A woman has shared how an allergic reaction to hair dye left her on death’s door.
Jordan Blignaut, 20, a waitress from South Africa, was left in “excruciating” pain after a trip to the hairdressers’ went horribly wrong back in November 2021.
After transitioning from blonde to brown tresses, within four hours, Jordan started to notice a bright red, itchy swelling on her scalp.
Soon after, her entire face swelled up and her chest went tight as she was unable to drink, eat and struggled to breathe – as the young woman was rushed to hospital.
“I honestly thought I might die, which made me anxious and emotionally stressed and upset because I thought this could be my last day alive,” Jordan told NeedToKnow.Online, recalling the horrific moment on 28 November.
“Everyone was so worried about me and shed a few tears too.
“My sisters and I are really close and they are young, so thinking that I was about to die made me extremely depressed not knowing if I was going to see them grow up and be there for them through the rest of their life.
“I physically wasn’t able to walk, lie down, sit up, I couldn’t do anything.
“Feeling and being so close to dying left a terrible emotional state on me. “And I don’t wish anyone to go through what I went through.”
While in hospital, Jordan was placed on numerous drips and antibiotics to help ease the unbearable pain she was in.
She was also placed on a heart monitor and given oxygen to help her breathe.
The swelling eventually became so severe, she couldn’t fit into her own clothes.
Jordan said: “I was rushed to the ER and was code red, I felt so faint my dad had to help me walk until I got put into a bed.
“They did multiple blood tests and I got put on to a lot of drips, antibiotics, heavy pain meds and cortisone.
“Nothing helped the pain I was in.
“Going through the hospital I felt so embarrassed because everyone was just staring at me and all I had was tears rolling down my face.”
Jordan remained at the Mediclinic Morningside Hospital for over a week, while being closely monitored by staff.
However, it took 14 days for the swelling – which had since spread to her whole body – to fully go down.
The severity of the attack came as a huge shock to Jordan as she had previously dyed her hair before, with no issue.
She hasn’t reached out to the salon since the incident, as she just wanted to put the ordeal behind her.
Jordan said: “During the actual hair appointment, I felt relaxed and it was a calm environment.
“They [staff] were all very nice to me.
“I didn’t speak to them after the reaction as I knew I had sensitive skin but I didn’t think I would have an anaphylactic attack and blow up.
“I went through so much trauma during the reaction and hospital stay that I just wanted to leave it all behind me and move on from the situation.
“I’ve done blonde highlights twice before but never reacted besides having an itchy scalp, so it was a massive shock to see me blow up especially during the treatment of dyeing my hair dark, I felt no itch, pain or discomfort.”
While she says the incident was extremely traumatic, Jordan is now able to look back and laugh at what happened.
She added: “Looking back at all the photos I laugh about it because of how ridiculous I looked.
“And every time I’m sad I go back and look at the photos of me to make me smile.
“To everyone out there, if you have sensitive skin, or just in general, please always do a test patch before any dye goes on your head.
“I’m thankful for my family and friends who messaged me and phoned me every day checking up on me and being so worried as I was.
“I am also extremely grateful for the staff at the hospital, who basically saved my life. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
