Hair Loss Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For Hair Loss After An Accident Or Injury

By Jo Jeffries. Last updated 30th September 2022. Welcome to this guide, which explains how to claim compensation for hair loss after a traumatic accident. In it, we look at whether you could claim compensation for hair falling out after hair extensions or a damaged scalp and answer questions such as “Can you sue a hairdresser?” and “how much compensation for hair loss or hair damage could I receive?” We also include a section on hairdressing compensation claims.

The world of accident claims is extensive and there are multiple areas of day-to-day life that, if affected by negligence, could provide grounds for a personal injury claim. As such, some people may not be aware that they could receive compensation for hair loss in the event their hairdresser acted negligently.

Can I Claim Compensation For Hair Loss And Other Injuries?

Person picking out hair lost from a comb

Understandably, if you simply do not like your haircut, you might not be able to claim compensation as this may not necessarily be the hairdresser’s fault. However, you could make a claim for hair loss, a burnt scalp, dermatitis and other such injuries that could have been avoided had the correct safety precautions been implemented initially. Such a claim could include any lasting psychological trauma that has resulted from a hair loss head injury.

This guide offers information regarding hair loss claims and examples of what damages and/or conditions may be deemed eligible for compensation. Regardless of whether you have suffered damage to your hair, scalp, or your head more generally, we could help you claim compensation.

Helping You Sue A Hairdresser For Injury

At Accident Claims UK, our No Win No Fee solicitors have up to thirty years’ experience in personal injury claims. The team’s knowledge and expertise could help you claim a settlement amount for the harm you suffered. We handle claims under a No Win No Fee agreement which is described in greater detail later in this guide.

Call us today for free legal advice under a no-obligation consultation on 0800 073 8801. Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a friendly adviser available to discuss your circumstances just a phone call away.

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A Guide To Claiming Compensation For Hair Loss

There’s no denying that hair loss resulting from an injury could be both traumatic and distressing for any individual, whether it be a single bald patch, or total hair loss.  Physical pain, such as itchiness and hair follicle damage, could be accompanied by noticeable changes to an individual’s aesthetics which may detrimentally impact their daily life. An injury of this type could cause stress and other long-lasting psychological damage. As a result, the victim may need on-going treatment and/or therapy which could affect their finances and income.

These factors would be taken into account by your personal injury solicitor if you make a claim against a negligent third party.

This guide provides information on how much compensation you could receive for various losses and discusses the types of injuries you could sustain due to a hairdresser’s negligence, and what process you should follow in order to conduct a strong case.

What Is A Hair Loss Injury?

On a daily basis, a person could lose on average between 50 and 100 hairs which typically goes unnoticed. This natural, constant loss of hair is not something that should be worried about, according to the NHS. However, when you suddenly begin to lose large amounts of hair, this may be cause for concern. It is possible to suffer hair loss after a back injury, or after a head injury, depending on an individual’s circumstances.

There are several different types of hair loss that a person could suffer, which all range in severity and appearance. It could be anything from brittle hair and a slightly itchy scalp to alopecia. or full permanent hair loss caused by a bleach injury.

Causes Of Hair Loss

Generally speaking, temporary hair loss may be the result of several different factors, such as:

  • Illness
  • Stress
  • Cancer treatment
  • Weight loss
  • Iron deficiency
  • Hormones
  • Genes
  • Drugs
  • X-rays
  • Childbirth
  • Diet

However, as mentioned above, significant hair loss could be a great cause for concern. In severe cases, where negligence may have played a part, damage/loss of hair could be as a result of negligence. Some of the common examples might include:

  • Faulty hair products
  • Allergic reactions (e.g. home hair-dye kits)
  • Burning the scalp area
  • Hairdresser negligence (i.e. no patch test was carried out prior to beginning your hair treatment, the hairdresser was incorrectly trained)
  • Contact dermatitis – inflammation of the skin
  • Criminal violence (e.g. assault, torching, acid attack etc)
  • Accidental injury (e.g. your hair catches fire in a hair salon)

The above list is not exhaustive. If you feel you suffered hair loss after a traumatic injury, but your circumstances were not listed above, then call our team today for advice on your specific case.

Hair Loss Symptoms

The typical signs of a hair loss condition, both naturally and negligently induced may vary between genders and age. There are specific symptoms that men may notice more so than women. A child may experience different symptoms to both adult men and women entirely.

As a basis for all ages and sexes, some signs to look out for includes:

  • Full-body hair loss
  • Patches of scaling across the scalp
  • Sudden loss of hair
  • Patchy/circular spots
  • Dry hair
  • Itchy scalp

Hair Loss In Men

Men may be more likely to experience symptoms of:

  • Hair thinning on the scalp
  • Receding hairline
  • Horseshoe-shaped patterns towards the crown of the head

Hair Loss In Women

Women may generally be more likely to see signs of hair loss that include:

  • Hair thinning, particularly around the crown area
  • Hand fulls of hair detaching from the scalp
  • Bald spots
  • Full hair loss

Hair Loss In Children and Young Adults

Children and young adults may show the following signs:

  • Sudden patchiness of the hair
  • Loss of hair over the entire body
  • Incomplete scalp/eyebrow hair
  • Extensive hair shedding (but not complete baldness)

Alopecia Explained

However, across all genders and ages, there are 4 types of alopecia which cause hair loss, and there are a variety of triggers which may spark this condition, though it should be highlighted that this is not contagious. The four main types of alopecia are:

Androgenetic Alopecia

A form of female-pattern baldness caused by genetics which could be the result of family history. The condition typically begins between the ages of 12 to 40, and is one of the leading causes of hair loss in women.

Alopecia Areata

Symptoms may typically begin with one or more round bald patches that may, or may not overlap. From here, a patchy loss of hair begins across the head/body.

Cicatricial Alopecia

Cicatricial alopecia is a group of conditions which are completely irreversible because hair loss is caused by scarring. Where the hair begins to fall out, the follicle which usually replenish the lost hair, is replaced by scar tissue.

Traumatic Alopecias

Any hairstyling that causes unnecessary pressure on the hair follicles and is overused for a period of time, could cause hair to fall. This could include hot combs, hairdryers, straighteners, or even certain chemicals which dye or straighten hair.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is recommended that you visit a doctor or your GP. They may advise you on what treatment course you should take in order to resolve your issues.

If these symptoms were the result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you could make a compensation claim for hair loss against a negligent third party. As such, you should discuss your case with a personal injury solicitor by calling Accident Claims UK.

Physical And Psychological Effects Of Hair Loss

The effects of a devastating hair loss injury could induce both physical and psychological injuries both of which are detrimental to a person’s health and well-being.

Aside from the obvious loss of hair itself, there are additional physical effects some of which could include:

  • Itchiness
  • Blisters
  • Dry/brittle hair
  • Gradual thinning of hair
  • Circular/patchy bald spots (particularly common in men)
  • Swelling
  • Rashes
  • Flaky hair
  • Burns

If you are losing large amounts of hair on a regular basis, the consequences could devastate your self-esteem. The result of hair loss after a head injury, or due to stress, or alopecia, could lead to depression, anxiety and other psychological issues.

It should be noted that the examples given above are not the only types of physical and psychological damage for which you could be awarded compensation. As such, there are several different conditions which, if caused by third-party negligence could be valid grounds for a compensation claim.

Hair Loss Caused By Occupation Dermatitis

The assistance of a personal injury lawyer would prove useful if you come into contact with a chemical that causes occupational dermatitis in a work environment, such as a hair salon or beauty salon. Any form of chemical irritant could lead to occupational dermatitis, though a hair salon is one of the most common places a person is likely to come into contact through exposure to hair dyes.

A person may experience itchiness and redness around the face and scalp, though in some severe cases these symptoms may develop across their entire body. Additionally, the sufferer may also begin to feel ill. It is therefore vital to seek medical attention as soon as these symptoms appear in order to receive appropriate hair loss treatment.

If you feel the cause of dermatitis was caused by the negligent actions of another person, you could be entitled to make a No Win No Fee claim for compensation.

Hair Loss Caused By Hair Extension Traction Alopecia

In addition to occupation dermatitis, it may be possible for hair loss to be caused by incorrectly fitted hair extensions. While hair extensions are a popular accessory for those looking to increase the volume and length of their hair, there could be significant consequences of using such accessories which includes traction alopecia.

A case of this nature could happen when hair extensions are not fitted correctly, especially once a form of bonding technique has been utilised to secure the extensions in place. By wearing incorrectly fitted extensions, their weight could put too much pressure on your natural hair. As a result, your natural hair is under constant strain which places significant amounts of added stress on your hair follicles and scalp. Along with this added pressure. You could also develop irritation on your scalp due to the extensions rubbing against it.

Unfortunately, the repercussions of traction alopecia could create long-term baldness due to the damage caused to hair follicles. Although a doctor may be able to provide hair loss stress treatment for other aspects of traction alopecia, they may not be able to make follicles healthy again.

Calculating Compensation For Hair Loss Injuries

We understand that one of your main questions in a personal injury claim for hair loss could be about how much compensation you could be entitled to. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to claim compensation for a burnt scalp or contact dermatitis, providing that third-party negligence can be proven, you may have grounds to seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim.

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Injury Type Severity Average Amount Information
Dermatitis Both hands lasting some years or indefinitely. £13,740 to £19,200 Both hands will suffer from the condition, with cracking and soreness contributing to the hinderance of employment and domestic capabilities. There may also be some psychological consequences associated with this bracket of severity.
One/both hands, continuing for a significant period. £8,640 to £11,410 The symptoms of this condition will last for a significant period of time, but with treatment and/or use of specific tasks, the condition will begin to settle after a certain amount of time.
One/both hands; resolving in a matter of months. £1,710 to £3,950 Both dermatitis symptoms and a short-lived aggravation of a pre-existing skin condition will be included in this bracket. The victim may feel the effects of irritation, itching and/or rashes, however after a few months these effects will resolve with treatment.
Hair Damage Severe £7,340 to £11,020 The symptoms of this bracket will be the result of defective permanent waving, tinting and other such likes, resulting in dermatitis, eczema, tingling or burning of the scalp. As a result, the victim may feel consequences in the form of dry/brittle hair, distress, depression, loss of confidence and embarrassment.
Less serious £3,950 to £7,340 The symptoms of this bracket are only a minor character of those listed above. However, alongside these symptoms are cases where loss of hair has left bald patches, including cases of stressed-induced alopecia. How much is awarded will depend on the time taken for the hair to regrow, but full recovery should be made within two years.
Facial Disfigurement Very severe scaring £29,780 to £97,330 The result of these cosmetic effects is severe cases of disfiguring and psychological reaction, particularly in young claimants typically aged from teens to early 30s.
Less severe scarring £17,960 to £48,420 The scarring from an incident will still be substantial and include significant psychological reaction, but less than the symptoms listed above.
Significant scarring £9,110 to £30,090 The worst effects have been or will be reduced by plastic surgery, but may leave some cosmetic disability. In these cases, psychological reaction will not be great or have considerable onset.
Less significant scarring £3,950 to £13,740 Only one scar will be visible through camouflage, or a number of small scars will be marginally visible. However, the overall impact will not be remarkable on the individual’s appearance and/or reaction.
Trivial scarring £1,710 to £3,530 The effect of these cases is simply minor only.

The information included in this table is based on Judicial College Guidelines for compensation amounts and provides rough estimations only. While a personal injury claims calculator could provide you with an approximate, generalised figure of your potential damages, our experts would be able to offer a more accurate figure unique to your circumstances. Call us today to find out more about how much a successful compensation claim could be worth.

Special Damages Compensation For Hair Loss

In a personal injury claim, there are two components to a compensation payout at the end of a successful personal injury claim. These components are ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’.

General Damages:  could be paid to compensate a claimant for the physical and/or psychological harm suffered. Any lasting effects a claimant may endure could also determine the amount of compensation paid in special damages

Special Damages: awarded to a claimant to compensate them for financial costs incurred as a result of the injuries they suffered as a result of third-party negligence. For example, this could include medical costs, travel expenses, or even loss of income caused by suffering. To claim such expenses, you must provide evidence in the form of receipts and other documentation.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Hair Loss

If you are seeking compensation for hair loss, our legal experts could help you begin your personal injury claim. Our services are conducted under No Win No Fee agreements which means you would only be required to pay for your solicitor’s legal fees and services if the case is successful and a compensation payment is made. As there are no upfront costs or unexpected bills associated with this type of agreement, you can see how the financial risks are reduced.

If your case is unsuccessful, you would not have to pay your solicitor for their time and services.  Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), we offer these financial agreements to the majority of our clients.

There are more benefits to this agreement than those listed above. To find out more about how a No Win No Fee Agreement works, and how you could benefit from using one, call our expert team today.

Why Select Accident Claims UK To Handle Your Case

Accident Claims UK provides legal services nationwide which means that instead of restricting yourself to personal injury claims solicitors located in your area, you could widen your search for an experienced personal injury solicitor through our nationwide accident claims service. It may possible for our solicitors to handle your claim via telephone or email, which means you might not have to attend frequent face-to-face meetings or travel far outside of your local area.

The law surrounding personal injury is complex. Without the relevant experience or knowledge, it could be difficult to conduct a claim by yourself. Whereas the guidance and support of a personal injury lawyer could help you collect evidence, build a strong case, and make a strong argument on your behalf as to why you are entitled to claim for hair loss.

There are also a number of scenarios that you may find confusing, such as what to do if a pre-medical offer is proposed by the defendant’s party. In such cases, it may seem tempting to accept the first offer, though you could miss out on the opportunity of finding out the true value of your claim. This is just one of the many scenarios in which an experienced lawyer could provide you with advice and support.

Start Your Claim For Hair Loss Today

Your claim is only a few simple steps away. All you have to do is select one of the communication methods below and our expert advisers could sort the rest.

With years of expertise and knowledge under their belts, our panel of personal injury solicitors could lend their assistance to get the ball rolling and help verify whether you have a valid claim. They may ask you about the specifics of your circumstances and decide whether it is applicable within the right personal injury claims time limit. If so, you could begin your claim straight away.

To contact one of our advisers, you may:

Hair loss compensation – FAQs

Can I sue for hair loss?

Hair loss can result from many different scenarios including medical beauty treatment or shock caused by a traumatic incident. If you have suffered due to somebody else’s negligence, you could make a hair loss or hair damage compensation claim.

What could I claim hair loss compensation for?

Not only could you claim for any physical suffering you’ve sustained because of somebody else’s mistakes, but you could also claim for any psychological suffering too.

How do I prove psychological suffering in hair loss claims?

Personal injury solicitors are not medical specialists. For that reason, they can’t simply say that you have suffered because you’ve lost your hair. Instead, they’ll call upon an independent medical expert who will assess your injuries. They’ll review your medical records and discuss how you’ve been affected before documenting their findings in a medical report.

How long do I have to claim?

If you are making a personal injury claim, there is a 3-year time limit. Where your hair loss is immediately obvious, your limitation period will begin from the date of the negligence. However, if the hair loss doesn’t happen right away, but is linked to a specific incident later on, your 3-years will start from the date of knowledge.

Can you sue a hairdresser for hair falling out after hair extensions?

You could sue a hairdresser for hair falling out after hair extensions if they have breached their duty of care towards you and applied them negligently, for example. To claim compensation for hair loss, you would need to prove that the negligent application caused the hair loss. 

How much compensation for hair loss could I receive?

If you want to know how much compensation for hair loss you could receive, we can look at how such claims could be assessed when calculating compensation. All claims are different from each other. 

Each case’s compensation for hair loss depends on the facts and circumstances of the case. For example, someone who was unable to work due to hair loss, such as a model, could receive damages for loss of earnings. Some claimants could suffer psychological injuries too.

Would compensation for hair loss include damages for psychological injury?

If a claimant suffers psychological injury from the hair loss they suffered due to the hairdresser’s negligence, they could be eligible for compensation.  They would have to be able to prove that the psychological injury was caused directly by the hair loss they suffered. Medical records could help them to do this. 

Could a solicitor be beneficial if I want to claim compensation for hair loss?

Using a solicitor could be beneficial for those who want to claim compensation for hair loss. A lawyer could help you take steps to put a strong case for compensation forward. They could also negotiate a settlement on your behalf. 

Hair Loss After A Traumatic Accident – Could It Be Temporary?

If you’ve sustained hair loss after a traumatic accident, it could be temporary. There is a condition known as telogen effluvium, which is a temporary loss of hair that could be caused by a traumatic event, stress or shock. It does not lead to a damaged scalp but can lead to a lot of hair falling out.

If you’ve sustained hair loss after a traumatic accident that you started to notice between 1-3 months after the accident, it could be worth speaking to your GP. 

If you’ve suffered hair loss after a traumatic accident that was not your fault, and this has caused you psychological harm, you could be eligible for compensation, no matter whether the hair loss was temporary or permanent. 

A hairdresser damaged my scalp using heat. Can I claim?

Those looking to make a claim for a damaged scalp would need to prove that the hairdresser had breached a duty of care towards them, causing injury. 

For more information on hairdresser compensation claims, get in touch with our advisors at any time.

Essential References

Stress At Work Compensation Claims
Are you suffering from stress at work? If so, you could claim compensation. Read our guide to find out more.

Hairdressing Injury Claims
For more information regarding hairdressing injury claims, read our detailed guide.

Laser Hair Removal Claims
How to make a claim for laser hair removal.

Alopecia UK
There are alopecia support groups and organisations which seek to help those suffering from such conditions.

What Is Work-Related Contact Dermatitis?
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines to the main signs and symptoms of Contact Dermatitis.

Thanks for reading about how to claim compensation for hair loss. If you would like further information about taking action, please call today.

Article by HH (Hollie)

Editor Honey