The easiest way to allergy test for colour

With a Colourstart Passport you may not need to test again

INTRODUCING COLOURSTART®

Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa has always conducted regular Allergy Alert Testing (AAT) on its clients in line with guidelines from the colour manufacturers we work with to conduct hair and beauty services. The Government regulator MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have licenced a new ready-to-use patch test - ‘Colourstart’ - to find out if you might be allergic to ingredients found in most colourants (p-phenylenediamine, also known as PPD).

Colourstart is supported by a Passport system that allows you to store the results of your test and share them with us instead of coming in for an AAT. Once a test has been carried out and a “OK to colour” has been recorded, future colour services will only require you to answer six short risk-based questions.

At Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa, we will now be using the Colourstart system and will therefore require all new customers, or any existing customer that has not visited us within the prior 6 months, to obtain a Colourstart Passport prior to having a colour service at the salon. Step by step instructions can be found below.

STEP BY STEP GUIDE

STEP 1 - CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT

Create a free Colourstart passport on Colourstart’s app or website and follow the set up instructions.

Please allow at least 7 days before your colour appointment.

Don’t worry, if you are unsure whether the hair or beauty service you have booked requires you to conduct an AAT, you will receive a notification from us.

STEP 2 - PURCHASe COLOURSTART TEST

Purchase your test direct from Colourstart here. Alternatively you can purchase in-salon.

Tests are £15 with free delivery and at Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa they are redeemable against your first colour appointment in-salon.

Colourstart - record your result

STEP 3 - RECORD YOUR RESULT

Finish by confirming whether you’ve experienced a reaction to your Colourstart Patch Test.

If you don’t experience a reaction to the test you’ll get a green ‘OK to colour hair’ Passport, which any participating salon will accept instead of a standard test, even for walk-in colour and repeat colourings.

Download THE Colourstart app

The new Client Passport app is now available from Google Play or App Store

Colourstart Google Play Store app link
Colour Start Apple App Store Link

FAQs

Full FAQS can be found on Colourstart’s website here

  • The Colourstart test is £15 and can be purchased direct from Colourstart here or in-salon.

    Initial signing up and ongoing screening on the passport is free.

  • The Colourstart test is a medicine regulated by the MHRA and there is a legal requirement to charge for it., but don’t worry - at Richard Ward the £15 charge is redeemable against your first colour appointment with us. Simply show your purchase receipt to our reception team on arrival.

  • You can choose to opt out of the colour passport.

    You will have to abide by our in-salon AAT (Allergy Alert Test) policy and visit the salon every 6 months for testing and screening questions.

    This service is free but must be kept up-to-date. The AAT in-salon will take approximately 5-10 mins. We will mix PPD and oxydant and apply a small amount either behind your ear or on your forearm. These appointments can be booked in advanced but you must allow 48 hours for the result to be obtained. You will then be asked to notify the salon of any reaction and we will only proceed with the relevant hair or beauty service if there has been no reaction. If you have a reaction to hair colour or to an allergy alert test, you must seek medical advice.

    All customers who have not had a hair colour application or lash/brow tinting services in our salon in the preceding 6 months must comply with our AAT policy.

    Please bear in mind if you would like to change your colour or we are switching brands we will need to re-test you for every change.