Hairdresser Accident Claims

A visit to the hairdresser is a pleasant routine for most people. Whether it’s a festive occasion hairdo, a regular appointment for a trim, or you want a new hairstyle that better represents you, you deserve to feel safe in the hands of a hairdresser and satisfied with the results.

Unfortunately, there are several ways for your appointment to turn into a negative experience. Other than being unsatisfied with your hairstyle, hairdresser hazards and negligence can cause you minor to severe injuries that can have long-term consequences.

While most mistakes lead to temporary cuts, burns or a bad haircut, some accidents can cause hair fall, severe allergic reactions or infections passed on by unsanitary instruments. Poor housekeeping in the salon may cause a slip, trip and fall accident with awful consequences, especially in elderly clients.

If you have been affected by an injury or illness due to a hairdresser’s negligence, you might be eligible to make a hairdresser accident claim. You could receive compensation for your pain and suffering, the psychological trauma caused by the accident and any financial losses you incurred as a result.

To find out if you have a valid hairdresser injury claim, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0474 to speak to a legal adviser.

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By submitting this form you agree to be contacted by our partners. Find out how we handle your data in our privacy policy. With no win no fee you typically pay 25% of your compensation if your claim is successful, but the fee can vary. Termination fees may apply if you fail to co-operate with your solicitor.

Table of Contents

• Can I make a hairdresser accident claim?
• What are the most common types of hairdressing accidents?
• What health and safety legislation do hair salons need to follow?
• Can I claim compensation for damage to my hair?
• How much compensation can I claim for a hairdressing injury?
• How long do I have to make a claim against my hairdresser?

Can I make a hairdresser accident claim?

If your visit to the salon caused you any kind of injury or damage, you might be wondering whether it’s worth claiming compensation. As long as you were not entirely responsible for your accident, you can make a claim against a hairdresser no matter how minor your injuries were.

Nonetheless, the compensation award for a trivial injury might not be worth investing time and effort into making a claim, so you should consider your options thoroughly.

In any case, to be eligible for a hairdresser injury claim, your accident must fulfil certain conditions, which are listed below:

• It happened in the last three years
• Your hairdresser breached their duty of care towards you by acting negligently
• Their negligence caused you an injury

A brief conversation with an experienced solicitor can let you know if it’s worth pursuing a claim. If they advise you to ask for compensation, there are several steps you can take to bolster your chance of making a successful claim:

• Seek medical attention as soon as possible to make sure your injuries are properly assessed and treated. A medical report detailing your injuries, the treatment you received and your recovery prognosis is invaluable evidence in a hairdresser accident claim.
• Take photos of your injuries, the accident scene and any products or equipment involved. These will serve as visual proof of the incident and the pain and suffering it caused you.
• Keep all records of your hairdressing appointment, including emails, phone records, appointment cards and receipts. Keep evidence of any financial losses you incurred because of your accident, like travel costs, medication, treatment costs to reduce the damage to your hair.
• Keep a diary of how the events unfolded. Write down details about what happened before and after the accident and the amount of pain and suffering the incident caused you.
• Get contact details of anyone who witnessed your accident. Their statement might be required to confirm your version of the events.
• According to The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every beauty salon should have an accident report book. Make sure your accident is recorded in the logbook, and ask for a signed copy of the report.

If you decide to make a hairdresser accident claim, getting legal advice will dramatically increase your chances of success. Furthermore, if a solicitor believes you have a valid claim, they will offer you a no win no fee agreement*.

This way, you don’t have to worry about any upfront fees or hidden charges, and you don’t have to pay anything if you lose the case. You will only pay a success fee of up to 25% of your compensation for your solicitor’s services if you win the claim against a hairdresser.

What are the most common types of hairdressing accidents?

Unfortunately, it is not unusual to suffer an injury at the hairdresser. Although most injuries are minor and heal quickly, some injuries can be severe and cause long-lasting damage. If the accident was not your fault, you might be able to make a claim against a hairdresser.

The most common hairdressing accidents leading to an injury include:

• Allergic reactions due to various chemicals and other ingredients in hair products. Symptoms include painful scalp irritation, burning, itching and rashes, swelling of the neck, eyes and face, difficulty breathing and anaphylactic shock.
• Chemical and heat burns could be caused by using very hot products or equipment or the chemicals in hair dyes. Symptoms of chemical burns include stinging and burning sensations, blistering, pain, swelling and scarring. Additionally, it can cause your hair to break or stop growing in the affected area.
• Hair damage or hair loss following the use of wrong products or incorrect use of a good product. Your hair could become brittle or frizzy and even fall out in clumps. Damage to your hair can also cause a lot of emotional distress, and you might feel anxious about social interactions.
• Cuts and lacerations due to negligent use of sharp tools like scissors, razors and clippers. You can easily suffer a scalp, neck or facial injury, which could be particularly distressing if you are left with a permanent scar. Negligent use of tools can also cause severe eye injuries.
• Infections can be transmitted from one customer to another if the equipment is not properly cleaned and sanitised between clients. Fever, pain, sore throat, soreness or swelling, vomiting and diarrhoea are common symptoms of an infection, and some illnesses can be very severe.
• Electric shock caused by faulty electrical equipment used to style hair. From burns to the skin and internal tissues to unconsciousness and cardiac arrest, the effects of an electric shock can be catastrophic.
• Slips, trips and falls because of poor housekeeping. Any spillages must be immediately cleaned and wet floors signposted. Trailing cables or uneven pavements can also cause a fall, which can have consequences as severe as fractures and brain injuries.
• Customer violence. Altercations about an appointment or the outcome of a haircut can escalate into violence. Whether it’s your hairdresser or another customer that got angry, you should call the police and try to stay safe. Injuries from a fight can cause cuts, bruises and even more severe damage if things go too far.

There are other ways in which you could suffer an injury at the hair salon. As long as you are not entirely to blame for your harm, you may be entitled to make a hairdresser accident claim. To start your claim, speak to a trained legal adviser by calling 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation.

What health and safety legislation do hair salons need to follow?

If you suffered damage to your hair or any other personal injury in a hair salon, you might feel at a loss. You might think if you went there to dye your hair or for any other treatment, you assumed your responsibility for the outcome, and there’s nothing you can do.

But hairdressers in the UK have a duty of care to keep customers safe from any kind of injury. They must follow explicit rules and legislations, including:

Patch testing

The law requires hairdressers to perform hair strand tests and skip patch tests before applying any product to a person’s hair. If your hair gets damaged or you suffer an allergic reaction and the product was not tested, you may have a valid hairdresser injury claim.

Proper training and instruction of personnel

Hairdressers must have comprehensive training in various hairstyling techniques and using the equipment and sharp tools.

They should know the correct use of a product and what preventive measures to take before proceeding with treatment. Poor training can result in an injury and a subsequent claim against a hairdresser.

Correct disposal of products

All hairstyling and hair care products must be disposed of in compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health 2002 (COSHH) regulations. If not disposed of properly, toxic substances can contaminate the environment.

PAT testing of electrical appliances

As stipulated by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations Act 1998, salon employees must regularly get their electrical equipment and appliances tested to make sure they are safe for use and minimise the risk of an electric shock.

Practice good housekeeping

The salon flooring, surfaces and equipment must be cleaned and sanitised regularly to avoid contamination between customers and the risk of a fall or trip hazard.

If you suffer an accident resulting in an injury because your hairdresser breached their duty of care towards you, it could be possible to make a hairdresser accident claim.

Can I claim compensation for damage to my hair?

Our hair is one of our defining features. Any damage to the hair can be distressing and cause emotional trauma and entitles you to make a claim against a hairdresser if they caused you suffering by acting negligently.

Common reasons for which you could make a claim for damaged hair include:

• Scalp dermatitis – a skin condition that causes stubborn dandruff and dry, red and scaly scalp. The infection can extend to other parts of the body and can be caused by a hairdresser using highly caustic chemicals on your hair.
• Patchy hair – toxic agents in hair products causing bald patches or an uneven cut may give a displeasing appearance to your hairstyle, which might bring emotional distress.
• Balding – products that are too strong for your hair could cause bald patches or your hair to start falling due to damage to the cells.
• Brittle hair – incorrect or frequent use of chemicals and equipment can cause the hair to become very dry and fragile, which could lead to hair loss.
• Burned hair or scalp – mistakes during a styling procedure or faulty equipment may cause your scalp or hair to get burned.
• Psychological damage – while you cannot claim compensation if you are upset about a new hairstyle you decided to try, you can make a claim for any psychological injuries caused by suffering hair damage.

To find out if you can make a hairdresser accident claim for damage to your hair, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser.

How much compensation can I claim for a hairdressing injury?

The amount of compensation you could receive in a hairdresser accident claim depends on the nature and extent of your injury, the pain and suffering it caused you and any financial losses you incurred as a result.

In every personal injury claim, you can ask for compensation for:

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional and psychological distress
• Loss of social interactions
• Medical expenses for treatment and medication
• Costs of repairing the damage to your hair
• Travel expenses to medical appointments and solicitor meetings
• Lost wages
• Costs of care, if you needed someone to assist you with daily tasks
• Loss of reputation
• Loss of opportunity

Your solicitor will consider all the ways in which your accident affected your life and calculate a suitable compensation award they will ask from the defendant. According to the guidelines advised by the Judicial College, you could get:

• £3,710 to £6,890 for mild symptoms of scalp dermatitis or bald patches
• £6,890 to £10,340 for severe scalp dermatitis that might cause your hair to break off and fall
• £1,600 to £3,710 for minor dermatitis of the hands with itching or rashes that resolve within a few months of treatment
• £12,900 to £18,020 for dermatitis of the hands with severe symptoms affecting employment and daily tasks
• £1,600 to £3,310 for trivial facial scarring
• £8,550 to £28,240 for moderate to severe facial scarring that might require plastic surgery
• £27,940 to £91,350 for very severe facial scarring causing disfigurement and psychological trauma
• Around £4,380 for mental anguish
• £17,900 to £51,460 for severe psychiatric damage affecting impacting work, education and relationships

To find out more about what compensation you might receive if you make a hairdresser accident claim, enter your details into our online claim form or call 0800 470 0474 to speak to a legal adviser.

How long do I have to make a claim against my hairdresser?

Usually, you have three years to make a claim against a hairdresser if they caused you an injury. The three-year countdown starts on the day you were injured or the date you received a diagnosis in situations such as developing scalp dermatitis.

There are some exceptions to the three-year limit:

• A parent, guardian or another litigation friend can make a hairdresser injury claim on behalf of a child at any time until they turn 18. Afterwards, the victim has three years to start their own claim as an adult.
• Individuals who lack mental capacity due to a disorder or disability are not bound by a limitation period. A litigation friend can make a claim on their behalf at any point. If an individual suffering from depression or a brain injury regains intellectual ability, they will have three years to claim compensation.
• If you suffered an injury at the hairdresser due to an assault, you have two years from the attack to start a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).

It is always better to contact a solicitor as soon as possible after an accident. This way, they have plenty of time to gather relevant evidence, the details of your accident will still be fresh in your mind, and witnesses are more likely to provide an accurate account of what happened.

If you suffered an injury at the hairdresser, call 0800 470 0474 or request a call back to receive a free consultation with a legal adviser. They can let you know if you may be eligible to make a hairdresser negligence claim and answer any questions you may have.

Last edited on 15th Oct 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.