Suffering an injury at the hairdresser can be devastating, turning what should have been a moment of self-care into a painful and distressing experience. Whether your hair was damaged by a negligent stylist, or you suffered a chemical burn, bald patches, or a serious allergic reaction, you may be entitled to claim personal injury compensation. This guide explains how to sue a hairdresser and seek the compensation you deserve.
Essential Information
- You could claim compensation if a hairdresser acted negligently and caused you injury.
- Common injuries include chemical burns, bald patches, and hair loss from unsafe treatments.
- Compensation in successful hairdressing compensation claims can cover your physical, financial, and psychological suffering.
- Hair salons should hold public liability insurance to cover injury compensation claims.
- Our panel of solicitors can help you start your hairdresser injury compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you’ve suffered due to a hairdressing injury, contact How To Sue today for free advice:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Fill out our Contact Us form.
- Send a message into our live on-screen chat box.
Jump To A Section
- How To Sue A Hairdresser After Suffering An Injury
- What Injuries Could I Sustain Due To Hairdresser Negligence?
- How Much Compensation Could I Claim For Hairdresser Injuries?
- How Will My Hairdresser Pay For My Compensation?
- Proving My Injuries When Suing My Hairdresser
- Do I Have To Sue My Hairdresser Within A Set Time?
- Suing A Hairdresser With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- More Information
How To Sue A Hairdresser After Suffering An Injury
To sue a hairdresser after suffering an injury, you must show that they breached their duty of care and that this breach caused you to be injured.
Under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, any party in charge of a public premises has a duty of care to ensure that visitors are reasonably safe during their visit. This duty is extended to hairdressers. This includes conducting patch tests before applying hair dye, using products correctly, and maintaining clean and safe equipment. Additionally, part 1 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets out specific remedies and rights if a trader, such as a hairdresser, fails to supply their services with ‘reasonable care and skill.’
So, you may be eligible to sue a hairdresser if:
- The hairdresser owed you a duty of care during your appointment.
- They breached this duty of care as a result of negligent care.
- You sustained an injury as a result of this breach.
You may also be able to claim if your injury was caused by a failure to maintain a safe salon environment. For example, you slipped on a spillage that was not signposted or cleaned within a timely manner, causing you to suffer a broken ankle.
If you believe a negligent hairdresser caused you harm, contact our team today for advice on starting a No Win No Fee personal injury claim.
What Injuries Could I Sustain Due To Hairdresser Negligence?
Careless or unsafe practices in a hair salon can lead to a variety of personal injuries, some of which may require extensive further treatment.
Common hairdressing injuries include:
- Chemical burns from hair bleach or hair dye.
- Scalp injuries from faulty tools or excessive heat.
- Hair loss or bald patches due to improper use of hair extensions or defective permanent waving.
- Allergic reactions, when a patch test is not carried out.
- Hair damage or brittle hair from incorrect hair treatment.
- Cuts or lacerations from scissors or razors.
- Mental health conditions such as anxiety, embarrassment, or emotional distress.
- Fractured bones from trips and falls within the hairdressing salon, due to unsafe premises.
If you’ve experienced any of the above, speak to our team to find out how much compensation you could potentially claim for hairdresser negligence.
How Much Compensation Could I Claim For Hairdresser Injuries?
The amount of compensation you could receive when suing a hairdresser depends on the severity of your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life.
Personal injury compensation claims are typically made up of general damages and special damages. General damages compensate you for the physical and psychiatric pain and suffering caused by your injury.
The value of your general damages may be influenced by several factors, such as:
- The severity and duration of physical pain or discomfort.
- The psychological or emotional impact of the injury.
- Whether the injury has resulted in permanent hair loss or scarring.
- How the injury has affected your confidence, lifestyle, or social life.
- The length of time it takes to recover, including the need for further hair treatment.
- Whether you’ve suffered multiple injuries at once.
General damages can be calculated with reference to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which provides guideline compensation brackets for a wide range of injuries.
We have used the JCG to create the table below for common negligent hairdresser injuries. It’s important to note that none of the figures shown in the table below are guaranteed, as all hairdresser negligence claims are unique.
Please note that the top figure is also not from the JCG.
| Type of injury | Severity | Guideline compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Serious | Up to £250,000+ |
| Facial disfigurement | Very severe scarring (a) | £36,340 to £118,790 |
| Less severe scarring (b) | £21,920 to £59,090 | |
| Significant scarring (c) | £11,120 to £36,720 | |
| Less significant scarring (d) | £4,820 to £16,770 | |
| Damage to hair | In consequence of permanent defective tinting, waving, or the like (a) | £8,960 to £13,450 |
| Less serious (b) | £4,820 to £8,960 |
If you want a clearer picture of how much compensation you could receive for your physical and psychological suffering, speak to our team today for a free case assessment with no obligation.
What Special Damages Could Be Awarded When Suing A Hairdresser?
In addition to general damages, you may also be eligible to claim special damages. These cover the financial losses associated with your injury and aim to return you to the position you were in before the incident occurred.
Special damages in hairdressing compensation claims can include:
- Medical expenses, such as prescriptions or private treatment.
- Costs of further hair treatment to correct the damage.
- Travel expenses for medical appointments.
- Loss of earnings if time off work was required.
- Future loss of income if the injury affects your ability to work.
- Psychological therapy costs.
- Expenses for wigs or specialist hair restoration products.
You should retain all receipts, invoices, and proof of losses to strengthen your claim for special damages.
Call us today. Our panel can help you understand what special damages you may be entitled to and how to gather the necessary evidence. They can also help you understand how to sue a hairdresser for your injuries.
How Will My Hairdresser Pay For My Compensation?
Hairdressers and hairdressing salons are usually covered by public liability insurance, which pays out when a compensation claim is made against them. This means your injury compensation would come from the insurer rather than the individual hair stylist.
If the hair salon is not insured or the hairdresser is self-employed, a compensation claim could still be made against their personal assets or alternative insurance coverage.
Our panel of solicitors are experienced in navigating these legal and insurance processes and will work to secure the highest settlement possible. Contact How To Sue now for free guidance on how to sue a hairdresser.
Proving My Injuries When Suing My Hairdresser
To make a successful claim, you’ll need evidence that proves the hairdresser was negligent and caused your injury. Without proper documentation, your claim may be denied or undervalued.
Useful evidence includes:
- Photographs of the injury or damaged hair.
- Medical records and reports from healthcare providers.
- A copy of the patch test results, if one was done.
- Receipts for further treatment or repair.
- Contact details from others in the salon. They could provide a witness statement during the claims process.
- A personal diary recording the physical and emotional effects of the injury.
- Details of any complaints made to the hairdressing salon.
Our panel of solicitors can help you gather the necessary evidence and organise an independent medical assessment if required. Contact our advisors today to learn more.
Do I Have To Sue My Hairdresser Within A Set Time?
Yes, there is a 3-year time limit to start a hairdresser negligence claim. This time limit is set out under the Limitation Act 1980, and usually begins on the date the injury occurred.
There are some exceptions to this rule:
- Children under 18 cannot start a claim themselves, but a litigation friend (an adult acting in the child’s best interests) can begin the claim at any time before the child turns 18. If a claim is not made during this time, the individual has 3 years from their 18th birthday to bring the claim themselves.
- Adults who are unable to make legal decisions for themselves, due to a mental disability or condition, have the time limit suspended. In these situations, a litigation friend can bring a claim on their behalf. If the person regains their mental capacity at a later date, the 3-year time limit would begin from the date they recovered if a claim hasn’t already been made for them.
Missing the deadline could mean losing your right to claim, so acting early is crucial.
If you’re unsure whether your case is still within the time limit or if you could act as a litigation friend, contact How To Sue today.
Suing A Hairdresser With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you have an eligible claim, you can sue a hairdresser with the support of a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel. The type of agreement our panel offer is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which means:
- You won’t need to pay any solicitor fees upfront, or throughout the entire claims process.
- If your claim does not succeed, you will not have to pay any solicitor fees.
- If your claim is successful, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation. This fee is a legally capped percentage and is agreed upon with you before the claim begins.
Our panel of personal injury solicitors will handle your hairdresser injury compensation claim with care and expertise, fighting for the maximum settlement you are entitled to. Some of the expert services they could offer you include:
- Help with gathering supporting evidence
- Ensuring your claim is submitted within the time limit
- Handling all communication with the defending party
- Negotiating your compensation settlement to include both general and special damages
Contact How To Sue today to start your claim on a No Win No Fee basis and take the first step toward recovering the compensation you deserve.
Contact How To Sue
If you’ve suffered a hairdresser injury and want to sue a negligent hair stylist, we’re here to help. How To Sue offers free claims advice, compassionate guidance, and access to our panel of personal injury solicitors.
You can begin your hairdresser compensation claim for free today:
- Call 0800 408 7827.
- Fill out our Contact Us form.
- Send a message into our live on-screen chat box.
More Information
To learn more about personal injury claims, browse our related guides:
- How to sue for a scald injury.
- How to sue for laser hair removal burns.
- Read more about head injury claims.
You can also browse these other sites:
- NHS – burns overview
- Gov.UK – apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – hairdressing guidance
If you’ve been searching for how to sue a hairdresser, contact us today. We can give you free claims advice 24/7.