Is it time to ditch the dye and grow grey gracefully because colouring your hair is too full of nasty chemicals? Jed Hamill of Graham Webb International gives you the low-down and advice on how to colour with confidence.

How can you tell if you are allergic to an ingredient in hair dye before you use it? Well, the simple answer is, you can’t!

There is no point reading the list of ingredients in most hair colours as they are all by and large complex chemical compounds which make zero sense to you and me.

So is there a risk involved and is it really worth it?

There’s no doubt that as a nation we are become more and more interested in our appearance and more eager to halt the obvious signs of ageing.

Colouring your hair used to be something done in secret and never discussed in public as it would cause huge offence to insinuate that someone wasn’t quite au naturel!

However, as hair colouring becomes more popular and people start hitting the bottle (of dye) earlier and earlier, it’s clear that the press will seize upon accompanying horror stories with glee and it does appear that we hear of more instances of allergic reactions, but as long as you follow a few simple rules there is absolutely no reason why you should stop colouring your hair.

If you are having a professional colour, good salons will ask you to undergo a skin test, also known as a patch test, at least 48 hours before your appointment.

They will not charge you for this and it will take less than a minute.

If a salon doesn’t insist on a skin test, either ask for one yourself or go elsewhere.

The way that it works is that a small amount of hair colour is dabbed onto your skin with a cotton bud, usually behind your ear and left in place for 48 hours to see if there is any reaction (redness, itchiness, soreness or swelling).

If you do suffer a reaction, let the salon know and they will report it to the product manufacturer.

The big name brands have consumers' safety in mind (as well as their own reputation of course) and so will thoroughly investigate every incident to help ensure the safety of hair colorants.

The story is similar for home hair dyes. However tedious it may seem, always read the instructions and make sure you understand them completely and always carry out the skin allergy test, exactly as instructed, each time you use the dye, and allow a full 48 hours for any reaction to develop.

If any reaction does develop, do not use the product and inform the manufacturer immediately - there is usually a helpline number on the box.

The other question I am often asked is whether it is safe to colour your hair when pregnant. The answer is that there has been no research done to say that it is either safe or unsafe.

The one thing we know is that chemicals are absorbed into your body through the scalp, so you may feel more confident asking for a treatment like highlights which puts only a minimal amount of colour in contact with your skin or opt for a colour which only lasts a limited number of washes.

You have weigh up the odds - will a new colour make you feel great or will it make you a nervous wreck for nine months? Only you can decide!

The best advice is to think about it and consult your GP first - happy colouring!