Hair dye is a no-no for children under 16

 

BBC Wales found that because some hair salons do not follow guidelines for hair dye products, the lives of children may be at risk.

 

According to the manufacturers and professional bodies in the industry, dye products should not be used under the age of 16. But a 12-year-old who went undercover for BBC Wales' X-Ray was offered colouring appointments at 16 salons.

 

Chemicals contained in hair dyes in rare cases can cause serious and even life-threatening allergic reactions.

 

Hair dye manufacturers say they are not targeting anyone under the age of 16. The European Commission insists that this warning should be placed on all hair dye packages.

 

 

The beauty salon federation, the industry's own body, goes further. It told its members that hair color products should not be applied to anyone under the age of 16. However, when X-ray undercover girls tested the guidance - only one of 17 beauty salons took action and told her she was too young.

 

Case analysis

 

Sammi Ford is very aware of the danger of dyeing your hair. In March, she had a severe allergic reaction to the dye kit in her home. "In half an hour, my hair itched," she told. "About an hour later, my body gave way to a burning, itchy feeling. Then the situation got worse. My eyes were so swollen that I couldn't actually open them.

 

Her face is covered with sores that can take weeks to heal. But if she did the recommended skin patch test, the reaction could have been avoided.

It involves placing a small amount of dye product in a bare skin area and keeping it for 48 hours before continuing to use it. Any pain or redness indicates that an allergic reaction may occur and dye should be avoided.

 

The manufacturer declares that a patch test must be performed, which is for a suit used by a home dye kit and a professional in a hair salon. The hairdresser's own federation further said, "The allergy test is necessary for every salon."

 

Donna Wallbank, who owns a salon at Brynmawr in Blanau Gwent, said she saw more and more customers respond to skin tests. She said: "We are used to seeing the reaction once a year." "But since May, we have seen it three times. Think about what might have happened if the service had not been implemented without a skin test."

 

"Shocked"

Shirley Davis is an industry expert and representative of the hairdressing committee in Wales. She said she was shocked by the results of the secret film.

 

"I was shocked. They should have said that I am sorry. You are not 16 years old. We cannot do it and send her away," she told. “Everyone in the industry is working to make it professional, and our salon is actually thinking about coloring the hair of young people. "If they do something to this young girl and she has anaphylactic shock, she may die - how serious this is. "You have to patch tests under the age of 16, and this is a no-no under the age of 16."