Hairdressing, Nails and Beauty Therapy Claims
We all visit hairdressers and beauty salons on a regular basis. Having different treatments and using different products on our hair, faces and bodies is part of looking and feeling good. But have you thought about what happens if it all goes wrong? Britain is one of the few remaining places where anyone, even unqualified, is free to practice as a hairdresser. The result has been an increase in accidents and personal injury claims.
When booking yourself into a salon you should consider the treatments you intend to have. For example, when having your hair coloured, the products and dye used can often be extremely strong and hazardous substances, or may even contain nut oils. Salons should insist on a patch test in order to eliminate any allergic reaction to the products that they intend to use. A patch test involves simply applying the product – such as hair dye – to a small area of skin 48 hours before your appointment in order to establish that you are not allergic to the product.
Both hair stylists and beauty therapists have a duty to perform treatments to a professional standard. If they fail to do this, and you sustain a personal injury, then you may have a claim for compensation.
There are a number of things to consider if a treatment goes wrong in order to establish blame such as: what have you reacted to; the product/substance or the way it was applied? If you’ve reacted to the product itself, was a test patch carried out? Was the product itself faulty? For example, for hair extensions, which have been correctly applied by a salon, but have caused a personal injury this would be an issue for product liability – in which case you would need to pursue a claim against the manufacturer of the hair extensions.
Speak to our hairdressing, health and beauty claims specialist, Hannah Bardsley, on FREEPHONE 0800 783 1453.
Read our hair compensation claims case study where Clear Law has helped victims receive 100% compensation.
Overview
- There are many hazards in the hairdressing, nail and beauty industry that can create risks for clients or workers
- All beauty therapy professionals owe their patients a duty of care to provide the correct treatment in a proper manner
- Hairdressers, nail technicians or beauty therapy professionals, like everyone else, can make mistakes. However, the difference is that when a hairdresser or beauty therapy professional makes a mistake it can result in serious harm to the patient
- Currently, these industries are unregulated. Although a Hairdressers Regulation Act does exist, registration with the Hairdressing Council is voluntary. Currently fewer than 10% of the 130,000 hairdressers in the UK are members
- To register with the Hairdressing Council a hairdresser must have a minimum of NVQ Level 2 or six years’ provable experience
- Common accidents can range from instant injuries – such as cuts from scissors, or burns from hair dye or hairdryers – through to asthma or allergic contact dermatitis which might take some time to develop. Electrical shock can result in electrocution, burns and injuries from falls
Our advice
- If you’re a client, report the accident immediately to the management
- If you’re an employee, make sure that the details are accurately recorded in the accident report book. The law says that your employer has to record the details of all accidents and the record may be important evidence in your case
- If possible, take photographs of the place of the accident and whatever it was that caused your accident
- Seek expert legal advice from specialist personal injury lawyers
- Seek expert medical treatment
- Keep an injury diary
Hairdressing
- Clients and workers may be exposed to a wide range of products containing hazardous substances including: hairdryers, bleaches, perm solutions, shampoos, hair-styling agents, straighteners and curling irons, peroxides, wax solvents, disinfectants and cleaning products
- Burns from hairdryers and cuts from scissors
Nails
- Hazardous chemicals are used in the application of artificial nail products
- Incorrect use of tools or chemicals can cause permanent damage to the natural nail plate, infection and allergic reactions
Beauty Therapy
- Hazardous substances can be obtained in a wide range of beauty products including:-Peroxide in brow and lash tints, chemical peels – RetinA, alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxyl acids (BHAs), wax solvents, methylated spirit, turpentine and essential oils
- Also, lasers, infra-red and ultra-violet radiation can result in burns to the skin and eye tissue, including cataracts and blindness
- Injury can be caused by accidentally piercing the skin with a used electrolysis needle causing infection to enter the body with a blood borne disease or body substances
- Clients may be exposed to blood and body substances from equipment not correctly cleaned, disinfected or sterilised
