Thank you everyone for replying. Apologies if I don’t @ people correctly, new to this site. Thank you @kelsmom for the update. I was “dying” to know how everything played out. I’m glad that you like having gray hair after not wanting to go gray because maybe I will feel that way too. I think 100% gray looks pretty but mixed white and dark brown roots with solid dark brown not so much.
I was hoping that you or anyone here had found one that didn’t cause a reaction. Maybe I will see if an Aveda salon (@kajon @greatlakesmom) could give me an ingredient list (ingredients would be different in each color) to run past the doctor or to possibly patch test but don’t want to alter the results of the other things he is testing as I get spreading hives and blisters with hair color. I sent this link to him and he said number 8 and 10 looked best to him from an allergy standpoint so I am trying to decide if I should try to get them to take to the patch test or if I should just give up. https://eluxemagazine.com/beauty/10-of-the-best-natural-hair-dyes/
@kelsmom what is your original hair color and how many times did you do bleach/highlights when trying to grow out. Didbyou tolerate the bleach? Also, did your doctor give you anything to take (cortisone, epinephrine) in case if an emergency reaction after office hours from the patch test? That is what I am worried about. Mine said he could give me some cream to put on it if it got blistered, which I am sure it will but I forgot to ask about a reaction beyond blisters.
That is crazy about sunscreen and glasses. I need glasses now too so I guess I should pay attention to material when choosing frames…and which ones will go with gray hair.
I seem to have tolerated Redkin shades EQ toner in 9N which is not an actual color and light for me (was used to tone down a wella color we tried that turned out darker than other brands…and it even had that ME ingredient that is supposed to help block allergic reactions) but could blur the gray while waiting to see what the allergy is. My luck I will suddenly react to that.
I wonder if the clairol root touch up kits would be better since they only develop/sit on your scalp for 10 minutes vs 30-45 so I wonder if I could apply it trying to not to actually touch my scalp but get close and wash it off quickly or if contact time doesn’t matter. If I could quickly cover the gray roots and wash it off before it gets into my bloodstream or if that is just playing with fire.
About a year ago I purchased a shampoo and conditioner (Pravana The Perfect Brunette) that I had read helps extend color and correct brass and it made my scalp itchy. That was before I figured out I was developing an allergy to hair color and thought I was just sensitive to that particular shampoo, but that makes me think I can’t even use color depositing shampoo. So annoying.
Seems dumb to be this upset about something so small but it can do a number on your self esteem and identity.
Thanks for input everyone.
@Massmomm unfortunately the sweet and low trick didn’t work for me but I have heard it helps others. I even tried Antidot pro by Scalfix that you add to hair color to protect scalp and it states it neutralizes histamines in case it helps anyone else. Didn’t work for me. What color are you using and how often do you color? Does your mom take antihistamines when she colors? I read your immune system remembers what you have had a reaction to and each time it recognized it then attacks it harder and harder so I hope this doesn’t happen to your mom but it seems to be true for me. If my immune system is so smart it can recognize past allergens then I wish it could learn to talk and tell me which ingredients it doesn’t like.
Thank you @WISdad23
@MACmiracle smart of you to hold off on color. So hard. I usually color as soon as I see one gray peeking through. It has been since April 2 and shocked how much gray I actually have because I usually don’t go long enough to see real roots. Probably made myself allergic from over exposure.
@“Cardinal Fang” Do you know what brand and color (since different ingredients in different colors) you do not react with?
@Sybylla 48
After figuring out if I can find one to take for the doctor to patch test then I will see what this site has to offer. I have a son in college in his Junior year and wonder about how many schools to apply for grad school (wish you could just keep going in the same school without having to apply) and if any offer scholarships. He does have all A’s in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering so hopefully his school will let him go on for a Masters but should probably apply to a few. His girlfriend got into grad school where he goes for next year after 3 years long distance for them at different schools. I’m excited for them to not do all that driving for at least a year and he loves his school.
Anyway, thx again for everyone helping.
@Amyjj11 , I tried Clairol and Redken. I switched when those made me a bit itchy. I then tried Aveda, Pravana and L’anza. Not everyone is allergic to PPD, but if that is the issue, you have to be aware that using any dark dyes may be tempting fate … and if you have ever swollen up the way I did, you will not want to take any chances.
I only had to bleach my hair once, and my stylist was extremely careful because she was worried that I might react to other irritants. I did not have any problems at all. I am fortunate because my hair grows very quickly, it was already a multidimensional light reddish color, and I keep it relatively short (although not short-short). It blended nicely and grew out quickly. It will take more highlight sessions to grow it out gracefully if your current color is dark … unless your hair grows in salt and pepper (mine was flat out all silver).
My allergist tested me for several metals and chemicals. He put a strip on my back that had little disks. I knew immediately that one was an issue. I had to keep it on for a couple days (no water could hit it), and then I had to come back twice for him to look at it. I waited for about half an hour or so when he first put the strip on. He didn’t think I would have any issues with breathing, but he did tell me to call 911 if that happened.
We all react to things differently, so not everyone is going to be as bothered by things as I am.
@Amyjj11 , I have my hair high- and low-lighted every 5 weeks or so. (The products that irritated me at my last salon were made by Wella.) I don’t know what brand this salon uses, (I picked them because they don’t use Aveda or Wella) but they don’t need the Sweet n Low trick.
They also put the color on wet hair, which I have never seen at any other salon, but it works amazingly well. I have been going to this one for about 16 months and have never had a reaction. Hope I’m not jinxing myself by posting about it. I am not ready to be gray!
My mother is 80 and doesn’t color her hair. Maybe you were responding to another poster?
That part was meant for @MACmiracle probably messed up trying to @ everyone in one reply.