A non-fault accident in a hairdresser can do more than ruin your hairstyle. If you received negligent or incompetent service at a stylist’s, you could be owed personal injury compensation. If you’re asking the question, ‘Can I claim if a hairdresser burnt my scalp?’ this guide will provide all the detailed answers you need.
Key Takeaways For Hairdresser Claims
- Anyone providing a service to the general public owes them a duty of care, which if breached in a way that causes harm, could entitle a person to seek damages from them.
- A successful hairdresser negligence claim can result in compensation that covers the physical pain, emotional anguish and associated financial damages the person suffered.
- Evidence can strengthen a compensation claim.
- Our solicitors could help those seeking compensation for hairdresser negligence.
Continue reading to discover more about claims after a hairdresser burnt your scalp. If you’d like to see how to claim with a solicitor right now, contact our advisory team for a free, on-the-spot assessment of your claim:
- Call on 0800 073 8801 to chat about your burnt scalp claim.
- Contact us to see how much compensation may apply.
- Ask the live window the question, ‘Can I claim if a hairdresser burnt my scalp?’
Jump To A Section Of Our Guide
- My Hairdresser Burnt My Scalp, Can I Make A Claim?
- How Could A Hairdresser Burn Your Scalp?
- Different Types Of Burns
- How Much Compensation Could I Get If A Hairdresser Burnt My Scalp?
- What Evidence Can I Use To Support A Claim Against A Hairdresser?
- How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Claim Compensation?
- Learn More About Hairdressing Claims
My Hairdresser Burnt My Scalp, Can I Make A Claim?
At the start of your intention to claim, it is useful to understand what is meant by duty of care. A duty of care is a legal obligation that is placed on an individual or organisation to take proper care to ensure the reasonable safety of others.
When you visit a hairdresser, this duty of care is owed under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This act requires any third party in control of an area open to the public to implement measures to ensure the public is reasonably prevented from coming to harm. This duty of care applies to anyone providing a service in a salon, spa, barbershop or even in your own home via a mobile hairdresser. If they fail to adhere to this duty, you could sustain injuries.
However, in order to move forward with a hairdresser negligence claim, you will need to meet certain eligibility criteria. For a personal injury claim to be considered valid, you need to demonstrate three points that define negligence:
- You were owed a duty of care by the hairdresser.
- They breached this duty of care in some way.
- Your burnt scalp injuries were a direct result of this.
If you’d like to discuss your claim in person, call the team and they can advise on its eligibility.
Can I Still Claim If I Signed A Waiver?
You could still have a valid claim against the hairdresser despite signing any waiver. Most waivers are intended to alert the customer to the inherent risks of procedures. This doesn’t mean the hairdresser can be negligent. They should assess the suitability of your hair to have any chemical treatments by doing a patch test before carrying out the procedure.
How Could A Hairdresser Burn Your Scalp?
An inexperienced or negligent hairdresser could burn your scalp during a variety of different procedures:
- Heated tongs and curlers can burn the scalp or hair.
- Incorrect use of a hairdryer can scorch the scalp.
- Faulty hairdressing equipment can malfunction and burn the client.
- Too much peroxide formula can damage the skin. Also, leaving bleach or colour treatments on for overly extended periods can cause bleach burn.
- Incorrect topical treatments around the hairline to remove dye can cause a reaction if not tested beforehand.
- Excessively hot water when washing or rinsing hair.
A Hairdresser Burnt My Scalp With Hair Dye, Can I Claim?
Untested hair dyes can cause an allergic reaction that blisters the skin. Because of this, hair salons must have a policy of testing hair dyes on a patch of the client’s skin first.
If the hairdresser failed to take the essential cautionary steps prior to treatment, you could be owed compensation for both the physical and psychological injuries (like post-traumatic stress disorder) as well.
Can I Claim Compensation For A Scalp Burn From Bleach?
Bleach burn can be distressing and painful. Again, if you are able to demonstrate that a stylist or their assistant left a solution on your hair for too long, or used too much of it and it burnt your scalp, a claim for compensation could be made.
Different Types Of Burns
According to the NHS, burns can be categorised in the following ways:
- First-Degree – These can be superficial burns on the outermost layer of the skin.
- Second-Degree – This type of burn affects the epidermis and part of the dermis, which is slightly deeper.
- Third-Degree – Also referred to as ‘full thickness’ burns, this type of injury impacts all the layers of the skin, as well as the underlying muscle tissue and fat. The skin can appear black brown or white and has a leathery texture. The nerve endings are destroyed, and sensation is lost.
It’s important to seek medical advice for any type of burn injuries.
Symptoms Of A Burn
Whatever the severity, according to the NHS, burns can result in the following symptoms:
- Redness and soreness.
- Swelling and blistering.
- White, charred or peeling skin.
- Loss of sensation.
- Sore throat and breathing difficulties
- Severe, prolonged pain.
Burn damage involving loss of hair can also be very emotionally distressing so whatever the severity of your injuries, if you’re asking ‘Can I claim if a hairdresser burnt my scalp?’ speak to us first.
How Much Compensation Could I Get If A Hairdresser Burnt My Scalp?
If your claim against a negligent hairdresser is successful, you could receive a settlement formed of two heads of loss. General damages compensate the claimant for the physical pain they experienced and can also include psychiatric suffering.
Those responsible for affixing a value to general damages can look at the medical evidence that has been submitted along with publications like the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This lists award bracket guidelines based on past successful personal injury claims in England and Wales.
To illustrate, we’ve put together a table of entries from the JCG as they might relate to injuries caused by a hairdresser. Importantly, every claim varies, and these amounts are purely guidelines. Furthermore, the first line is not from the JCG:
Compensation Guidelines
| Area of Harm | Severity | Guideline Amounts | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple (Serious) Injuries Plus An Amount For Special Damages | Severe | Up to £350,000 plus. | This award incorporates an amount for pain, suffering and financial losses for cosmetic procedure costs and earnings loss. |
| Severe burn injury | Serious | Likely to be more than £127,930 | Burns that cover more than 40% of the body. |
| Psychological Distress | (a) Severe | £66,920 up to £141,240 | Acute mental health challenges that radically impair all areas of normal life permanently. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | (b) Moderately Severe | £28,250 up to £73,050 | A more positive prognosis suggested compared to severe cases of PTSD, but issues persist for the foreseeable future. |
| Face | (a) Scarring - Very Severe | £36,340 up to £118,790 | Very disfiguring impacts to claimants under 30. |
| (b) Scarring - Less severe | £21,920 up to £59,090 | Where the person is substantially disfigured and the psychological reaction is classed as significant. | |
| (c) Scarring - Significant | £11,120 up to £36,720 | Cases where plastic surgery has reduced the worst effects. | |
| (d) Scarring - Less Significant | £4,820 up to £16,770 | One or several small scars that mar but do not markedly effect appearance. | |
| Hair | (a) Serious | £8,960 up to £13,450 | Cases of defective hair treatments that result in burning, eczema or dermatitis and prompts embarrassment, distress or depression. |
| (b) Less Serious | £4,820 up to £8,960 | Lesser severity of issues similar to above but also reflects impact o regrowth time for bald patches. |
What Could Special Damages Cover?
The second head of loss that frequently makes up a compensation amount is called special damages. This category of loss acknowledges the financial damage the person has suffered because a hairdresser burnt their scalp. They need to submit documented proof of the losses, such as:
- Any wage slips that show your loss of earnings for the time off to recover from your burnt scalp.
- Proof of medical expenses for private treatments.
- The cost of any wigs or specialist hair needs.
- The invoices for people who cared for you as you recovered.
- Tickets, petrol receipts and parking amounts for journeys to essential appointments.
If you have proof of other expenses or losses caused by the hairdresser’s negligence, speak to our advisors.
What Evidence Can I Use To Support A Claim Against A Hairdresser?
You will need supporting evidence if you would like to claim compensation because a hairdresser burnt your scalp. You need to pull together proof that your injuries were a consequence of the hairdresser breaching their duty of care to you. With this in mind, the following can help:
- Photos and mobile phone footage of your head injuries and the procedure that caused them.
- Photos of the salon or faulty equipment used.
- A copy of your medical records.
- The contact information of any eyewitnesses who can be approached for a statement at a later date.
- A copy from the accident book kept on the beauty salon’s premises.
An advisor from our team can discuss how one of our solicitors can help you gather this evidence. Get in touch using the contact info above.
How Could A No Win No Fee Solicitor Help Me Claim Compensation?
Our solicitors are experts at helping people just like you get the compensation you’re owed. They can help gather supporting evidence and use it to ensure the precise amount of compensation is calculated in your claim.
Furthermore, they can provide additional help and support, like explaining the Pre-Action Protocol. Our solicitors will also explain legal jargon and liaise directly with the third party to reach a speedy resolution. This allows you the much-needed time and space to concentrate on your recovery.
What Is A No Win No Fee Arrangement?
Our solicitors offer eligible claimants a type of No Win No Fee arrangement called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Under a contract like this, the claimant can enjoy the following benefits:
- There’s no need to pay any initial fees for the solicitor’s work.
- No fees apply for their services going forward with the claim.
- Should the hairdresser negligence claim be unsuccessful, solicitors acting under a CFA request no fees for their completed work.
- Claims that are successful require a payment from the compensation to the solicitors. This ‘success fee’ is a percentage that is capped by law.
- An agreement like this means the person claiming can expect to receive virtually all of the compensation awarded to them.
Interested in learning more? Get started right now:
- Call on 0800 073 8801 to chat about your burnt scalp claim.
- Contact us online to see how much compensation may apply.
- Ask the live window the question ‘Can I claim if a hairdresser burnt my scalp?’
Learn More About Hairdressing Claims
As well as burnt scalp compensation, these other guides look at related topics:
- This guide looks at accidents from laser hair removal claims.
- Here, hair damage compensation claims are discussed.
- Also, plastic surgery negligence claims are looked at here.
External help:
- Read when to call 999 from the NHS.
- Also, advice about hair loss conditions.
- In addition, information about hairdresser registration from GOV.UK here.
We value your interest in our guide about scalp burns. We hope it has helped answer any questions related to claiming if the hairdresser burnt your scalp. Connect with our advisors today for more help.
