Hairdresser Injury Compensation Claim Calculator

By Jo Jeffries. Last updated 6th September 2022.  Welcome to this guide on hairdressing compensation claims. It explains how professional negligence soicitotrs could help you with suing a hair salon for negligence and includes an alternative to a hairdresser injury compensation claim calculator.

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Hairdresser Injury Compensation Claim Calculator

When we go to the hairdresser, we expect to leave the salon feeling fantastic, with the only slightly painful part being parting with our hard-earned money to pay the bill. Many of us take pride in our appearance, and whether we have a customer-facing job or not, we like to look our best, which is often why we visit the hairdresser in the first place. Unfortunately, however, sometimes things go wrong, and we don’t leave the hairdresser feeling the way we should. If that is down to a bad choice of haircut by us, then unfortunately, it is not something we can do much about, but if we receive an injury that is caused by a negligent hairdresser, then there is something we can do.

Getting Help With Hairdressing Negligence Claims

Here at Accident Claims we can assist with hairdresser injury claims that cover a variety of different incidents. You can claim hairdresser compensation if you have become injured due to your hairdresser, be it compensation for hair damage, or other forms of hair salon negligence, such as cuts and even trips and falls in the salon. Hairdressing claims can, however, be complex, so it is essential you understand the process and how we can help. We can explain this over the phone on 0800 073 8801, or you can read below to see if we have covered the hairdressing compensation claims questions you have.

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A guide to claiming compensation for injuries caused by a hairdresser

The hairdressing industry is huge, with over 40,000 hairdressers and barbers currently operating in the UK, according to the NHF. It stands to reason that many of us have a regular hairdresser we prefer to use; after all our hair and the way we look is important to us. However, whether your regular hairdresser or barber has made a mistake, or you have used a new salon who has not given you the care they should while you were in their salon, then you may have cause to claim against a hairdresser for compensation. In this guide, we take a look at common questions such as ‘What is the hairdresser’s responsibility?’ or ‘Can you sue a hairdresser for ruining your hair?’ as well as giving an idea of how much compensation you could be looking at for your hairdressing claims.

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Hairdresser injury compensation claim calculator

What are the main causes of a hairdressing injury?

Accidents in hairdressers are more common than people think, and they can be caused by a variety of failings on the part of the hairdresser or the salon owner. Some of the more common causes are listed below but if you feel your story falls outside of these boundaries then do not worry, you can just get in touch with our team and we’ll be able to go through what has happened to decide whether you’re likely to have a valid claim.

Poor training to staff

Getting the right training is essential for all staff in a hair salon to properly do their job and minimise risks of injury to clients. Should a trainee or staff member not have sufficient training, or the training is of poor quality, then this can end in injury to the client leading to hair damage claims.

Cuts from scissors

It is essential that proper care be taken when using hairdressing scissors. A slip of the scissors can result in serious injury, with some cuts leaving visible scarring.

Burns from equipment or chemicals

Whether the chemicals a hairdresser has used led to chemical burns or you were burnt with hairstyling equipment, you should be able to claim for compensation, for damaged hair, or skin.

Allergies

Patch tests are essential when using a chemical for the first time, and it is essential a hairdresser knows this. Should they not complete a patch test, or change the chemicals they’re using after a patch test was done, then you may suffer an allergic reaction leading to the need to contact hair lawyers.

Loss of hair/Damage to hair

Should a hairdresser use treatments for too long or not use the right products, or be negligent in the treatment of your hair, they may be liable for any loss or damage to the hair that has occurred as a result.

Instrument contamination or poor hygiene

If clean equipment is not used when treating you then you could suffer infections of the scalp. The HSE promotes the wearing of gloves to avoid a condition called dermatitis that could cause issues should you get it.

Slips and trips

Hair salons must be kept clean and clutter free to avoid slip and trip risks and clear up any spillages as soon as possible. If you suffer a slip or trip at the hairdresser because they haven’t taken these precautions, then you may well be right to make a claim to compensate you.

What should you do if you are injured at the hairdresser’s?

After you have been the victim of a hairdressing salon injury, you may wonder what action is best to take. Obviously, the initial priority is to obtain medical advice and/or treatment before you do anything else, even if you feel your initial symptoms are not severe. Not only will this give you the best chance of receiving accurate and useful advice and treatment but it will also allow you to have a record of what has happened, written by a professional.

Some things to consider, whether you are making a claim straight away or seeing what happens next are as follows:

Keep hold of evidence

Whether you obtain photographic proof of what’s happened, by way of either of the injuries or damage you’re left with or the scene where the accident happened, this can be useful if you choose to make a claim. It is important also to keep any documents that prove you have incurred any costs, whether medical treatment or travel to appointments due to what has happened.

Take witness information

Anyone that saw what happened to you, whether other customers, other staff members or members of the public could prove useful should you claim for damaged hair or other hairdressing injuries. Make sure to carefully collect contact information for them. In addition to this, write down your account of what happened as soon as you possibly can to save your memory becoming confused later on.

Call a professional claims service

Whether you’re sure you want to make a claim or have questions about whether you might have one, then calling our claims service will give you everything you need to move forward. In most cases your claim won’t require you to pay any funds straight away, as the payment will be taken as a percentage of the compensation you will be awarded. We can provide you a solicitor that works on this basis.

Who is liable for injuries sustained in a hair or beauty salon?

Every case is different when it comes to hairdressing claims. Whilst many people want to know about suing a hairstylist, without hearing your own story, we cannot definitely concur who we feel is liable for your injuries. However, there are a number of circumstances that are rather clear cut, which we explain below:

Burns from Chemicals

Should your hairdresser not have taken the required precautions to protect you from chemical burns, either by performing a patch test or correctly protecting your skin then it may seem that they are at fault. If, however, you have refused a patch test, the matter becomes more complicated. The person that was supposed to protect you may not have been trained properly, or they may have made a mistake. Liability will then depend on their employment status within the salon and who was responsible for their training or whether they were negligent.

Injuries (Accidental)

This is also quite complicated. It depends on whether the user of the equipment used was properly trained, or whether they were negligent, and again calls into question their status of employment.

Equipment that was faulty

What is taken into account when looking at liability for this sort of incident is whether the equipment provided by the manufacturer was fit for purpose, whether it had been maintained correctly, or kept clean.

Falls, slips and/or trips

Hazards should be signposted, and clutter and slip and trip hazards should be kept to a minimum and signposted where they cannot be removed. If this is not the case, then it is almost certain the salon can be found liable.

Health and safety laws for hair salons

There is a lot of legislation covering health and safety and this extends to the beauty industry. There are a number of things that salon owners and hairdressers must do by law, and some of these are listed below. If your salon owner or hairdresser has not adhered to these then call us and tell us what has happened – we can help you with your claim.

Patch testing must be conducted with hair colouring products

It is law that patch testing must be completed prior to hair colouring products being used. This is essential in order to make sure that allergic reactions do not occur as well as checking the colour is the one the client has requested. It also gives an opportunity to make sure that the chemical does not damage the client’s hair.

Products must be disposed of properly

The COSHH Act 2002 requires that a hair salon properly dispose of chemicals such as perming solutions, peroxides, and all other chemical products used. Without this requirement, the products mentioned could cause issues within the environment.

Electricals should be made safe

All electrical products used within a salon should be inspected and maintained regularly to ensure that they do not pose a risk to salon users. This comes under the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Act.

Training and instruction of hair stylists must be proper

A salon owner has a duty to care for the health and well-being of clients while in the salon and this duty includes ensuring that all salon staff are properly trained and competent at their jobs.

Should your salon owner or hair stylist be negligent of the rules mentioned above or any other legal requirements, you should be able to make claims for hairdressing injuries.

Can I claim for damaged hair?

If your hair has damage after your hairdresser has treated it in any way, you may be asking how to sue a hairdresser. In some cases, the answer will be yes. Here, we list some of the most common reasons for claiming compensation from a hair salon or hairdresser – this should help you decide if you should take a claim forward. If the reason you’re thinking of trying to claim against your hairdresser is not listed here, it does not mean that your reason is not valid. We can only cover a certain amount of information in this guide and we can clarify further if you call us with your reason.

Psychological harm

One of the main reasons for claiming is psychological damage that occurs when our hair is damaged or we are injured. This can be to our self-esteem – and in some cases, people can refuse to go out for fear of being stared at until the damage is reversed. If the damage cannot be reversed, they may suffer psychological problems.

Patchiness

Uneven cutting or being left with bald patchiness can make your haircut look dreadful. If this is caused by negligent behaviour of your hairdresser, by way of uneven cutting on chemical burns causing patchy hair, then you should consider making a claim.

Balding

If your hair has been pulled out, or the wrong products used, or even if the right products were used incorrectly, you may be left with bald patches, or, in extreme cases you may be left completely bald. Should you be unfortunate enough to suffer this due to your hairdresser, then chances are you would have a claim.

Dermatitis of the Scalp

A skin condition that can be caused by chemicals or allergic reactions to products, dermatitis can cause patches of dry skin on the scalp as well as dandruff. It can be difficult to get rid of in some cases.

Burns to hair and scalp

Whether caused by hair styling equipment or chemicals, this can damage the hair and the scalp and in some cases can leave permanent scarring.

Brittleness

If chemicals are used incorrectly, they can cause a lot of different reactions, and one of this is making the hair extremely brittle. This is often the case where the chemicals were left on for longer than the directions advised. If the brittleness can be put down to the hair salon or hairdresser’s negligence, then you should consider claiming.

How to start your hairdresser injury compensation claim

You may well be wondering how to get started with this sort of claim, and it is easier than you would have thought. All you’ll have to do is call us where we will take it from there. The process usually works as per the below when you use Accident Claims:

  • We will talk to you about what happened: We will almost always have some questions to ask about what happened to you at the hair salon, but none of these are very complex, and we will explain why we need to know the answers to these questions.
  • We will then ascertain whether we feel you have a claim. If not, we will tell you the reasons why. Feel free to ask questions at this point or any point during the call- we’re always happy to explain things.

If you have a valid claim

  • We will then, if you have a claim, offer to provide to you a solicitor with experience of pursuing hairdressing claims like yours. You don’t have to use the solicitor we provide, and you can ask any questions you like as to who they are, what experience they have and whether you can have a hairdressing no win no fee claim with them – the answer is almost always yes.
  • If you decide to go ahead, we can sometimes connect you directly to the solicitor, who will then go about taking your claim forward, pushing for the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.

Should you have any further queries about the process we can discuss these when you call. We prefer all our clients to be clear on what they are about to do.

What can I include in my compensation claim for a hairdressing injury?

This is one of the most common questions we are asked. As part of your hairdressing injury claim you may see payments covering:

Medical Expenses – Whether this is expensive creams prescribed by a dermatologist, or painkillers prescribed by your doctor, or any other medical expenses. These should be included as part of your case.

Travel Costs – Whether you have to visit a dermatologist or doctor for your damage the cost to travel and park should be reimbursed so make sure to keep receipts.

Special Award – Any costs you have had to fund because of your injury such as lost wages, possible future lost wages, care costs etc should be covered as part of this.

General Award – A Payment based on your injury/ies and the suffering and pain you are said to have borne – both physical and mental.

Hairdresser injury compensation calculator

As previously mentioned, there are lots of different types of injury that can occur. Here, we have put together a hairdresser injury compensation calculator of sorts, in the form of a table which illustrates common award brackets for certain injuries. If you’re not sure yours is covered here, why not get on the phone to us – we can then help clarify this for you.

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Type of Injuries Common Award Bracket Notes
Damage to hair caused by treatments including colouring etc – Severe Between £7,340 to £11,020 Causing brittleness of hair, dermatitis or tingling/burning – more severe psychological damage could receive a higher award.
Damage to hair caused by treatments including colouring etc –Not as severe Between £3,950 to £7,340 Less severe versions of the above and pulling out of the hair
Facial Scarring – Significant Between £9,110 to £30,090 Effects can be reduced with plastic surgery.
Facial Scarring – Less Significant Between £3,950 to £13,740 One scar or several small scars that can be masked..
Facial Scarring – Trivial Scarring Between £1,710 to £3,530 Minor scarring only
Facial Scarring – V Severe Between £29,780 to £97,330 Very Severe
Dermatitis Between £13,740 to £19,200 Both hands – Severe
Dermatitis Between £8,640 to £11,410 One or both hands, reduced with wearing gloves
Dermatitis Between £1,710 to £3,950 Itching and Irritation

If you have a different injury that is not in this table, then don’t forget you can get in touch with us at any time and we will try to determine common payment amounts for your type of claim.

No Win No Fee Hairdressing Compensation Claims

Are you looking for a solicitor to help you make hairdressing compensation claims? Whether you are looking into suing a hair salon for negligence as an employee or as a client, using a No Win No Fee solicitor could be useful.

No Win No Fee solicitors could take on your claim for compensation without taking any money upfront for the services they provide. If your claim fails, you generally won’t have to pay for their services. If the claim succeeds, a success fee is taken by your solicitor from the compensation. 

Where do I find solicitors who work on a No Win No Fee basis?

Here at Accident Claims UK, we could connect you to solicitors to help you with your hairdressing compensation claims. All of our solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis, which means suing a hair salon for negligence involves no payment upfront for the solicitors services. If you’d like to speak to us about making No Win No Fee claims and how we could help, please do not hesitate to call our team today.

Why choose Accident Claims UK as your claims service?

Choosing a claims service is as personal a decision as choosing a hairdresser – you want to get one that is right for you. We believe we can be that claims service, because we have helped plenty of people in your situation gain the maximum levels of compensation they can for this type of claim. Our previous clients will testify to our dedication to getting things right and providing not only a sympathetic ear, but a true understanding of what’s involved and how to get you the right solicitor to take your claim to a successful conclusion. We hope that one day in the near future, you’ll be giving us the same kind of reference.

Contact us today

If you have further queries about our service, the hairdresser injury compensation claim calculator, your potential claim, or even if you’re ready to begin a hairdressing claim, then the number to call is 0800 073 8801, where one of our legal experts will be happy to give you advice or start you on the road to gaining your deserved compensation. Alternatively, emailing us on office@accidentclaims.co.uk will allow us to respond to you via e-mail should you not be available on the phone. There’s no time like the present to get started, and we’re always ready to hear from you.

Useful Links Relating To The Hairdresser Injury Compensation Claim Calculator

HSE Hairdressing safety

This shows the information the HSE has provided about the industry and health and safety within it.

Scarring NHS

Scarring information from the NHS.

Small Claims court Hairdresser claims

If you’d like information concerning taking action through small claims court, this might give an idea, however, you are always best speaking to a solicitor.

Thank you for reading this guide on using our hairdresser injury compensation claim calculator.