BodyPainter Rich wrote:
This is a great example of why I highly recommend insurance and using only the safest materials you can buy.

Rich why would you place the initial importance on protecting yourself?  Might one consider what licensed cosmetologist and and makeup artist are trained to do... Notably a patch test prior to using a new product over a large surface area on a client... but then again possibly body-painters aren't required to license are they Rich? 

From the above article

A young woman has learned the hard way that you should always do a patch test on your skin before using a new beauty product - especially if that product is hair dye...

This is indeed the professionally responsible thing to recommend... It is oft said that only a mercenary would likely place their own financial well being above that of their client... enough said... (and btw this is decidedly NOT a personal attack Rich, it is however an attack on a want of professional procedural knowledge) This is an Industry Forum Rich... 

Also Rich you can't purchase safety, it is not a commodity... Case in point, preventable medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the United States, something that seems to get overlook all to often... 

In my formal training as a makeup artist I was constantly taught that "Your client's safety is always paramount" We had to master a myriad of issues & disorders of the epidermis additionally have a solid grasp of the many hazards and yes dangers latent within the product and application techniques we were being trained to use on the general public...  There are compelling reasons why cosmetologist and in a number of states, makeup artist require a license before they can practice on the clients within the general public.

And yes there are indeed cosmetic grade product which licensed makeup artist and cosmologist are trained to be keenly aware of... However the caustic agents in permanent hair dyes are among they most aggressive agents used by non-medically licensed professionals... While at the same this can't be entirely said for makeup, there are inherent risk there also... allergic reactions to product (especially foundations) is of VERY serious concern... To the point that I always insist on doing a 24 hour patch test before I will airbrush a silicone base product on a bride... the mere thought of an allergic reaction on a bride's wedding day is a makeup artist's worst nightmare...

Bottom Line?  If you are going to forgo having a licensed colorist dye your hair PLEASE consider doing a patch test... Experience is a brutal teacher and can indeed in a worst case scenario be fatal...

A happy and joyful Thanksgiving all here on Mayhem...
Trust you all get to share with family and friends...

BodyPainter Rich wrote:
Why do I feel like you have some sort of problem with me Thomas? Did I piss in your cornflakes?

Not to worry Rich.  There seem to be lots of ass hats here on MM that have to pull down or deride other folks to make themselves feel OK. 

Insurance is just a good, practical way to protect yourself, your business and your assets.  Not all allergic reactions can be predicted by a "patch test".  In fact, they are actually pretty unreliable.  A good history taking about previous allergic reactions is better, but again, not infallible.

Kent Art Photography wrote:
Edit:- Okay, I should change that to 'people in North America' and apologise to the Canadians amongst us - but then Canadians should know better!

I just came from the meeting, and I asked. We do, and apology accepted.