Hair Salon Law

When was the last time you saw your hairdressers practising certificate displayed in the salon or those of any of his staff?

Despite being a booming business, the fact is, hairdressing in the UK is a completely unregulated profession.

Not dissimilar to the non-surgical beauty industry, anyone can offer hairdressing services to the public, even if they lack training, qualifications and experience. Frighteningly so, a survey by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) in 2009 found that the vast majority of hair salons were negligently failing in their duty of care to many customers.

Patch testing for hair colour is a legal requirement…

Hair salons have an obligation to patch test their customers under Section 3 of the Health & Safety at Work Act. Failure to patch test has lead to prosecution and fines in the past. This applies to those colours described as ‘organic’ too, as they may be free from ammonia, but still contain other chemicals that could cause a reaction.

Salons should also offer a hair strand test to ensure that the hair is up to being coloured and that the chemicals in dye will not damage the hair or cause the hair to ‘snap’. This is extremely important if your hair has been exposed to bleaching products.

Even if you have had colour before…

Like other things in life, you are not born with an allergy to hair dye. Allergy is developed through repeat exposure. It is possible to become allergic to colour at any time.

Stylists should know what they are doing…

As a client of the salon you have a legal right to expect that your treatment will be carried out by a reasonably competent professional.

If your stylist mixes the wrong products or fails to remove the chemicals from your hair at the right time, injury may be caused to your scalp and your hair may become damaged and ‘over-processed’. Subsequently, this can cause hair loss.

Hazardous to Health…

Hair salons are subject to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), which regulates the storage, use and disposal of chemical solutions such as peroxide powders and lotions and perming lotions.

Electrical Safety…

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 also requires that electrical appliances used for hair styling are regularly safety tested.

Types of Injuries sustained at hair salons….

Allergic Reaction – to chemicals in hair dye, resulting in burning and scarring to the scalp, hair loss and even baldness in extreme cases

Burns – from chemicals in the products used, straightening irons and curling tongs or even from the backwash

Cuts – bleeding and scarring from scissor cuts to the skin from incompetent stylists

Not only is there the physical pain involved in these circumstances, but also the psychological trauma that is endured through an unwanted change in your appearance, which could lead to a loss of self-esteem. This can have a huge impact on your life, especially if plans have to be changed or cancelled as a result of your injury.

All these factors are taken into account when determining the size of your claim for compensation.

If you have suffered from any of the above,

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