I have an allergy to PPD, can I still have foils?

Hello,

I seem to have had a mild allergy to PPD (it only occurs when my roots are coloured with base six) and it affects my face, which becomes red, hot and itchy, approximately four days after colour.

When highlighted only it's fine. I am going grey and I am naturally dark. Can I have foils to prevent it touching my scalp or will I need to go blonde? Also, is blonde safe with a PPD allergy?

Thanks for any help...I'm too young to be grey, I'm only 30!

Anna, Leeds

An allergy to PPD is unfortunate and I am sorry to hear about it. I would stop having your hair tinted all over immediately as your allergy could be made worse by doing so which is quite dangerous.

Lighter shades do contain less PPD but that doesn't mean that they are free of the ingredient, bleaching products don't usually contain it (as they are used to lighten hair and not deposit artificial pigment).

Sometimes you can have a mixture of shades put in foils to mask the greys and give a multi tonal effect which is nice.

Personally I would avoid having any colour treatments, including highlights and lowlights as the product may still come into contact with the scalp when being applied or rinsed off.