Honesty please?

[Penners]

Hi, do you do an allergy test every time your client has their hair coloured? even if they always have the same brand or shade? even if they are having foils or meche?
I anticipate your honesty

 

[persianista]

No. If it is off scalp I don't. If they have the same root col every time then no. For new clients or color changes then yes, and document it

 

[Penners]

Thanks, its just that on the rare occasion someone develops an allergy to something they have always had - scares me a bit,
is it due diligence to follow this course? I'll have to have a look at my insurance see if it specifies.:?:

 

[minky]

Hi , I am the same as persianista .... but if I get the opportunity I will test before hand too hth minky

 

[chattichic]

All thi health & safety stuff does my ead in! We never used skin tests not to long ago..... I bet I've just lit blue touch paper!

 

[persianista]

With a regular, in general you get warning that sensitivity is developing. It is incredibly rare to have a spontaneous allergic reaction.

I have seen two in 25 years. One I skin tested prior which was fine. When I then went ahead, the poor lady ended up in hospital. L'oreal took over the problem as I had tested and documented.

The second was a regular colour client who had a henna tattoo abroad. Black hair dye had been added to the henna, and she had a massive reaction.
I skin tested her with her normal 6 level colour, but she reacted. I use slices of colour on her and ensure that the hair is shampooed 3 times to ensure there is no residue.

Given that 90% of my work is colour, 2 reactions in 25 years makes it a thankfully rare occurrence.

 

[liana kay]

I always test on new clients , or if they have left it a while . Even if they already have tint on their hair . And I always talk to them about how to spot a reaction and tell them to get themselves to a hospital after taking some antihistamine to slow the reaction .
May be worth noting , one of my clients had a reaction in salon , her whole, back ,face and neck slowly turned red as soon as we realised we got it off and i suggested she go to hospital( shes a nurse ) Any way the full reaction didnt develop , but she tested clear on the previous skin test and afterwards.

 

[persianista]

Skin tests don't always work. But if you skin test and document it, it covers you.

It is far better to adopt good practice where possible. Clients tend to have more respect for you.

 

[smooth]

If your insurance stipulates you should skin test before each colour, even if they have had it before. then you need to do this otherwise it will invalidate your policy.

 

[wonderwoman]

i do skin tests for every client, and then re record every 6months, as allergies can come up overnight! better safe than sorry! I cant be dealing with people that refuse to do it though, i get bit pissy if their like "my old hd never gave me one" or "is this new thing", "it'll be fine i know it". I simply say well each brand is different and you may be sensitive to it, plus i wont proceed without a skin test.

 

[HairSquared]

No. My insurance does not require it. We do however keep track of anything like that in our comuter system, for our own comfort.
I do have two clients who take antihistamines before their services, as they are mildly sensitive.
2 clients in ten years have had the burning sensation while being bleached and toned.

 

[lauren89]

hiya, i was gonna ask a similar question, but done a search first. Just been doing some coursework about testing and it got me thinking, ive worked in 3 salons and not once have i seen a skin test, incompatability test, pre perm test curl etc been carried out, even on new clients. I don't undestand why the salons take such a big risk not to do then especially if it invalidates the insurance! I kno it has been answered above about skin tests, but how often do you geeks do any testing? And how do client react when you explain that they need to be tested? Also does this mean you don't do same day colour appointments? xx

 

[dales nails]

Im a mobile hairdresser and skin tested all my clients when having scalp application colour then retested every 6 months or when having a new colour or for instance when pregnant. obviously when mobile it is a little inconvenient to travel to a client 48 hours before a colour. I have been on maternity leave for 6 months and plan on returning next month and will skin test all my clients again. I have just joined the freelance hair and beauty federation and was sent one of their consultation forms which as a place where you cam document skin tests, and it states thet the client carries it out 48 hrs before a treatment after the skin test has been sent to them. how would this work and do mobile hairdressers actually send the tint through the post? just a little curious? it would be a little more practical as in not having to drive out to skin test clients but just was a little unsure. also when you carry out your skin test do you always use one particular colour (we were always taught to skin test with a level 7) or the exact shde the client will be having and do you mix it with the same level of peroxide as the scalp application you shall be using. Its just over 12 years since i trained and wondered whether procedures had changed. i take regular professional development course in colour and cutting but this is something that is never touched on. sorry for the ramble.x

 

[lucelasticx]

You can buy patch tests that you can post and the client has to apply 48hrs before the colour.
This is perfectly acceptable to your insurers as long as you ensure you fill in your consultation form properly and get them to sign for the fact that they recieved and applied patch test properly.
Below is the link for the website but my only warning would be that these tests have a use by date so ensure when ordering you know when this is so your not left with lots of expensive unusable patch tests!!! However i find the diesel costs to go and patch test make these ColourStart Tests a viable option for mobile hairdressers.

www.trichocare.co.uk/colourstart

Hope this helps!!!!

 

[~Louise~]

ok this is interesting! I'm not a hairdresser but in the 10years I've been having my hair coloured I've never been tested.. & I've been blonde, dark & red - all to the scalp!

Although one time the blonde dye (bleach? sorry, I'm not sure of the correct terminology) started to burn me so it had to be washed out straight away, although I never had that problem again

 

[dales nails]

Thats fantastic thankyou so much and will make things so much easier being freelance. I have actually seen them at my wholesalers so will have a look when im next there and check the dates etc on the product. it will def be worth investing in for when i go back to work

 

[lucelasticx]

Dales Nails :-
Work out before you go back how many clients you want to contact and patch test and buy that amount. Its a great way of contacting clients that may not have decided to come back or you may have felt cheeky trying to pick them back up after a 6 month gap. It sets you apart from other freelancers and add to that a professional marketing letter with some kind of loyalty bonus for there first appointment i am sure they will be eating out of you hands in no time. Good luck x

Louise -
You have been having colour applied to hair ( not just in foils or a cap ) directly placed on the scalp in an all over colour or between foils and you have NEVER been skin tested ???? :irked:
If so this is a HUGE no-no and very unprofessional. We can become allergic to things at anytime and anaphylactic shock can be fatal in extreme cases.
Your hairdrersser should be skin testing you REGARDLESS whether your a new or existing client .

I feel strongly about this as one of my freinds nearly lost her life due to anaphylactic shock whilst working as a hairdresser and i tell you now i wont compromise on this issue. Better safe than sorry !

 

[dales nails]

Thanks hun, ive already got some professional headed paper from the printers and im just in the process of printing off my "comeback" letter and contacting all previous clients (as thats what they ALL wanted me to do when returning.) I am expecting to lose some because thats business plus im currently only working 2 days with that set to increase. A good point about skintesting in my marketing letter for my colour clients. Also i can remember reading on the FHBF consultation form about a preset text messaging service to remind clients to carry out their skin test 48 hours before their colouring service. that maybe food for thought also. Do you skin test clients on every visit hun or just do it 6 monthly?

 

[skye]

Hi
I use the colourstart patch test. Most of my clients take it home with them, so they have it for the next colour app. I text them 3 days before to remind them to apply. I do this once every year, (which is what my insurance company has advised). I have a consultation sheet, which is dated, ticked and signed by both of us. A lot of clients do think it is a pain to come back in for this test, so having a test to take home is better for most, especially if they come from afar. As said before the is a use by date on them so i make sure that i do everyone at the same time. As for bleach, I do not think you have to do a skin test.
Hope this helps

 

[lucelasticx]

I personally post these out for regulars every 6 months , or as soon as a new client booking is made. Then i text them 72 hours before their appointment to remind them to patch test if necessary.