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By Olivia Dean. Last updated 9th March 2021. This guide will give you more information about claiming if you’ve been injured by a hairdresser.
If you have suffered an injury at a hair salon, you may be able to claim compensation if you can prove that the injury was caused by negligence. As will be explained in this guide, hairdressers have a duty of care when performing their tasks. This means that if, for example, you have suffered an injury when having hair extensions applied, you may be able to make a hairdresser injury claim.
This guide will explain when you may be able to claim. Furthermore, it will answer many questions about hairdressing compensation claims. It will also explain how you can claim on a No Win No Fee basis by using personal injury solicitors from our panel.
Please read on to learn more about hairdresser injury claims.
Jump To A Section
- A Guide To Claims If Injured By A Hairdresser
- What Are Hairdressing Injuries?
- Causes Of Being Injured By A Hairdresser
- Claims For Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye And Other Products
- Damaged Hair And Hair Loss Injuries
- Burns Caused By Machinery Or Chemicals
- Trips And Slips At A Hairdresser
- Hair Salon Health And Safety Regulations
- Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation?
- Types Of Damages Victims Of Hairdressing Accidents Could Claim
- Injured By A Hairdresser Compensation Calculator
- No Win No Fee Claims If Injured By A Hairdresser
- Start Your Claim For Hairdressing Injuries Compensation
- Resources And References
A Guide To Claims If Injured By A Hairdresser
Unfortunately, incidents caused by a hairdresser’s negligence can create serious ramifications for the customer’s health and well-being. Potential damage from a hairdresser could include bleach burns, lacerations, allergic reactions and permanent damage to hair follicles. Salons and barbershops could prevent accidents from occurring if they ensure compliance with the regulations governing them.
This guide will answer key questions such as:
- What is a personal injury claim?
- What is a hairdressing accident?
- How are accidents at a salon or barber caused?
- Do hairdressers have an obligation to uphold health and safety standards?
- What is a No Win, No Fee agreement?
- How could Legal Helpline support me when pursuing a claim?
What Are Hairdressing Injuries?
From hair loss to bleach burns, a hairdresser’s negligence could inflict a variety of harm onto a customer. To prevent incidents of this nature from occurring, hair salon owners have a direct obligation to uphold a high code of ethics. In doing so, this code of ethics ought to prevent incidents such as burns, lacerations and damaged hair from occurring.
However, it is worth highlighting that not every incident that happens in a hairdressing salon could be negligent. For example, a small cut that was caused by hair-cutting scissors is an unfortunate experience. Still, the wound will typically heal within a few days and cause no lasting implications. More serious incidents, ones that constitute a breach of duty, would involve harm in the form of hair loss, infection, scarring, or a burnt scalp.
For information on hairdresser compensation claims and how to make them, please continue reading our guide. Alternatively, to see if you can claim for hair salon negligence, contact us for free using the above details.
Causes Of Being Injured By A Hairdresser
The thought of being injured by a hairdresser might seem strange. Unfortunately, there are some scenarios where a hairdresser could neglect their duty of care and inflict a degree of injury or harm.
To prevent accidents from occurring, the owner of the salon should ensure suitable training for all of their employees has been provided. Providing training and adequate equipment will minimise the risk of injury or harm towards customers. But in the event an employer fails to uphold this obligation to health and safety, it could cause a plethora of injuries. Common types of accidents a negligent hairdresser could cause might include:
- Burns, cuts and lacerations
- Slip, trip and falls
- Hair Damage or Loss
- Allergic reactions
- Infection (from contaminated or unsanitary instruments)
These are just some of the injuries that could lead to hairdressing compensation claims. To see if you can claim for a hairdressing injury, please contact us for free using the above details.
Claims For Allergic Reactions To Hair Dye And Other Products
When visiting a hairdresser, it is possible to have an allergic reaction because of hair dye and bleach-related products. The NHS states that some people could be prone to contract dermatitis when using products on the skin. Performing a patch test could help prevent an allergic reaction by highlighting any areas of concern, such as itchiness, redness, tingling, or burning.
If you book an appointment for a hairdresser to dye or bleach your hair, you should automatically be offered a patch test. This is a necessary step in the hair-dying process which should be carried out 24 to 48 hours before the appointment. Placing a small amount of product on the body will ensure you aren’t allergic to the products that will be used. This process helps prevent a more significant allergic reaction from occurring. But in the event a hairdresser skips this step, it could potentially cause a serious allergic reaction.
Damaged Hair And Hair Loss Injuries
When visiting a hairdresser, you rightfully expect a high-quality service. It would be fair to state that damaged hair, or in severe cases, the loss of hair isn’t an expected outcome. There could be situations where a negligent hairdresser could cause you to experience hair loss or damage to your hair. For example, damaged hair could be caused by a lack of training. If a member of staff isn’t adequately aware of the chemicals and products they are using, it could result in serious damage to the condition of hair.
Furthermore, a hairdresser could permanently damage you when applying hair extensions. If you can prove that your hairdressing injury was caused by negligence, you may be able to claim.
Burns Caused By Machinery Or Chemicals
A burn that is caused by equipment or chemicals could have a lasting and unfortunate outcome. Not only could an accident of this nature cause discomfort, but it could affect the integrity of your hair and result in hair loss. For example, after having a haircut, you might pay for a blowout or professional styling.
During the styling process, a faulty piece of equipment like a curling wand could cause your hair to become trapped in the mechanism, which in return could cause serious burns or damage to the hair. If that is the case and you become injured, you could have grounds to claim for the hairdressing injury.
Trips And Slips At A Hairdresser
A slip and trip-related injury could be caused if an employer neglects their duty of care and fails to provide appropriate training. Throughout the training process, employees should be aware of the correct techniques when handling spillages and slipping hazards.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), three common factors cause a slip and trip accident in the workplace. This includes walkways, housekeeping, and design and maintenance. To prevent incidents of this nature from occurring, salons could perform routine inspections, regular housekeeping and risk assessments. However, if this process is neglected or improperly completed, it could cause either an employee or a customer to slip, fall, and become injured.
Hair Salon Health And Safety Regulations
Hairdressers and salon operators are required to uphold the obligations that are outlined within the Hairdressers (Registration) Act 1964. The legislation describes the essential steps every salon owner and hairdresser must follow to ensure the safest working environment and customer experience. According to the Act, hairdressers should:
- Regularly test electrical devices.
- Dispose of products suitably.
- Train employees.
- Report the incident to your employer.
- Make sure the accident is reported in the accident book.
- Conduct patch tests when performing hair dye and/or bleaching treatments.
As a place of business and as an employer, hair salons have a duty of care to whoever visits the premises. They must uphold a high standard of ethics, which, in turn, should contribute to a safe and hazard-free environment. This duty of care is echoed by the HSE, who states that under the law, employers are responsible for the health and well-being of their employees and customers.
A failure to comply with these requirements could result in an accident that affects the employees or the customers, causing them to become injured or ill.
As such, hairdresser injury claims may be able to be made if you can prove that the salon in question did not adhere to these obligations, leading to your injury. To learn how you could be eligible to make a hairdresser compensation claim, please read on.
Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation?
In the event you have been injured due to the negligence of another, you could have eligible grounds to claim compensation. However, it is more than understandable to be unsure of your legal position after an accident, which is why Legal Helpline is here to support you. If you have been injured and wish to pursue a hairdresser accident compensation claim, our panel of solicitors could potentially assist you.
When making a claim, it’s important that you do so promptly after the accident. With personal injury cases, you’re granted just 3 years from the date of the accident to issue a claim. A failure to do so could see you prevented from making a claim altogether.
Types Of Damages Victims Of Hairdressing Accidents Could Claim
A personal injury claim could take into consideration all types of harm that may have been inflicted after an accident, such as psychological trauma, financial loss, or physical injury. These damages are split into two distinct categories: general damages and special damages. To clarify the differences between the two groups, we have provided some definitions below, which you could be compensated for if you’re injured by a hairdresser:
General Damages – General damages refers to the compensation awarded for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity experienced as a result of the injury. We shall provide some general damages valuations in the section below.
Special Damages – Special damages are designed to compensate you for any financial losses or expenses that may have been incurred as a result of the injury. Such expenses could include medication costs, travel costs to medical or legal appointments, loss of earnings if you’ve had to take time off work, or if the injuries are serious enough to prevent you from working in the future, you can claim for loss of future earnings too.
It’s important to note that when making hairdressing compensation claims, you would only receive compensation for special damages if you can prove that your injury was caused by negligence. Evidence you would need includes receipts, invoices and bank statements.
Injured By A Hairdresser Compensation Calculator
If you have been injured by a hairdresser and wish to pursue a claim, you might be questioning how much compensation you could be entitled to. Some claimants could use online tools such as a personal injury claims calculator to decipher how much compensation they could be awarded. Here at Legal Helpline, we have chosen to provide a table that displays a range of injuries and an estimate of the compensation that could be awarded.
The figures within the table have been provided by the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). They can provide you with a better idea of the compensation you could receive from hairdresser injury claims.
| Injury | The Severity of The Injury | Awarded Compensation | Injury Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarring | Minor | £1,600 to £3,310 | Scarring of this nature is often expected to be minor and have no significant impact. |
| Scarring | Severe | £8,550 to £28,240 | Scarring of this level is often expected to cause psychological damage. Although cosmetic surgery could correct some of the damage, the affected individual may display sign of trauma. |
| PTSD | Minor | £3,710 to £7,680 | PTSD cases of this nature are often expected to make a well-rounded recovery within a one to two year time frame. |
| PTSD | Moderate | £7,680 to £21,730 | A moderate case of PTSD is expected to display signs of progression, but an underlying element of trauma and symptoms such as sleep deprivation could prevail. |
| PTSD | Severe | £56,180 to £94,470 | Severe cases of PTSD are often expected to cause life-long implication’s. From disabilities, trauma, and the inability to work, a severe case of PTSD will infiltrate the affected individual’s daily routine and prevent them from operating at a level prior to the incident. |
| Damage to Hair | Minor | £3,710 to £6,890 | A case of this nature is often in relation to bald patches caused by bleach, hair dying, or an electric product. This bracket will also include cases of alopecia. |
| Damage to Hair | Serious | £6,890 to £10,340 | Damage to the hair in relation to waving, tinting, or dying, where the effects are dermatitis, eczema, or a burning sensation. In the higher bracket, the affected individual may require a skin graft and could be left with psychological trauma. |
| Lesser Injuries | Moderate | £3,710 to £11,820 | Cases of this nature resemble cases of no residual disability. The affected individual is expected to make a full recovery within two years. |
No Win No Fee Claims If Injured By A Hairdresser
In the event you have been injured by a negligent hairdresser, you might contemplate making a compensation claim. If that is the case, why not contact a member of our team? If you have valid grounds to make a claim, Legal Helpline could connect you to a solicitor from our panel who could handle your potential case on a No Win No Fee basis.
A No Win No Fee arrangement can potentially make claiming less of a financial burden to you. It eliminates any upfront and ongoing legal costs. Furthermore, if your case is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay for any of your solicitor’s fees.
If your case is successful, your solicitor will take a small, legally capped fee from your compensation, known as a success fee. This is to cover their legal costs when making your compensation claim. The proportion of their success fee will be agreed upon before you agree to use them to claim for hair salon negligence.
If you have any questions about how our panel of No Win No Fee personal injury solicitors work, please contact us for free using the above details.
Start Your Claim For Hairdressing Injuries Compensation
If you wish to speak with an advisor about your potential claim, why not call us? Our phone lines are free to call, and our advisors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can offer free legal advice and discuss your potential claim in greater length. Alternatively, you could enquire about hairdressing compensation claims through our online form.
- Call us on 0333 000 0729.
- If you wish to enquire online, please click here.
Resources And References
Slip and Trip Accidents – How to make a claim.
Accident at Work – Can I make a claim against a negligent employer?
Beauty Treatment Claims – Can you sue for neglectful beauty treatments?
Thanks for reading our hairdresser compensation claims guide.
Guide by MN
Edited by REG
