Skip to content 
Dyeing your hair can serve purposes from simple aesthetic changes to expressions of identity and boosts in confidence. Hairdressers can therefore provide this professional service, helping you to achieve your desired style and colour. However, if a hairdresser falls short of this expectation, you could experience profound and long-lasting physical and psychological effects. For instance, failing to perform a patch test can lead to allergic reactions, including itching, burning, wheezing, and even breathing difficulties. If you’ve experienced something similar, you may be giving some thought to making a hair dye allergy claim. Fortunately, our team are here to help you navigate this process from start to finish.
At Legal Helpline, our team is here to help you through this challenging time. As part of the free services that we offer, our advisors can answer your questions, provide helpful advice, and offer a case check to look at the merits of your claim. Following this, you could be connected with one of the specialist personal injury solicitors from our panel to start your compensation claim. Working on a No Win No Fee basis, our panel of solicitors are equipped to achieve the hair dye allergy compensation that you rightfully deserve.
To start your hair dye allergy claim today, please get in touch with our advisory team for confidential 24/7 assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Make A Hair Dye Allergy Claim?
- Examples Of Hair Dye Allergy Claims
- How Much Can I Claim For An Hair Dye Allergic Reaction?
- What Other Damages Could You Claim For An Allergic Reaction?
- How Long Do I Have To Make A Hair Dye Allergy Claim?
- Why Claim For An Allergic Reaction To Hair Dye With Our Team?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye
- Contacting Legal Helpline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Helpful Beauty Treatment Injury Resources
Can I Make A Hair Dye Allergy Claim?
Yes, you could make a hair dye allergy claim if you can demonstrate that the harm you suffered was directly caused by the negligent actions of a hairdressing salon, barbershop, or another liable third party. To do so, you will first need to establish that negligence occurred. This can be demonstrated by fulfilling the following eligibility requirements:
You Were Owed A Duty Of Care
Another person, business, or organisation must have owed you a legal duty of care at the time of the allergic reaction. A duty of care essentially means a third party must take reasonable steps to protect your health and safety in the circumstances where the injury occurred.
Hairdressers, beauty salons, mobile hairstylists, barbershops, and other parties specifically have a legal obligation under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This requires parties that control such public spaces to keep visitors reasonably safe by implementing practical measures. For instance, a salon could provide staff with sufficient training or implement a process to ask customers about any known allergies.
Additionally, businesses like hairdressers and barbershops are required to provide their services with skill and care. This is outlined by Part 1 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
That Duty of Care Was Breached
You must be able to demonstrate that the duty of care was breached by a third party. This occurs when the responsible party does not act as a reasonable person or organisation would, such as salon staff failing to perform a patch test, handling chemicals improperly, or making avoidable mistakes.
You Suffered An Injury Or Illness Due To The Breach
To be eligible to pursue compensation, you must have suffered a physical injury, psychological damage, and/or an illness. This harm can range from minor injuries to more serious or long-term conditions, including mild irritation, severe dermatitis, or life-threatening anaphylaxis.
You can get tailored advice on your eligibility to claim by chatting with one of our friendly advisors today.
Examples Of Hair Dye Allergy Claims
Some examples of hair dye allergy claims include harm arising from the improper use of products or the failure to perform patch tests. Allergies can develop over time, even with previously used products. Therefore, salons should take all the necessary precautions when styling new clients or when using new products to prevent allergic reactions.
If a hairdressing salon or other liable party failed to ensure your safety when dyeing your hair, this could result in potentially life-threatening physical and mental harm. As such, please see the following examples of negligence and how a hair dye allergy claim could arise in the aftermath:
- A hairdresser fails to perform a patch test within 48 hours of applying dye to a new client’s hair. The client suffers an allergic reaction to the paraphenylenediamine (PPD) ingredient, resulting in severe swelling, lightheadedness, and persistent irritation. The incident leads to severe hair breakage and the development of long-term PTSD.
- An assistant at a beauty salon uses the wrong chemical mixture when preparing to dye a client’s hair, resulting in an allergic reaction to the developer and serious chemical burns to the scalp and ears.
- A stylist fails to record or review a client’s known allergy history. This causes the client to go into life-threatening anaphylactic shock during treatment, as well as hair breakage, hair loss, and severe skin irritation.
The above list is not exhaustive, and allergic reactions to hair dye can occur in various other scenarios. To discuss the specific circumstances of your personal hair dye allergy experience, please get in touch today with one of our advisors.
How Much Can I Claim For An Hair Dye Allergic Reaction?
The amount you could claim for a hair dye allergic reaction will depend on the severity of your injuries and how this impacts your long-term recovery and quality of life. As such, compensation is calculated on a case-by-case basis.
If your hair dye allergy claim is successful, you would be awarded general damages as part of your settlement. This head of claim will compensate you for any physical and mental pain and suffering you endured.
General damages can be calculated by solicitors using a copy of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Commonly used among legal professionals, the JCG publication provides compensation guidelines for injuries of varying severity.
All figures in the table below, apart from the first entry, have been taken from the JCG. Please be aware that these are guidelines only and do not guarantee the amount you may receive.
| Injury | Notes | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries with financial losses | More than one form of serious injury with special damages, including medical expenses, lost earnings, and care costs | Up to £250,000+ |
| Very severe facial scarring | In young claimants with a disfiguring and psychological effect. | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe facial scarring | Substantial disfigurement with a severe psychological reaction. | £21,920 to £59,090 |
| Significant facial scarring | Where the worst effects have been reduced by plastic surgery, with some visible scarring at a distance. | £11,120 to £36,720 |
| Dermatitis a) | Cases with cracking and soreness, affecting capability at home and employment. | £16,770 to £23,430 |
| Dermatitis b) | Continuing for a significant period, yet settling with treatment. | £10,550 to £13,930 |
| Damage to hair a) | Effects may include dermatitis, eczema, tingling, a loss of confidence, and continued thinning of the hair. | £8,960 to £13,450 |
| Damage to hair b) | The level of the award will depend on the time it takes for regrowth to occur if bald patches were caused. | £4,820 to £8,960 |
If you’d like to discuss compensation further with one of our advisors, feel free to reach out today. They are happy to help and can also provide you with a free consultation to determine if you can pursue hair dye allergy compensation.
What Other Damages Could You Claim For An Allergic Reaction?
The other damages you could claim for an allergic reaction are financial losses directly arising from the harm you experienced. These losses can be awarded under a head of claim called special damages, which can compensate for any provable costs and out-of-pocket expenses you incurred, such as:
- Loss of earnings, including a current or future loss of income, overtime pay, bonuses, and workplace benefits.
- Private treatments or consultations with dermatologists and allergy specialists.
- Prescription-strength steroids, antihistamines, topical steroid creams, and epinephrine injections.
- Care expenses, including the cost of professional help with cleaning, cooking, nursing and dressing if your allergic hair dye injuries left you unable to do so.
- Travel costs, ranging from fuel to public transport, getting to and from medical appointments.
As special damages must be supported by evidence, you should keep hold of any useful documentation. That can include receipts for necessary purchases, invoices for medical expenses, or payslips for wages.
To discover more about claiming special damages after an allergic reaction, please get in touch with our advisors today.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Hair Dye Allergy Claim?
You typically have 3 years from the date of the incident to start a hair dye allergy claim, under the Limitation Act 1980. However, exceptions to this rule may apply in specific circumstances. You can learn more in our dedicated guide to the compensation claims time limit.
To learn how to claim on behalf of a loved one who suffered an allergic reaction, please get in touch today.
Why Claim For An Allergic Reaction To Hair Dye With Our Team?
You should claim for an allergic reaction to hair dye with our team of advisors and panel of solicitors because you can benefit from personalised support from start to finish. Following a free eligibility assessment by our advisors, you can be connected with one of the expert solicitors making up our panel. They provide their clients with a comprehensive service that always prioritises their needs, and can include the following benefits:
- Consistent case updates so you always know where your hair dye allergy claim stands
- Assistance with evidence-gathering, such as obtaining a copy of your medical records and gathering witness statements for you
- Explanations of complex or unfamiliar legal jargon to help give you a clearer understanding of the public liability claims process
- Putting you in contact with the specialists you need, such as dermatologists, allergists, and counsellors
- Expert advice about hair dye allergy claims that strictly adheres to the rules of confidentiality
To discover if you’re eligible to make your claim or learn more about these services, feel free to contact our advisory team today.
No Win No Fee Claims For Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye
Our panel of dedicated No Win No Fee solicitors operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which can be beneficial for claimants who are pursuing compensation for allergic reactions to hair dye. The main advantages of a No Win No Fee contract like CFAs concern the service fees solicitors can charge for their work. In short, CFAs ensure claimants are not charged these fees at the following stages of a claim:
- Before the claims process begins
- As it progresses
- In the event that the outcome is unsuccessful.
If your case wins, you will pay a success fee to your solicitor. However, this fee is kept small due to a legal cap on the percentage that can be deducted from a claimant’s compensation. By doing this, you’ll always keep the largest share.
Contacting Legal Helpline
To learn more about starting your hair dye allergy claim or to get further information on the services offered by our panel of solicitors, please feel free to contact our friendly advisory team today:
- Call us on 0333 000 0729
- Contact us by filling out our online form
- Use our free live chat feature
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about making a hair dye allergy claim, please see some common questions and answers below. For further help and assistance, please contact our advisors today.
What Are The Hair Dye Allergic Reaction Symptoms
Common hair dye allergic reaction symptoms can include scalp itching and burning, facial swelling, breathing difficulties, and throat tightness. Other symptoms may include dizziness, blisters on the scalp, forehead, ears, or neck, and anaphylaxis.
What Triggers Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye?
Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical used in long-lasting products, is among the most common triggers of allergic reactions to hair dye. This extreme sensitiser can cause allergic contact dermatitis, and individuals with a history of using black henna tattoos are often at a higher risk of having an adverse reaction to PPD.
What Treatment Is Used For Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye?
Depending on the severity, treatment for allergic reactions to hair dye may include immediately washing the hair with a mild shampoo, applying topical steroids, and taking oral antihistamines to reduce itching. For more serious cases, there may be a need for immediate medical treatment with adrenaline injections and strong steroids to address breathing difficulties.
How Does A Hair Dye Work?
Hair dye works by either penetrating the hair shaft or coating the hair surface using chemical agents, such as ammonia. The exact process depends on whether the hair dye is temporary, demi-permanent, semi-permanent, or permanent.
Why Do Some People Have Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye?
Some people may have allergic reactions to hair dye due to an immune system sensitivity to chemical ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide, preservatives, or ammonia. However, the main culprit is often paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is found in many permanent and dark dyes.
Are “Natural” Products Considered Safer?
Yes, ‘natural’ or plant-based products are generally considered to be safer than conventional dyes due to being free from ammonia, peroxide and PPD. Nevertheless, hair dye products cannot be 100% non-toxic, and those sold legally in the UK should be safe to use when used as directed.
What Should I Do If I Am Allergic To Hair Dye?
Following an allergic reaction to hair dye, you should immediately rinse your hair with lukewarm water and seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms, such as breathing difficulties or significant swelling. You may also want to apply steroid creams, take oral antihistamines, and stop using products that contain PPD.
Helpful Beauty Treatment Injury Resources
For more information about personal injury claims, please see some of our other guides:
- Get help with eyelash extension allergic reaction claims
- Learn about the beauty treatment claims process
- See the following advice about claiming waxing allergy compensation
Additional external resources:
- Get help with hair dye reactions from the NHS
- See the following advice about the licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures from Gov.UK
- Learn about reactions to hair dye from Allergy UK
Thank you for reading our useful guide about how to make a hair dye allergy claim.