OUCHIE!!! - skin allergy

So I went into my best friend's salon today to do the deed - drastic cut and subtle color. We discussed my photo choices from the magazine I'd purchased, and I put myself in her very capable hands.

First step was the color - highlights and lowlights foiled in before an overall color was applied. Foiling went great, but when she started applying the overall, it felt like IcyHot on my scalp. Cold liquid, but just a slight tingling underneath that. I thought maybe it just felt different than the other colorants I was used to, so I mentioned it to her and she said to tell her if it got worse. About halfway through the application, I couldn't stand it anymore, and she saw the look on my face and ordered me to the sink. We got it out with some difficulty, due to the foils being in the way, and all seemed well. I insisted that we continue w/the cut, and I'd come back to finish the color perhaps tomorrow.
Being my best friend she offered to take me with her to the beauty supply this evening and get another line of color that I knew I hadn't had problems with. Coming out of the store, I ran my fingers through my hair and noticed a stiff spot or two. I asked her to look at it, and sure enough, my scalp is blistered from the reaction, and I have crusty bits in my hair. So now I have a fabulous cut, some great highlights and some not-so-gorgeous uncolored hair. I will have to wait at least a week before I can complete my mini-makeover, and I'm going to have to be extra careful shampooing so it heals faster.

Has anyone else had this happen to them? Any home remedies you can recommend?

I had a friend who got her hair staigtened and she had a similar reaction - she said, and I quote "All black people use this after they straigtend their hair - the scalp always burns" It was an oil especially made for chemical burns of the scalp. I supposed you could find it in a beauty supply place.

Oh Erica, I'm sorry. That sounds painful.

I've never had a reaction to hair color, but do have problems with a lot of cosmetics/shampoos/etc. I'd recommend switching to a very gentle shampoo for a while, like Johnson's baby shampoo or something that is hypoallergenic. Also, if it keeps bothering you, I'd go to the doctor to get an allergy prescription.

Ouchie indeed.

I have eczema on my scalp and a non peroxide color treatment makes it worse.

What I find the best when it gets really sore and burny is Baby shampoo and the use of some Betadine, of course I tend to walk around with a cap/hat for a couple of days because of the betadine but it feels better a lot quicker that way. Hopefully this works for you as well and heals it up really quickly.

Originally Posted by JakkieS

Ouchie indeed.

I have eczema on my scalp and a non peroxide color treatment makes it worse.

What I find the best when it gets really sore and burny is Baby shampoo and the use of some Betadine, of course I tend to walk around with a cap/hat for a couple of days because of the betadine but it feels better a lot quicker that way. Hopefully this works for you as well and heals it up really quickly.

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Hehe, the Betadine just might work to my advantage -- I'm overdying a shade of red anyhow!!!!! Thankfully the neutralizer she used took the pain away instantly, so now I'm just left with open blisters on my scalp and a little oozing crusting up my hair, doesn't hurt at all. Now if I can just stop running my fingers through my hair and disturbing them!!!!

Ya know, I"ve had dry scalp for quite a while (worse in winter, naturally) but I also had horrible excema all over my body when I was little - wonder if I might need to mention this to my GP next time I'm in for a checkup??

LOL I actually quite like that shade of red, but my hairdresser never gets it right.

I think prehaps you should mention it coz you never now. My hubby also just mentioned to me that you now get a betadine shampoo from the pharmacy so that might be even better than just the ointment. I am gonna go get some for myself tomorrow, it can only smell better than the other stuff I use.

That sounds like a awful experience I agree about the baby products - try to stay as perfume and additive free with your shampoos and things for a while. Once the scabs are not too raw, but have at least begun healing, try breaking some e-vitamin capsules in your hand and dab some on them. Rose hip oil is great for healing skin too.
I hope it goes better next time.
Kim

Oh Erica that sounds awful - I hope you feel better soon. I don't know about in the US but in the UK all colouring products carry a warning to do a skin test because of the possibility of an allergic reaction. They say to put a bit of the product on a patch about the size of a quarter coin on the inside of your arm near to the inner part of your elbow or just behind your ear and leave it for 24 hours. That way you should be alerted to any likely allergic reaction before colouring your hair.


I hope your recovery is quick and your next experience better than this one.

Oh I am sorry to hear about this! My friend at work can't have her hair colored unless all the ingredients are totally natural because otherwise she gets an allergic reaction too. I hope that you feel better soon!

That's too bad about your reaction!, I saw a program about a girl that had the same problem but her whole face started to swell. Be very careful!, maybe you should talk to your doc and see what he/she says.

Either way I hope you heal quickly!