It’s a long one but it’s soooo important so please find a comfy spot, grab a drink and let us fill you in on the latest.

So just when we thought we’d got this ‘return from lockdown’ routine nailed, in the hope that this is the 3rd and final time of having to deal with it. Our very unhelpful industry chiefs and insurers have decided to make things complicated. We must follow strict protocol from our manufacturers to ensure that we are testing you for allergic reactions to PPD found in hair dye. Without following this we will not be insured in the event of a reaction. Since covid there has been an increase in claims for allergic reactions to colour (although nothing scientifically proven) and with so many asymptomatic people it’s necessary for everyone to be tested on our return. Your safety is our priority. Commonly known as a skin or patch test it is now called an ‘Allergy Alert Test’.

We have extensively researched the methods of testing to find the best and safest way for you to have the colour you want. The more traditional options mean that we are restricted on the day to which colour can be used on your hair. Without getting all technical this simply means whatever we test you with is the colour you must have at your appointment. This leaves no room for artistic license for us and can also mean that you wouldn’t be satisfied with your result. There are certain colouring techniques that this simply doesn’t suit so you’ll be advised by your stylist on which testing method is best for you. You’ve all waited long enough and we really want to give you the hair you’ve been dreaming of these past few months!

Our most favoured way to test is to use the new Colourstart patch test. This is a licensed medicine and so must be purchased at the recommended retail price of £15, by law we cannot give this away for free. By using the Colourstart patch we are testing for an allergy to PPD and it’s derivatives found in hair dyes. These are the ingredients which can cause an allergic reaction.

The great news about this test is the chances are, you will never need it again. You’ll be free to choose any colour every time you visit and we’ll be free to use any colour we need to achieve your hair goals. Without the use of Colourstart you will have to keep trekking to the salon for traditional skin tests every few weeks/months which will also incur a consultation fee of £8 each time.

The Colourstart patch test can be purchased from us online and delivered straight to your door. So much more convenient for your busy lives.

Here’s what you need to do…

  • We’ll send you an invite to register for your passport on the Colourstart website

  • Answer the 6 questions and submit the result to your professional. Our self employed team members have their own name listed, if you can’t find it select ‘K Collective’

  • By sharing your result we will be contacted by Colourstart and we’ll send you an invoice to purchase the test

  • Once you’ve paid we’ll send your test in the post. Please read the instructions carefully and follow them on the colourstart website. You will need the batch code from the packaging to register your test and the results online.

  • Register your results on your Colourstart Passport and unless you have a reaction you are good to go!

If you got this far and your coffee isn’t cold, well done!

We know this may sound like a bit of a faff but it is honestly the safest, most convenient and cost effective way for you to be tested. It gives you the choice of hair colour that you want on the day, allows your stylist flexiblitly to create an amazing result and it’s likely you’ll never need to do it again.

If you still have questions about this service please find the Colourstart website here or get in touch with us via email at colourstart@kcollective.salon.

Once we start contacting you to make appointments we’ll also answer any questions that you have.