Policy
Patch tests
Eyelash and eyebrow tints use a dye. Before that dye goes near your eyes, a very small amount is dabbed somewhere less exposed — usually behind an ear or in the crook of an elbow — and left alone for a while. That is the whole thing. It takes about two minutes, it costs nothing, and it is the single most useful precaution in this part of the trade.
Why it is asked for
Tint reactions are uncommon, but when they happen they happen around the eyes, which is a bad place for it. A patch test moves that risk somewhere small and harmless first. It is also what the studio's insurance expects: without a documented test beforehand, a tint is not covered.
It applies to everyone, including people who have been tinted for years and people tested somewhere else. Sensitivities can appear at any point, and a test done in another salon with another product is not evidence about this one. That is standard practice, not distrust.
When it needs doing
At least 48 hours before your appointment — a reaction can take that long to show up, so a test done the same morning tells you very little. Anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks ahead is ideal.
You do not need a separate trip for it in most cases. If you already have another appointment booked, it can be done at the end of that one. If you do not, ask when you book and Olga will sort out the quickest way — often a two-minute doorstep visit.
How long it lasts
About six months from the day it is done, as long as the product does not change. After that it is worth doing again. Your patch test date is on your account so you can see when it runs out.
If your skin reacts
Keep an eye on the spot over the following 48 hours. If you notice anything at all there — redness, itching, swelling, soreness, a rash — then:
- wash the area with plain water and mild soap;
- do not go ahead with the tint;
- let Olga know, so it goes on your record and is not offered again.
Nobody at the studio can tell you what caused it, whether you are allergic to something, or what it means — that is not something a beautician is qualified or permitted to say. If your skin is bothering you, or a reaction is spreading or severe, speak to a pharmacist or your GP, and seek urgent care if you feel unwell.
A patch test is a precaution, not a guarantee. Passing one does not promise that a tint will suit you, and it is not a medical assessment of any kind. If you are pregnant, have a skin condition around the eyes, or have reacted to hair dye or tint before, mention it when you book so the appointment can be planned around it.
Does it hold up my booking?
No. You can book a tint now and arrange the patch test afterwards — the booking screen will remind you, and it will never stop you finishing. Olga would rather move an appointment by a few days than have you skip the test, so if the timing gets tight she will say so and offer you another slot.
Anything else, ask when you book — the notes field gets read. See also deposits and cancellations.