Do Beauty Professional offer Patch Tests?

Two in Three Beauty Professionals in the South East Do Not Offer Patch Tests

A recent study has revealed that, despite widespread news about the drastic reactions that can result from neglecting the patch test prerequisite, almost three quarters of hair and beauty professionals operating in the UK do not advise clients that this needs to take place prior to relevant treatments. Considering the regions at risk, clients in Wales and the South West are most likely to be advised about the patch test, whilst those in Scotland are least likely to have adequate warning.

Recent undercover research has discovered the extent to which hair and beauty practices in the UK are not consistently asking for or carrying out patch tests, to adhere to the safety requirement which sees lives saved in the UK. Many beauty products, such as dyes, colorants and tints, require and/or recommend patch tests as a safety measure in order to minimise the risk of an unexpected allergic reaction. Many of these products can cause severe and even life-threatening reactions, even after previous use, and so patch tests are critical to ensure the safety of the client.

The premier UK association for beauty, hair, holistic and sports therapies, www.babtac.com (British Association of Beauty Therapists and Cosmetology), commissioned the research in order to discover more about patch test regulations in practice. The experiment saw researchers contact 144 hair and beauty professionals, with an even split of mobile therapists and salons. An even geographical representation was used. There was also an even divide of the services targeted, including hair dressing, spray tanning and brow tint practices, in order to assess any variations based on the service that was enquired about. A patch test should be required and/or recommended by the manufacturer for all of these treatments.

Overall, following the booking enquiries, researchers found that 72% of the targeted salons and mobile technicians did not mention a patch test and were prepared to book in the potential client without undergoing the appropriate precaution. Of these, the majority (59%) were mobile technicians, while the remaining 41% were salons.

The worst offenders were revealed to be those offering fake tanning services, of which only 9% asked for a patch test, while the remaining 91% did not mention it at all. Following this, beauticians were next to slack when it came to their safety requirements, with only 35% mentioning a test, followed by 39% of hairdressers who adhered to the practice.

When considering the regions most at risk, the geographical breakdown revealed the following (in order) most likely areas to neglect the patch test, leaving potential customers at risk:

1. Scotland – 92% (of salons and mobile therapists here fail to offer patch test).

2. East of England – 83%

3. Northern Ireland – 83%

4. Yorkshire & Humberside – 75%

5. North East – 75%

6. London – 75%

7. North West – 67%

8. East Midlands – 67%

9. South East – 67%

10. West Midlands – 67%

11. South West – 58%

12. Wales – 50%

Sarah Condon of BABTAC commented:

“Even when trying to be positive about these results and considering Wales as the most likely region to patch test, it’s still only a 50% ask rate! This is absolutely shocking and is a real risk for the public. It’s a wonder there are not more instances in which people have awful reactions. Salons and professionals are not only disrespecting their clientele, but also leaving themselves open to horrendous damages should something go wrong.”

She continued:

“We have all seen the horror stories and, if you’re not asked to go in for a patch test, don’t just keep schtum – make sure you initiate the conversation to protect yourself. If you have any doubts about a salon, find a different one instead. This is a real cause for concern and I hope many people in the industry, whether they recognise their own failings in these results or not, will take notice and make sure they and their staff brush up their habits.”

ABOUT BABTAC

Established in 1977, BABTAC is the premier UK association for beauty, hair, holistic and sports therapies. The organisation is ‘not for profit’, with the well-being of our members, regulation of the industry and public welfare at the forefront of the operation. Governed by a council of industry professionals, BABTAC also offers members unrivaled beauty expertise, a rigorous ethical code and a professional practice standard