Pauley Perrette (or NCIS’ goth queen Abby Sciuto) found herself in a hair-raising situation, quite literally. After years of dyeing her naturally blonde hair jet black, Perrette developed what’s called an “acquired allergy.” The unexpected reaction didn’t just mess with her look; it had half her head swelling up like a balloon.

Pauley Perrette as Abby Sciuto in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

As alarming as that sounds, Perrette took it in stride, sharing the ordeal to raise awareness. Turns out, you can be allergic to something you’ve used for ages. And for Perrette, the cost of keeping Abby’s look was no small price.

Pauley Perrette’s black hair struggles: The hidden cost of Abby’s look Pauley Perrette as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto in NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

Pauley Perrette once rocked NCIS’s Abby Sciuto look with her iconic black hair, but dyeing it came with unexpected consequences.