This month marks the fifth anniversary of Colourstart®, the universal professional allergy screening system that has helped salons identify potential hair colour allergies before treatment and has contributed to preventing hundreds of allergic reactions across the UK.
Developed over 15 years in collaboration with leading dermatologists, Colourstart introduced a new approach to allergy screening for professional hair colour services. Combining an MHRA-licensed allergy screening test with its fully auditable Colourstart Passport technology platform, the system has given salons a consistent, compliant and brand-independent solution to managing colour allergies.
Five years on from launch, Colourstart is now used by salons and colour professionals who are seeking a reliable way to demonstrate duty of care while maintaining complete creative flexibility.
“Colourstart was created to solve a long-standing challenge within the industry – how to deliver reliable, compliant allergy screening without limiting professional colour services,” said CEO Nick Plunkett. “Five years later, we are proud to have supported salons in preventing hundreds of allergic reactions while allowing colourists the freedom to focus on creativity and client experience.”
Unlike manufacturer-specific testing protocols, Colourstart is a universal system that can be used alongside any professional colour brand. The system allows salons to train teams around one consistent process, simplifying compliance and improving record keeping.
Clients can order a Colourstart screening kit directly from their salon or online via colourscreen.me. The screening process involves a simple at-home patch test, with results recorded through the Colourstart Passport app. Once successfully completed, clients receive a digital ‘OK to Colour’ status that can be redeemed at participating salons. Future colour appointments can be managed through a simple rescreening process, ensuring records remain current and fully auditable.
The digital nature of the system provides an important layer of protection for businesses. Since its launch, Colourstart has become an important part of risk management for many professional salons, providing reassurance for salon owners, colourists and clients alike.
As the industry continues to evolve, Colourstart remains committed to improving standards in hair colouring while giving professionals the confidence to explore every aspect of colour creativity.
Businesses using Colourstart are covered by most major insurers and where they are not get direct cover from a special Colourstart Vendors Extension.
Colourstart gives colourists peace-of-mind to unleash their complete colour creativity.