Hairdresser Injury Claims

Hairdresser injury claims can be made when a salon or hairdresser fails to carry out a treatment with reasonable care, and clients are injured as a result. While many people associate these claims with hair loss, they also cover a much wider range of avoidable injuries caused during hairdressing treatments. If negligent treatment leaves you with a painful chemical burn, a preventable allergic reaction or another injury that could have been avoided, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the physical, psychological and financial impact. At Accident Claims, our solicitors can assess whether you have a valid claim and, where eligible, represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.

Most people visit a hair salon expecting to leave feeling more confident, so it can be especially upsetting when a routine appointment results in an avoidable injury. Pain, visible damage and the worry of not knowing whether the effects will be permanent can quickly affect your confidence, social life and even your ability to work. In some cases, further medical treatment or corrective cosmetic procedures may also be needed.

Accident Claims has decades of combined solicitor experience and has helped secure more than £100 million in compensation for clients. We can help establish how the injury happened, identify the evidence that supports your beauty treatment claim and explain your legal options in clear, straightforward terms, giving you the confidence to decide what to do next. If you’d like to find out whether you could claim, you can contact our team for free legal advice with no obligation to proceed.

• Calling us on 0800 073 8801
• Contacting us online
• Using our live chat

Can I Make A Hairdresser Injury Claim?

Yes, you can make a hairdresser injury claim if a salon failed to carry out your treatment with reasonable care and this caused an injury. While an unsatisfactory style or colour is unlikely to justify compensation, you may have grounds to pursue a claim if an unsafe treatment has damaged your hair or injured your scalp.

When you pay for a hairdressing treatment, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires the salon to provide that service with reasonable care and skill. Every hairdressing injury claim is assessed on its own facts, so we begin by understanding what happened during your appointment. This means considering:

• The treatment you received. We will listen carefully to what treatment you booked and how the appointment unfolded, so we can assess whether the salon responded appropriately when you raised concerns or signs of damage became apparent.
• Whether the standard of care fell short. Our team will examine whether the treatment was suitable for the condition of your hair or scalp and whether appropriate precautions were taken, so you are not left trying to identify technical failings yourself.
• The evidence available. We can obtain relevant salon records and compare them with photographs of your hair and scalp, bringing the information together to show the damage caused by the treatment.
• The impact on your life. Your solicitor will consider what your recovery has involved and how the damage has changed your day-to-day life and finances, to ground the claim in the experience you have actually had.

Not every adverse reaction following a hairdressing treatment means that the salon was negligent, but you are not expected to work that out by yourself. Contact us for a free assessment, and we’ll also answer any questions you may have about hairdresser injury claims.

Am I Able To Claim If I Was Injured Whilst Working As A Hairdresser?

Yes, you may be able to claim if you were injured whilst working as a hairdresser because your employer failed to take reasonable steps to protect your safety. This might include injuries caused by unsafe working practices or hazards that should have been identified and addressed before they caused harm.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees while they are at work. If that responsibility was not met and you were injured as a result, our solicitors can assess whether the circumstances support an accident at work claim and guide you through the next steps.

Reach out to our team today about your role and how the injury happened, and we will explain the most appropriate route forward.

Will A Hair Salon Be Responsible For An Injury?

A hair salon may be responsible for an injury if it failed to provide your treatment with the standard of care that should reasonably have been expected. Whether the salon is liable will depend on the circumstances of your appointment and whether the injury could have been avoided.

Our solicitors will examine how the treatment was carried out from start to finish. That may include considering whether the stylist properly assessed your hair beforehand, whether appropriate safety precautions were taken throughout the appointment and whether the treatment you received was suitable for your individual circumstances. We’ll also consider whether the treatment itself was appropriate for your hair and scalp before advising whether negligence is likely to have occurred.

Every case is different, so responsibility isn’t determined simply because an injury happened. If you’re unsure whether your experience amounts to negligence, Accident Claims can explain your legal options at your convenience, so please reach out to see whether making a claim is the right course of action for you.

Common Examples Of Hairdresser Injury Claims

Hairdresser injury claims arise when a treatment is carried out below the expected standard of care and causes an avoidable injury. Some common examples include:

• A hair dye was applied without a required patch test. You suffered a serious allergic reaction because the salon failed to carry out appropriate checks before beginning the treatment.
• A bleaching treatment caused chemical burns. Bleach was left on for too long and applied incorrectly, leaving you with burns to your scalp and a long-term loss of confidence.
• A chemical straightening treatment was applied to already damaged hair. Your stylist continued with the treatment despite signs that your hair was too fragile, leaving it severely weakened and snapping away.
• Hair dye was mixed or applied incorrectly. The chemicals came into prolonged contact with your scalp, causing painful burns that required medical treatment and could have been avoided had the treatment been carried out properly.

These examples are not exhaustive, and every claim depends on its own circumstances. If you’ve been injured during a hairdressing appointment and you’re unsure whether the treatment fell below the expected standard, get in touch today so we can assess what happened and help you explore your legal options.

How Can Hairdresser Negligence Affect Someone?

Hairdresser negligence can affect someone physically, emotionally and financially if a negligent treatment causes an injury. While some people recover within weeks, others are left with lasting hair damage or psychological harm that affects their confidence and everyday life.

Some of the ways a negligent hairdressing treatment can affect you include:

• Scalp burns and chemical injuries. Painful burns can leave the scalp sensitive for weeks or months and, in more serious cases, cause permanent scarring or damage to the hair follicles.
• Allergic reactions. A preventable reaction to hair dye or another salon product can lead to painful swelling, blistering or irritation that requires medical treatment.
• Permanent hair loss or visible hair damage. Injury to the hair follicles can result in bald patches or brittle hair that does not recover naturally. Some people require specialist treatment or corrective cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of their hair.
• Psychological injury. Changes to your appearance can have a significant effect on confidence and relationships, and some people may also experience anxiety or psychological trauma.

The impact of a hairdressing injury is different for everyone, so our solicitors take the time to understand how it has affected your recovery and daily life before assessing your claim. If you’re still coping with the consequences of negligent salon treatment, Accident Claims can explain how both your physical injuries and psychological harm may be reflected when pursuing the hairdresser injury claims process. You can also read our guide to post-traumatic stress disorder compensation claims if your injuries have affected your mental wellbeing.

How Much Compensation Could Be Awarded For Hair Loss?

The amount of compensation that could be awarded for hair loss depends on how seriously you were injured and whether the damage is temporary or permanent. If the same salon treatment caused additional injuries, such as a chemical burn or psychological harm, these consequences can also be included within the claim.

General damages compensate for the injury itself and the effect it has had on your quality of life (known as a loss of amenity). To make sure that impact is properly reflected, our solicitors will review the medical evidence to assess the extent of the hair loss and what your recovery is likely to involve. As that picture becomes clearer, we will consider how the change in your appearance has affected your confidence or made parts of everyday life more difficult. Bringing those details together allows us to value the claim around your experience rather than treating hair loss as a purely cosmetic concern.

The following table lists guideline brackets of compensation from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Legal professionals often use this document when valuing general damages, including for hairdresser injury claims, as these brackets are paired with many categories of harm. Please only use this table as a guide. Also, the first entry has not come from the JCG.

Injury	Notes	Guideline
Multiple Serious Injuries with Associated Financial Losses	More than one serious injury together with substantial financial losses, such as prolonged loss of earnings, additional cosmetic treatment, and ongoing care costs.	Up to £500,000+
Severe Burns Covering 40% or More of the Body	Factors such as the percentage of the body affected and the types of burns suffered will impact the award.	Likely to Exceed £138,490
Very Severe Facial Scarring	Permanent and severe cosmetic disfigurement, in relatively young claimants in their teens to early 30s.	£39,340 to £128,590
Trivial Facial Scarring	The effect is only minor.	£2,260 to £4,670
Severe Burns to Both Hands	Serious burns causing lasting disability and reduced hand function.	£68,070 to £104,830
Moderate Neck Injuries	Soft tissue or wrenching type injuries and disc lesions.	£18,150 to £33,020
Moderate Psychiatric Damage	There would have been various problems, but the prognosis is good and there have been marked improvements made.	£7,740 to £25,190
Moderate Hand Injuries	Crush injuries, soft tissue injuries, deep lacerations and the like.	£7,520 to £17,540
Damage to Hair	Due to defective permanent waving, tinting or the like.	£9,700 to £14,560
Damage to Hair	Cases where hair has been pulled out leaving patches.	£5,220 to £9,700

Can I Claim Special Damages After Hair Loss?

Yes, you can claim special damages after hair loss if the harm you suffered because of the negligent hairdressing treatment has left you financially worse off. Special damages can compensate you for the money you have already lost, as well as future costs. That’s why our solicitors look beyond the immediate effects of the injury and carefully assess the wider financial impact it has had on your life.

As part of your claim, we will consider:

• The effect the injury has had on your work and income. A visible scalp injury or severe allergic reaction may mean taking time away from work. If you’ve lost earnings because you were unable to work or attend appointments, we’ll calculate those losses using documentation like payslips or employment records.
• The cost of restoring your hair or treating your injuries. We will identify reasonable expenses arising from the damage to your hair or scalp, such as consultations with dermatologists or corrective cosmetic procedures.
• The financial impact of ongoing appointments. Recovering from a hairdressing injury often involves multiple medical or specialist appointments rather than a single visit. We’ll help calculate expenses such as travel costs by using receipts and other supporting records to demonstrate how they arose because of your injury.
• The longer-term consequences of permanent hair loss or visible damage. Where medical evidence shows that your injuries are likely to create future financial needs, such as ongoing treatment or corrective hair procedures, our solicitors will work with that evidence to reflect those anticipated losses when valuing your claim.

If negligent hairdressing treatment has left you with hair loss and unexpected costs, find out whether you can claim compensation by speaking to our team today.

What Evidence Will I Need After A Hairdresser Injury?

The evidence you will need after a hairdresser injury depends on what happened, but salon records can help establish how the treatment was carried out, while photographs and medical evidence can show the damage caused and the care you needed afterwards. Every claim is investigated differently, so our solicitors focus on obtaining the information that best explains your individual circumstances rather than working from a standard checklist.

As part of your claim, our team will:

• Examine what happened during your appointment. We’ll build a clear picture of the treatment from the initial consultation onwards, considering whether the products, techniques and decisions made throughout your appointment were appropriate. Where relevant, we’ll obtain salon records to help establish how the treatment was carried out.
• Understand how the injury developed. Medical evidence allows us to show the nature of the damage and whether it is expected to heal fully, while photographs can document visible changes to your hair or scalp as your recovery progresses.
• Assess liability in the context of your claim. Once we’ve established what happened and obtained the relevant medical evidence, our solicitors will assess whether the circumstances indicate that the salon may be legally responsible for your injuries. We’ll explain our findings clearly so you understand how this is established and how it supports your claim.
• Show the wider impact of the injury. We’ll gather the documentation needed to demonstrate how visible damage has affected your confidence and finances, so the claim reflects the consequences beyond the immediate injury.

Tell us what happened during your appointment, and we will quickly establish whether our solicitors can help you pursue compensation.

How Long Do I Have To Start A Hair Loss Compensation Claim?

In most cases, you have 3 years to start a hair loss compensation claim under the Limitation Act 1980. This will typically run from the date the negligent hairdressing treatment occurred, and our solicitors will assess limitation as soon as you contact us to explain whether you’re still within the relevant time limit.

There are important exceptions to the standard 3-year limitation period. Different rules can apply to hairdresser injury claims where the injured person was under the age of 18 when the treatment took place or lacks the mental capacity to manage their own legal affairs. If you believe either exception may apply, our solicitors can explain how the limitation rules affect your circumstances. You can also read our detailed guide to personal injury claims time limits.

Not sure whether you’re still within the time limit to claim? Speak to Accident Claims today, and we’ll assess your limitation period before you decide what to do next.

Hairdresser Injury Claims Compensation With Our Solicitors

Pursuing a hairdresser injury claim can feel daunting when you are still dealing with the aftermath of the experience, but you do not have to manage it alone. From the outset, our solicitors will handle all the legal work involved in the claims process while giving you the time and space to focus on your recovery.

See How Our Solicitors Help Clients Following Hairdresser Negligence

Every hairdresser injury claim is different, so our solicitors tailor their approach to the circumstances of your case rather than following a templated process. Throughout your claim, we will:

• Build a clear account of your appointment through a discussion centred on what you told the hairdresser beforehand and how the treatment unfolded, ensuring we understand the outcome you’re hoping to achieve before providing advice tailored to your circumstances.
• Investigate the events surrounding your treatment by obtaining the information needed to establish what happened, including whether the products chosen or the way they were used exposed you to avoidable harm.
• Arrange an independent medical assessment where appropriate so that your hairdressing injury claim has an objective assessment of the harm you suffered and what your recovery is expected to involve.
• Carefully document your financial losses and the impact that the negligent salon treatment has on your life, so important details are not overlooked when valuing your claim.
• Manage all communication and negotiations with the salon’s legal representatives, presenting a well-supported claim on your behalf while keeping you informed of progress at every stage.

Making A Hairdresser Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis

At Accident Claims, our solicitors offer eligible clients representation on No Win No Fee terms through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This allows you to pursue a hairdresser injury claim without any solicitor service fees being payable upfront or while your case is ongoing. These fees will also not be charged if the claim does not succeed.

Your solicitor will receive a success fee if they secure hairdressing injury compensation on your behalf. It is deducted as a legally capped percentage of the compensation, keeping the largest share with you. We will explain how it works before you decide whether to proceed, giving you a clear understanding of the agreement from the outset.

Contact Accident Claims

If you’ve suffered hair loss, chemical burns or another injury because of negligent treatment at a hair salon, Accident Claims is here to help. Our team can assess your circumstances and, if eligible, connect you with one of our experienced hairdresser injury claims solicitors.

You can contact us today by:

• Calling us on 0800 073 8801
• Contacting us online
• Using our live chat

Learn More

Read more of our compensation claims guides:

• Learn when holiday accident claims can be made.
• Advice on making a faulty product claim.
• See if you could claim compensation for hair loss.

Resources:

• Key messages regarding COSHH and hairdressers via the Health and Safety Executive.
• Regulation of hairdressers via the House of Commons Library.
• Information on burns and scalds via the NHS.

Thank you for reading this guide on hairdresser injury claims.