patch tests to see if they are allergic to certain chemicals in hair products.
Fantasy Recap: How to Treat Hair Dye Burns
Treating hair dye burns requires patience, gentle care, and confidence. While these burns can be uncomfortable and even painful, with the right approach, you can promote healing and get back to feeling like yourself again.
Remember, prevention is the best cure, so always follow the instructions on your hair dye product and take precautions to avoid getting the dye on your skin! It’s always better to seek medical attention in case you feel that you can’t handle the burn by yourself.
FAQ
Is Hair Color Burn Normal?
No, it’s not normal – your scalp should NOT burn after applying hair dye.
What Happens if I Get Hair Dye on My Hands and It Burns?
If this happens to you, follow the recommendations included in this guide. Wash your hands, apply aloe vera, and hope for the pain to go away – otherwise, seek medical attention urgently.