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Hair colorant safety tips

Are hair colorants safe?

Hair colorants are one of the most thoroughly studied consumer products on the market and their safety is supported by a wealth of scientific research. As with any other cosmetic product, European cosmetic safety laws require that they must not cause harm to human health. Manufacturers go further than is required by law to provide clear warnings and instructions.

Hair colorants contain a mixture of hair dyes and other ingredients to produce dramatic colours and effects. They always carry warning labels and use instructions. Users are advised to carry out a skin sensitivity test before applying the product in full. It is important to follow the manufacturers’ instructions always.

Can I colour my hair whilst I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Colouring your hair when you are breastfeeding or pregnant is perfectly safe. As always, it is really important to make sure you follow the product instructions and carry out the skin sensitivity test as directed 48 hours before colouring your hair. However, some women can be extremely concerned about colouring their hair at this time and for them it is better to avoid the source of anxiety and not have their hair coloured – even though there are no safety concerns from the colouring itself.

Are allergies to hair colorants common?

The majority of hair colorant users will never develop an allergy because it is not in their genes to be susceptible; it’s all in the genes. Fifty million units of home hair colorants are sold and forty-five million salon applications of hair colorants are carried out in the UK each year and adverse reactions are exceedingly rare – far rarer than food allergies. European figures show that the incidence of marked or severe allergic reaction to hair colorants is approximately three in every million units.

When reactions to hair colorants do occur, their effects are short-term but can be very uncomfortable, so it is important to make sure you use your hair colorant safely to avoid an adverse reaction. Always read and follow the instructions and carry out a skin sensitivity test each time you use a product, even if it is the same brand you always use as sensitivity can develop with repeated use.  If you do suffer a reaction following the use of a hair colorant, you should contact your doctor first but also contact the manufacturer of the product or the salon where you had your hair coloured, both of whom will help you and your doctor handle your reaction.

Allergic reactions are themselves rare, however in a severe allergic response hair loss might follow. This is an extremely rare reaction. If, in exceptional circumstances, hair loss does occur, this should be temporary and help will be available from the manufacturer or the salon. They may suggest you visit a specialist e.g. a trichologist or dermatologist.

What is a skin sensitivity test?

Important safety instructions are provided on the outer pack and on instruction leaflets contained inside hair colorants. These warnings alert consumers to the possibility of allergic reactions and that these reactions may be severe. The instructions emphasise a skin sensitivity test must be carried out.

Clear instructions for the skin sensitivity test are provided:

• the instructions must be followed exactly;
• the allergy test must be carried out each and every time as sensitivity can develop with repeated use;
• the test must be carried out at least a full 48 hours before using the product.

The test can be inconvenient but we are constrained by biology; the delayed contact allergy reaction takes up to 48 hours to develop. If you cut corners, you risk missing a positive reaction. The test is the best available, tailored to each of the many different products on the market. Independently reviewed research shows that skin sensitivity testing is highly effective when carried out as instructed.

What should I do if I react to a skin sensitivity test?

If you react to the skin sensitivity test, do not go ahead and colour your hair, even with a product you may have used before. Contact the manufacturer (careline or helpline numbers are provided on the pack). If you have reacted to the skin sensitivity test, the company will help you and your doctor organise diagnostic patch-testing with a dermatologist. This will identify which ingredient led to the reaction. You must not use any product containing that ingredient in future, even from another manufacturer.

Because of the possibility that people who react to the hair dye paraphenylene diamine (PPD) could react to other, similar, hair dyes, all the products with dyes in this family will be labelled 'contains phenylene diamines'.

Top tips for using hair colorants safely

• Always read the instructions and make sure you understand them completely, especially the safety instructions.
• Always carry out the skin sensitivity test, exactly as instructed, each time, and allow a full 48 hours for any reaction to develop.
• If you are unsure of anything, call the company helpline using the number on the pack. 
• If you react to the skin sensitivity test, do not go ahead and colour your hair, even with another product. Call the company helpline for advice. 
• If you do suffer a reaction in spite of these guidelines, do let the manufacturer know.  Companies have your safety in mind and will investigate each incident to help ensure the safety of hair colorants for the millions of people who use them regularly.

Where can I find out more?

For more information on allergic and irritant reactions see the allergies section.

If you want to find out about different types of ingredients in your products, visit what's in my cosmetic?

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) is an association of manufacturers of cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery products, founded in 1945 to promote the interests of members, primarily with government. That remit has now extended to include the European Commission and many other regulatory bodies, national and international groups.

Members are manufacturers (full members), raw material suppliers and suppliers of services (associate members). Our Council is made up of senior industry representatives from small, medium, large and multi-national companies. Activities are funded through membership subscriptions.

The focus of our work centres on scientific, regulatory and legislative issues. We have a constant dialogue with the UK Government and this process is repeated at European level through COLIPA, the European trade body and internationally through an extensive network of national association contacts.

Visit the CTPA main website »

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) is the voice of the cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery industry in the UK. Our members vary from small and medium-sized companies to large multi-nationals and include manufacturers, raw material suppliers and service providers.

Our primary goal is to promote good working practice to ensure that consumers are provided with the very best products. To this end, we co-ordinate the industry's viewpoint on key issues such as science, innovation and safety and maintain an open dialogue with government, both at UK and European level, as well as with international regulatory authorities and key opinion formers.

CTPA recognises that the consumer has a right to understand the processes that industry and the regulatory bodies go through to ensure the safety and efficacy of cosmetic and toiletry products. Over the years we have steadily increased our focus on providing the public with direct access to the industry's perspective and progress on safety, science and innovation.

In April 2008 we launched our consumer information website, www.thefactsabout.co.uk, which provides scientific facts about common ingredients used in cosmetics and the industry's perspective on common safety questions as well as information on how products are regulated to ensure safety and efficacy.

Further information on the work of the CTPA is available from our main website www.ctpa.org.uk which also houses the full set of legislation under 'Cosmetic regulations'.