If you have booked colour and your professional has asked you to arrange a patch test beforehand, this is why.
What a patch test is
We mix a small amount of the colour you are booked for and apply a dab behind your ear or inside your elbow. You leave it alone for 48 hours. If nothing happens, we are clear to go ahead.
Why we insist
Permanent and demi-permanent colours contain ingredients that a small number of people react to. Reactions can appear suddenly in someone who has coloured their hair for years without a problem, which is exactly why a previous appointment is not proof that the next one is safe.
It is also a condition of our insurance and of the manufacturer’s guidance. A salon that skips it is not covered, and neither are you.
Who needs one, and how often
- Every new colour client, before the first appointment.
- Any client who has not had a colour service with us in the last six months.
- Anyone changing to a noticeably different product or a much higher lift.
Timing it
Forty-eight hours is the minimum. If your appointment is on a Saturday, aim for the Wednesday or Thursday before. Arrange your patch test directly with your chosen professional.
If you do react
Wash the area, do not scratch it, and let us know. A reaction to one product does not always rule out colour altogether. There are often alternatives, and Ryan or Sam will talk you through what is still possible.
Arrange yours directly with your chosen professional.