Tag: hair dye

Does she have a hair dye allergy?

Does My Mom Have a Hair Dye Allergy?

Doc,

My mom has been dyeing her grey hair for many years. Recently she went to the salon for her usual touch-up and she developed a rash along her hair line. The next time she went, the rash got worse. Has she developed a hair dye allergy?

K.

21224010 - hands of a female hairdresser tinting the hair of a client in a hairstyling salon applying the paste with a brush

Hi K.,

You are correct! It seems as if your mother has developed an allergy to her hair dye. The most likely culprit is Paraphenyldiamine aka PPD. It is the most reliable hair dye ingredient that makes the hair dark brown or black. However, it is widely known to be a sensitiser, i.e. it triggers the body to remember it so that each time it comes into contact with it a reaction occurs. There are instances of persons who used henna mixtures for mehandi (black henna tattoo) only once who later on developed rashes when they started to dye their hair. The henna used for mehandi usually contains very high amounts of PPD.

The problem is that there are very little substitutes out there that do the job as well. There are many natural hair dyes however, they tend to be messier and/or take longer for the dye to set. The most famous of which is natural henna. Ensure that the henna that you purchase is not a henna/chemical dye mash up. Henna dyes the hair red-brown. To get a deep black colour, indigo is usually added.

There are other chemical dyes that use similar ingredients to PPD that do not have the same sensitising profile as PPD.  Interestingly, with the advent of the active protein based cosmeceuticals, there are products containing melitane (a protein) that helps the hair follicle to naturally restore its pigment production.  Hopefully, we will see more of this on the market soon.

What do if you have a hair dye allergy?

Once the rash develops, you will need to get an antihistamine such as Chlorpheniramine e.g. Benadryl to help with the itching. A Cortisone (steroid) cream will help to minimise the symptoms pretty quickly.  If you continue to use PPD containing dyes the rash or reaction will continue to worsen and can take up the entire body. Please read below what happened to NCIS star who had a PPD allergy:  http://ow.ly/gOyq307n1rg

It is best that anyone who suspects he/she has a dye allergy should go to a dermatologist or allergist to do what is called a patch test. This involves the placement of small amounts of known allergens on her back and doing readings after day 3 and day 5 to see which one she has developed a reaction to.  This will help her determine the exact cause of her rash and then she can avoid products containing that particular ingredient(s).

 

 

December’s QOM- Can I dye hair before braiding?

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Is it ok to dye hair and (deep) treat your hair one day before braiding?

 

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I am assuming that by “braiding” you mean putting in braid extensions. It is best not to dye hair one day prior to braiding.  In general,  you should  avoid chemical treatments right before installing any hair extensions or weaves. This includes both relaxers and permanent and semi permanent hair dyes. Hair will be weak from the chemical bonds being broken in the processes. Wait at least two weeks after the processes to install the braids. This is because new growth would be stronger than the already dyed hair and thus be more likely to handle the added hair than weak dyed hair.

For the second part of the question, yes, go right ahead and do a deep treatment for your hair. In fact, it is  always good to perform a deep treat before braiding. That way the hair will be adequately prepared for the added hair fibres that will absorb oils from your own hair. If your hair goes in dry and brittle, it will be even drier when the extensions are removed, despite using braid spray on a daily basis.

 

Dr. Llorenia Muir-Green is a practising dermatologist in Jamaica.  She graduated from the University of the West Indies, first obtaining a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She then went on to pursue a career in Medicine. Having obtained her Medical degree from UWI, she went on to pursue postgraduate specialisation in Clinical Dermatology at Cardiff University, for which she got distinction.  She was a recipient of the 2013 Fellowship in Hair and Scalp Disorders at the University of British Columbia.  She is a member of the North American Hair Research Society, International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery,  Dermatology Association of Jamaica as well as an Associate Member of the Caribbean Dermatology Association. She currently works at the Dermatology Clinic at National Chest Hospital where she recently established a Hair Clinic.