How to prevent hair color disaster

Anyone who has used a hair coloring kit knows they should test the product before using it on their hair.

The instructions are right there in the pack – and yet most of us choose to ignore them.

Hair color products nowadays are safe, effective and mostly foolproof.

Yet every year hair color disasters happen with hair color kits because people like you and me chose not to follow a few simple steps.

You need to do two tests – a patch test and a strand test. You can do them both at the same time to avoid remixing the product. For the patch test you apply a small amount of mixed product to an area of skin usually the inside of your forearm and wait 48 hours for any sign of allergic response.

For the strand test you apply the product to a small piece of your hair to check the final hair color result and how long it takes to develop.

Of course your’e longing to get started and see the new you – do you really need to test? We’ve all been there – ignored the sensible instructions on the packaging. Well – here’s some very good reasons why you should do a test before you color your hair.

Hair color results vary – especially for gray hair or hair that has been previously bleached. If you don’t do the strand test you might find out too late. Then you’ll end up spending a lot more time and money correcting the bad hair result afterwards.

Manufacturers vary their formulations – you could react to a new ingredient in the product. Not only that – even if you have used the product before – your body changes. It’s very common to suddenly become sensitized to certain stimulants later in life. Don’t assume everything will be OK because you’ve used it before.

It will only hold you up 48 hours – surely not too long to make sure you get it right?

You can complain to the product manufacturers. If something goes wrong you have that right of redress – if you didn’t follow the instructions on the pack – forget it!

So be sensible – next time you have a hair color session at home – follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you’ll avoid any unexpected problems and get the result you want..