Q: My scalp is red and irritated after getting my gray colored. Is there a hair color formula for sensitive scalps? I have
been using Aveda and Paul Mitchell. Thank you.
A: The fact that you have shown a sensitivity reaction to your haircolor service is proof that patch tests are a good idea before
you have ANY chemical service. The fact of the matter is that there are virtually no hair color formulas that can be called “100%
Safe” for everyone because there are so many ingredients to which someone could be sensitive and have a reaction.
Your best course of action would be to talk to your doctor about the ingredients in the hair color
that was used and see what he or she thinks was the most likely cause of your sensitivity. You will want to talk to the salon
professional that did the service, or take the packaging if it was an at-home kit, in order to provide an accurate listing of ingredients.
Because different people are sensitive to different substances, it is hard to say which products
or formulas would be safer. If the color product contained lightening agents and that’s what you were sensitive to, then a color
that was deposit-only might be safe for you. If it was the coloring agents that you were sensitive you, you might find a product
that uses different coloring agents and be fine. However, if you are sensitive to ingredients that are common to all hair color
formulas, you would be looking at having a reaction to any product used.
So talk with your doctor and with your hair stylist about the sensitivity. At the very least, the
stylist can probably help you by performing test patches (of different color formulas available in the salon) to determine the ones to which you show sensitivity.
There are additives available at many beauty supply stores in the haircolor aisle that are
designed to help with sensitive scalps and to make some of the harsher chemical mixtures “less harsh” to the scalp. These may help
in your case, but should still be used only after a patch test has been performed.
