Skin Testing

Your safety is always at the top of our list of priorities, that is why we use colourstart skin testing patches to check for sensitivity to some of the chemicals regularly used in hair colourants which can lead to allergic reactions.

Colourstart is a unique patch test used by hairdressers as a skin allergy test. These tests help the hairdresser to check if clients are likely to have a problem with hair dye.

PPD (paraphenylenediamine) is the active ingredient found in permanent hair dye, which is proven to elicit allergic reactions in hypersensitive individuals.

As reported in the press recently, allergy to PPD can cause uncomfortable reactions, which may result in symptoms such as soft tissue swelling, blisters and infection. In rare and extremely severe cases the reactions can be life threatening.

These allergic responses can develop at any time.

Instructions on how to use colourstart

48 hours prior to your appointment, remove clear protective film from front of Colourstart. Press firmly to the inner arm with the Colourstart logo face-down on clean, healthy, grease free skin (close to the elbow fold).

Wet the back of Colourstart thoroughly with either a wet sponge or water spray and leave for at least 20 seconds.

Carefully slide off the backing paper, pat dry with a tissue and leave Colourstart in place until your appointment.

To ensure your suitability for a colour service before your visit to the salon, email us your details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will send you a test through the post.

Making bad hand days a thing of the past

Work-related contact dermatitis is a common problem among hairdressers due to frequent contact with water and the chemicals in hairdressing products.

Contact dermatitis can be an unsightly / unpleasant and painful condition which could even result in your hairdresser having to change career.

If you see your hairdresser wearing gloves, they are protecting their hands so they can keep doing what they do best.