What would you clever ladies suggest I do...

IANAD but I'm guessing you are allergic to PPD. It is a coloring component that becomes more concentrated the darker the hair dye. Not all dyes have this and bleach has none. If you are allergic to it I would suggest using direct dyes or pure henna (or other natural colorants) only if you are looking to add color. You still need to be careful because some people with PPD allergy can cross-react to azo dyes and other substances. In any case I suggest doing a skin test behind your elbow 72 hours prior to bleaching or dyeing.

Information on PPD allergy:
http://www.dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/paraphenylenediamine-allergy.html

Well i've had allergy tests and they didn't reveal anything! The doctor said he had no idea why I blew up like a balloon as I had the patch tests on for a week! Very confusing. My big worry is the fact that the hair at the back of my crown and along my centre parting has broken off in big chunks. So I have long roots, about four inches, and then just broken ratty hair. Should I try bleaching, or should I just leave the roots and get my extensions in and have it look a bit crap....

I don't know what is worse! I've saved for a year to get this redone, and I don't want to be bald, but I don't want to look like rubbish. I also have turquise, special effects hair, and I don't know whether to go steel grey, which I have bought pravana for, or to try and go to peachy pink. I have no idea what is more achievable from turquoise! I want to feel nice again! 🙁

Is it not possible that you got very severe chemical burns from the bleaching which caused the initial swelling? It sounds like it was pretty bad.

I wouldn't worry about going bald right now, it doesn't sound likely. Especially if it's on the hair that was processed before that's breaking. If the new growth is fine, there's nothing to worry about.

Just don't allow hairdressers to use two processes that involve peroxide twice as you probably have a sensitive scalp. They shouldn't be doing it anyway, but so many do.

Well the didn't double process as such. What happened is they bleached my t section and not the rest, and didn't leave it long enough so when I realised what the cheeky sods had done I went back a a couple of weeks later and got the rest bleached, but they went over the top section again with bleach, then I applied special effects turquoise straight after and a day later my eyes was all swollen up and I had hives covering my entire body and face. Was crap!

Now i'm getting my roots finally bleached but i'm so so nervous! I have an epipen though, so I won't die if I do get allergic, I hope! Still not sure what to do about my turquoise though, as it's not going to fade at all, so I might chuck Crazy Colour Lilac over it.....then even if it's yellowy it won't look too bad...

Even though you had the allergy testing I'd still suggest doing a patch test of the lightener or any dyes if at all possible. If you reacted to something once you will react again. I know someone that died of anaphylaxis so I do take it very seriously. No hair color is worth being sickened or killed for so please be careful.

Oh christ i'm terrified. I haven't time to do a patch test now. I was told you can't be allergic to bleach, as it contains no allergens. I have put two patches on of the pravana I plan to use, and i'm intending to wait a couple of days after the bleaching before I put that on so my bleached head has time to close down, so to speak. Is there anything I can do to reclose the cuticles on my head after bleaching at all...

I'm scared.

Oh christ i'm terrified. I haven't time to do a patch test now. I was told you can't be allergic to bleach, as it contains no allergens. I have put two patches on of the pravana I plan to use, and i'm intending to wait a couple of days after the bleaching before I put that on so my bleached head has time to close down, so to speak. Is there anything I can do to reclose the cuticles on my head after bleaching at all...

I'm scared.

Sorry, I'm definitely not trying to scare you or upset you! I just wanted to be sure you weren't being blase about it. It's true you wouldn't be allergic to bleach but sometimes there are additives that you could be allergic to, or toners, and since you don't know what it was I just suggested the test so you could completely rule out the bleach/ peroxide/ dye as a cause. It might have been completely coincidental  - you could have been reacting to something you ate. My concern is that you clearly reacted to something but still don't know what it was. I'm not sure what all you were tested for but there are the standard tests and there are more extensive tests that can be run.

I think you mean close your follicles? That is where your hair emerges from. You can't open or close them but in any case it wouldn't make a difference as it would be enough just for any possible offending substance to be on your skin. I know these are probably not things you want to hear, but I would rather be that voice of caution than to give you a hollow reassurance. If you are going to go ahead without a test, bring your EpiPen and make sure you inform whomever is doing your service that you have had some sort of allergic response after your last hair experience. You can tell them you were tested and that they didn't find anything but you just wanted to let them know and let them know you have your pen with you.

I really appreciate your thoughts on this, as you're totally right, hollow reassurance is not useful to anyone! I had patch tests containing the chemicals from the bleach as far as I know, but it was pretty lackadaisical feeling, like my concerns and fears weren't really taken seriously. I was covered face down in huge welts and my eyes were swollen right up, and it's been a year since I bleached, so I felt like it was time to bite the bullet, so to speak, as the patch tests revealed nothing whatsoever.

I didn't get it done today though, I was way too anxious, I am going in friday instead hoping i'm a little less wound up, as I have pretty massive panic attacks which I can mistake for actually dying and didn't want to drive them mad with me being silly. I will go in and tell them i've got my pen, and i'll take loratadine before I go in to be sure. I wish I knew what I was allergic too....it's so scary. I had anaphylaxis from medication before and it's the most scary thing, no one wants to die for pure vanity!

Yes, I fully understand about panic attacks! Not silly at all. The best thing is that you are aware of your situation; you have knowledge and your medications and know yourself well enough to seek help if necessary. If you are ever able to have more thorough testing done in the future though I'd definitely suggest doing so.

I just wanted to say I got my hair bleached and it was all okay! I clearly wasn't allergic to the bleach, but something else, perhaps the Manic Panic. Either way its not the greatest job and I have orangey bits, but frankly, i'm just relieved it didn't make me poorly! Thank you for your support with this. I now have to find a way of toning down this orange so that my blue looks like bloody green. Urgh!

Yay, glad everything went okay! You can always tone your hair with a pastel version the opposite color on the color wheel to neutralize. The best suggestion I've heard is to use an app or program to switch a picture of your hair into a negative image; it gives you a good idea of what dye color you should aim for. Make sure you really heavily dilute the color in conditioner or pastelizer and of course strand test first to make sure your mix is right.