Posted on

6 reasons to sue your hairdresser

When to sue your hairdresser
When to sue your hairdresser

If you’re considering legal action against your hairdresser, today’s blog will help you take the essential first step towards your compensation claim. As specialist hair damage and scalp burns solicitors, we’re regularly asked what constitutes grounds to make such a claim. You can’t sue your hairdresser for a poor haircut but you can if your stylist has been negligent, and caused harm or injury.

You see, whilst a trip to the hairdresser is fairly routine, accidents and negligence can happen. To help you better understand when legal action is a viable option, here we outline the 6 main reasons to instruct a law firm and launch a case…

1. Chemical injuries
Chemicals are part of many hair treatments, for example hair dyeing, perming and straightening. It’s a stylist’s job to know how long certain products can be left on your hair as well as recognising that every person’s hair is different and some people may be allergic to particular chemicals.

Patch testing should always be performed on a very small area of your hair and scalp around 48 hours before any treatment to check for adverse reactions, even when organic products are being applied. Where no testing’s been carried out, burns, blistering and other irritations such as dermatitis can occur on the scalp. Hair loss and hair damage are other common outcomes.

2. Burning
Hair styling tools – that’s hairdryers, curling tongs and hot irons – emit high temperatures that cause serious damage if used incorrectly. Hair should have an extra barrier applied such as heat protection spray, appliances should not be used for too long on individual sections of hair and equipment should never come into direct contact with the skin.

Otherwise, resulting burned or brittle hair will break easily and fall out. Similarly, burned skin will be extremely painful and take some time to heal.

3. Cuts and bleeding
Hairdressers are trained in how to cut and shave hair in the right way but that doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes every now and then. A lapse in concentration or misjudgement, and insufficient training in the use of sharp objects in the first place can result in a cut to your neck, ear or face by scissors or other styling implements such as razors and shavers. Such injuries can obviously vary greatly in severity.

4. Faulty equipment damage
Salons are expected to conduct regular testing and maintenance of electrical appliances. This is defined by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The aim of this legislation is to keep people safe whenever equipment is operated in the workplace. Where hairdressers are concerned, this applies both to the client (you) and equipment operator (stylist).

A slightly different approach will be exercised here as the liability can belong to either the business owner (for lack of maintenance) or equipment manufacturer (due to a manufacturing fault).

5. Slips and trips
An unnoticed spillage or unswept pile of hair is a potential trip hazard. Although salons have a responsibility to provide a clean and safe environment, a popular business with back-to-back appointments is more prone to become neglectful because there’s scant time for cleaning up between clients. Signposting slippery areas is a solution but can be forgotten too during busy periods. Fall injuries include bruises, sprains and broken bones.

6. Beauty parlour syndrome
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency, otherwise known as ‘beauty parlour syndrome’, is caused by inadequate neck support and hyperextended backwards neck positioning over the basin during washing. An artery can be torn or compressed leading to blood clots. Symptoms include severe dizziness, loss of balance and facial numbness. In extreme instances, strokes.

Find out more about claims against hairdressers by emailing enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, calling 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, phoning 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or completing our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims

Posted on

Great British hair tourism trade

Hair tourism grows in popularity
Hair tourism grows in popularity

The tourism industry is booming as people travel in their droves to visit far flung places, experience new adventures, spend quality time with family and friends, and, from a professional perspective, do business with companies in different regions.

We all take holidays or plan business trips from time to time, both within our own country and internationally, but just how far would you journey for a haircut?

According to an article on the BBC website, hair tourism is enjoying a burgeoning trade in Britain from global clientele trekking around the world for the main purpose of getting their hair cut and styled whilst at the same time taking a city break.

It seems, then, a good hairdresser can be hard to come by and it’s worth travelling hundreds of miles (1,855 miles in Melissa’s case who’s gone from Sicily to Manchester in the BBC video!) for an appointment in order to get a contemporary, on-trend haircut.

Where British salons are concerned, they’re a cut above the rest as they offer unique styles and techniques, plus provide better value for money, all of which are appealing to intrepid travellers. It’s social media, Instagram particularly, that’s responsible for generating interest in our nation’s hairdressers.

We should be rightly proud of our homegrown hairdressing talent such as the entrepreneurial owner-manager who’s the star of the Manchester salon in the BBC clip. Attracting clients from locations as distant as Canada and the Middle East is no small feat, especially when hairdressing services will be readily available in their country of origin.

Watch the 1½ minute video here.

In saying this, it’s also important not to get too complacent when selecting your hairdresser. You see, just as with any sector, there are good and bad craftsmen (and women!). Check out credentials in order to make an informed choice about which hairdresser to use.

If you’ve read our earlier blog posts, you’ll know that hair appointments can end in complete disaster, albeit on extremely rare occasions. In these instances, damage can take the form of severe hair breakage or painful scalp burns and blisters. Our legal team specialises in claims against hairdressers to help injured parties affected by negligence.

Find out more by emailing enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, calling 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, phoning 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or completing our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims

Posted on

Recovery for ravaged hair

Damaged hair
Damaged hair

We recently wrote about the causes, signs and fixes of damaged hair (check out ‘How to care for damaged hair’). Today’s post is an extension of our earlier advice based on the experience of someone who suffered bleach-ravaged hair and recovered it back to health.

You see, we found this story on the www.rocknrollbride.com website. The author, Kat, has striking pink hair with purple roots in a beautiful ombre effect. Two years prior to penning her blog post, though, was a different story altogether. Due to hairdresser negligence, where bleach had been applied carelessly and overlapped, Kat’s hair was stretchy when wet, and straw-like and thin when dry.

With the help of her ‘fairy hairmother’, Kat managed to reverse the damage and shares how with other people who may find themselves in a similar, sad situation. Much of this advice mirrors our earlier tips, namely avoiding hot styling tools, cutting down on chemicals, limiting washing and getting a good trim. There’s also this extra guidance:-

Restore the protein: With chemically damaged hair, protein is degraded. To repair the outer layer and put the protein back into your hair, use protein-rich shampoo, conditioner and treatments. Once the restoration is complete, switch back to your normal hair products as too much protein in your hair isn’t great either.

Moisturise your hair: On top of your high-protein hair diet, give it a moisture injection using hydrating products such as argan oil-based deep conditioning treatments. This will help combat brittleness and breakage.

Take fish oil supplements: The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils can nourish your scalp, thicken hair strands and encourage new growth. As with all tablets, however, it’s best checking with your doctor first in order to get the right dosage and minimise possible side effects.

Wear clip-in extensions: Why not invest in some natural clip-in extensions and dye them to match your hair colour? This can give your own hair a break and present the appearance of thicker, healthier and stronger hair during the recovery phase.

Be patient: The best thing you can do is allow plenty of time. There’s no overnight rescue. With patience and persistence, you’ll notice big changes to the health of your hair and scalp over a lengthier timeframe.

Unfortunately Kat’s sorry tale was the result of bad hairdressing. If the same fate befalls you, don’t suffer in silence. Instruct our expert legal team who are specialists in claims against hairdressers so you can be compensated accordingly. We operate in the strictest of confidence and focus on the best outcome for you always.

To contact our legal team, email enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, call 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, telephone 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or complete our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims

Posted on

Is your hair vegan?

Vegan hair
Vegan hair

Veganism is growing in the UK. Recent Vegan Society figures report over 540,000 British dietary vegans and 360,000 lifestyle vegans. The former are people following a diet which excludes meat, fish, dairy and eggs. The latter comprise individuals choosing animal-product-free cosmetics and clothes too.

Now a salon in Waterlooville, Hampshire, has become the latest hairdresser’s to extend veganism to hair care by preparing and applying vegan dyes, shampoos and conditioners. Sitting above a vegan café, owner, Claire Alker, uses kitchen scraps in her recipes. In a video on the BBC website, Claire can be seen concocting a red hair dye from beetroot, banana and maple syrup. She also explains how organic hairdressing isn’t an entirely new concept as those living in the post-war years had to make use of the limited range of products available to them.

This holistic approach to hairdressing is becoming increasingly popular because health-conscious and eco-aware consumers are actively deciding to avoid hair products containing chemicals and instead opt for items labelled ‘natural’ and ‘organic’. This is both kinder to your hair which can suffer harm from over-use of chemicals and kinder to the environment because there are no pollution side effects.

We’ve written about the impact of chemicals on hair previously. Check out our earlier blogs titled ‘What does over processed hair look like?’ and ‘Be careful of over bleaching’.

We’d urge applying caution at all times and checking ingredients always, even with organic hair care solutions, whether you’re undergoing a salon treatment or buying over the counter for home usage. Just having ‘organic’ on the label doesn’t necessarily mean there are no harmful chemicals in the ingredients.

At Hairdressing Claims, we frequently help people who’ve experienced damage to their hair and scalp at the hairdresser’s. To contact our legal team, email enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, call 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, phone 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or complete our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims

Posted on

Going grey naturally is the latest hair trend

Natural grey hair trend
Natural grey hair trend

Forget all those in-vogue hair colour trends from 2018. 2019 is actually about ditching the dye altogether and going grey naturally.

At long last it seems that women don’t have to dread their first grey hairs and defy the signs of ageing. Instead, women can finally allow their greys to peek through and embrace their hair colour changing gradually to grey as they get older.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing wrong with grey hair anyway. At least, where men are concerned anyway. Whether men have peppered hair or a full head of grey, going grey is an acceptable reality and men often get labelled “silver fox”, denoting maturity and attractiveness. In other words, they’re considered to get better with age.

The same hasn’t always been thought true of women. Until grey hair dye stole onto the fashion scene a couple of years ago, that is. It’s a trend going nowhere fast because there are thousands of people looking for “grey hair” tips via search engines every month. As a result, grey hair is still making regular appearances on the red carpet and catwalk. Celebrities the world over are going platinum, making shades of white, pewter, steel and silver all the rage. Think Kim Kardashian, Pink, Rita Ora, Lady Gaga and myriad other A-listers.

With bottle grey so popular, another contributing factor to the trending positivity towards God-given greys is Clairol’s recent beauty campaign titled “Face your first”. A brave stance for a hair product supplier, Clairol urged women not to let society shame them for strands of grey in their hair but instead face their first greys with confidence. The ultimate message being whatever you choose to do – go grey, cover your roots or dye your hair bright pink – own it!

When you bear in mind the average British woman will discover her first greys before the age of 25, it’s a relief for women to show off their greys rather than resolving to cover up for all eternity. Why deny something as natural as your hair? Love your follicles for what they are, whatever their colour.

If you’re not quite ready to take the grey hair plunge and choose to colour your hair, ensure only the best products are used, select a reputable salon colourist and insist on pre-dye testing. If anything goes wrong and you suffer harm to your hair or scalp, we can help. Our legal team specialises in claims against hairdressers and do their utmost to secure the compensation deserved for your injuries.

Email enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, call 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, phone 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or complete our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims

Posted on

How to care for damaged hair

Damaged hair can be repaired
Damaged hair can be repaired

If you subject your hair to strong chemicals, excessive heat, over styling and a myriad of other harmful forces, it’s practically impossible to avoid damage in some form or another. The easiest way to revive your hair is to cut off the damaged areas. Depending upon the level of damage sustained, though, this can amount to a substantial length which is heart-breaking if you love your hair just the way it is.

Before you resort to drastic measures and get out your hair shears or book a hairdressing appointment, we’re here to help you out with some handy tips about alternative, less radical methods of repairing dry, brittle, porous, lifeless hair.

As part-and-parcel of this advice, we also explain the causes and signs of damaged hair so you can try to steer clear of harm in the first place and identify symptoms on your own hair respectively.

To begin, then, what are the triggers to hair damage? In the main, damaged hair is the result of:-

Bleaching and dyeing: Chemicals are present in most hair colouring treatments, some stronger than others. Bleaching is, by far, the most harmful because it raises the cuticle and removes the colour pigment from the shaft. Your hair becomes weakened as a result.

Although less severe, hair dyeing isn’t totally harmless either. The aim of hair dye is to make your hair shaft porous in order to take on board the new colour. Your hair’s natural protective layer is stripped away, leaving your hair exposed.

Perming and straightening: With these procedures, you’re altering your hair structure to make it either curly or straight by applying chemicals that break then re-join the bonds in your hair. To change the properties of your hair, these chemicals go right into your cuticles which can be harsh.

Over styling: Brushing your hair too often, tying your hair up all the time and using too many hair accessories is bad news for your hair as well. Similarly, shampooing your hair more than needed gets rid of your hair’s natural oils. Heat is equally detrimental to your hair by opening up your cuticles, drying up moisture and damaging your hair shaft. It’s hairdryers, curling irons and flat irons that are to blame.

External forces: The sun, wind and cold have an adverse effect on your tresses. Other environmental factors play a part too. Think sand when you’re beachside, air pollution in the city, chlorine in the swimming pool and multiple other scenarios. If your hair isn’t adequately protected when it comes into contact with these forces, it’s in big trouble.

Bad hairdressing: If your hairdresser’s negligent and fails to perform pre-tests prior to chemical treatments, over heats sections of your hair during styling and / or uses blunt scissors, your hair and scalp are in peril. We’ve written about this previously. Access our earlier blog post here.

Next, how do you even know if your hair is damaged? Look out for these clues:-

Rough texture: The easiest way to know if your hair’s damaged is to hold it upside down and run the ends through your fingers. Does it feel rough to touch?

Dulled shine: Your hair shaft stops shining when your cuticles are damaged. Does your hair lack lustre and shine even after deep conditioning?

Split ends: Take a bit of your hair and gently twist it. Look carefully at the ends of hair that stick out. Are the ends split in two?

Lack of moisture: Damaged hair does not seem to be conditioned, no matter what you try which is a sure sign of damaged cuticles that are unable to seal in moisture.

Easy breakage: The tensile strength of your hair shaft reduces when the outer layer is damaged. Does your hair snap when you comb it or, worse still, if you run your fingers through it?

High porosity: As the cuticle is lifted, it’s much easier for moisture to pass. External moisture collects in the hair shaft and it starts to swell which gives your hair a frizzy appearance.

Too many tangles: Unlike healthy hair where the shafts are smooth, the rough cuticles of damaged hair get tangled up and result in knots. The dryness makes it hard to get these tangles out.

Finally, to get to the crux of the matter, here’s what you can do to fix damage to your hair, none of which involve having your hair chopped off:-

Avoid chemicals: These are your hair’s worst enemy. Do not use when your hair’s damaged. Approach with caution when your hair’s recovered. Choose solutions with only natural ingredients where possible.

Avoid hot styling tools: Put away your high heat-emitting styling products, let your hair dry naturally and try out styles that don’t require heat. It’s au naturel all the way.

Protect your hair: If it’s simply not possible to relinquish your hot styling equipment, make sure you use heat protection spray. In the same vein, you can’t live your life indoors, so use hats, scarves, swimming caps, leave-in conditioners or whatever the occasion demands in an attempt to be kinder to your hair.

Spot the warning signs early: The sooner you identify hair damage, the earlier you can start taking restorative action. Hair can be nourished back to health with oils and deep conditioners. Again, natural ingredients are best. If you’re late to notice damage, it’ll soon spread and, at this stage, you’ve got no option but get an acute haircut.

Get a trim: Even if your hair damage isn’t extensive, it’s a good idea to kick off the hair revival process with a trim to tidy things up. This will at least remove the sections of hair that take the strain the most: your ends.

Choose lightweight shampoos and conditioners: Opt for sulphate-and-other-chemical-free products with moisturising formulas that suit your hair type. It’s important to make the right choices as you’ll no doubt wash your hair at least twice weekly.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Consume protein-rich foods to nourish your hair back to health. The saying ‘you are what you eat’ is true. Eat a balanced diet generally and take regular exercise. When you’re feeling healthier and fitter, your hair will look stronger too.

Instruct a reputable hairdresser: Hair treatments should almost always be done professionally for a greater chance of success. Your hairdresser must be properly qualified, have insurance in place and use top notch products to keep your hair out of the danger zone. Don’t be afraid to ask. Your hair’s at stake.

At Hairdressing Claims, we regularly encounter clients who’ve suffered hair damage, hair breakage, scalp burns and scalp blisters due to lack of care on the part of their hairdresser. If you find yourself in this distressing situation, please contact our legal team in complete confidence and take the first step towards claiming compensation for harm caused.

Email enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, call 0800 970 9102 from a landline for free, phone 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or complete our online enquiry form.

Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hairclaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims