What chemicals need COSHH assessments in a UK hair salon?

Every UK salon needs separate COSHH assessments for permanent hair colour (PPD), hydrogen peroxide developer, ammonia in colour/perm products, sodium hypochlorite cleaning bleach, acetone nail polish remover, and acrylic nail monomer (MMA/EMA).

Is PPD hair dye really that dangerous?

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) in permanent hair colour is one of the top causes of occupational allergic contact dermatitis in UK hairdressing. Once sensitised, hairdressers can experience severe reactions from even brief future exposure, potentially career-ending. Gloves are mandatory for every application.

How many COSHH assessments does a typical salon need?

A fully-equipped UK hair and nail salon typically needs 12-20 individual COSHH assessments, one per chemical. This is why our Pro bundle (25 assessments, £59) or Business bundle (50 assessments, £119) fits most salons.

COSHH for Hair Salons UK 2026, Colour, Bleach, Perm

The 6 chemicals every UK salon must have COSHH assessments for

Based on HSE guidance for hairdressing (HSE hairdressing pages), these are the substances requiring individual COSHH assessments in a typical UK salon:

HIGH RISK

Permanent Hair Colour (PPD)

p-Phenylenediamine sensitiser, one of the top causes of occupational dermatitis in hairdressing. Requires gloves for every application, no exceptions.

MEDIUM

Hydrogen Peroxide (Developer)

Oxidiser and skin/eye irritant. Used in colour, bleach, and lightening. Ventilation required for mixing.

MEDIUM-HIGH

Ammonia (in colour/bleach)

Respiratory irritant. Present in oxidative dyes and perm solutions. Ventilation essential.

MEDIUM

Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)

Cleaning bleach for tools, surfaces, laundry. Corrosive to skin and eyes. Never mix with acid-based products.

LOW-MEDIUM

Acetone / Nail Polish Remover

Highly flammable. Nail salon staple. Ventilation and no ignition sources required.

MEDIUM-HIGH

Acrylic Nail Monomer (MMA/EMA)

Skin and respiratory sensitiser. Local exhaust ventilation at nail station required.

Cover your whole salon in one go

Our Pro bundle (£59) covers 25 assessments, enough for every substance in a fully-equipped hair & nail salon plus room for growth.

Start Free Assessment →See Pricing (from £29)

Why UK salons keep failing COSHH inspections

The most common gaps in salon COSHH paperwork, based on published HSE inspection findings and industry surveys:

Using a generic COSHH template downloaded from a random site, not specific to your workplace
Missing separate assessment for PPD (permanent colour), treating all colour products the same
No consideration of pregnant staff exposure to chemical fumes
Assessment done once at opening, never reviewed (COSHH 2002 requires annual review)
No ventilation assessment, most UK salons have basic extraction that isn't rated for chemical fumes
Storage of incompatible chemicals in the same cupboard (bleach next to ammonia-based products)

Salon-specific control measures our generator pre-fills

Because we've built our substance library specifically for salon use, control measures come pre-populated with salon-appropriate wording:

PPD assessments: mandatory gloves for every application, barrier cream at hairline, monthly stylist skin checks
Peroxide assessments: non-metallic mixing tools, ventilated mixing area, storage away from combustibles
Nail acrylic assessments: desk-mounted local exhaust ventilation, glove frequency changes, MMA-free product preference
Cleaning bleach assessments: never in the same cupboard as toilet cleaner (acid) or ammonia-based products