Am I eligible to claim for compensation for hair ruined by bleach if my new hairdresser left the bleach in for too long? My hair is now dry and brittle and I’m afraid it won’t return to its former healthy condition for years to come.
Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor
Editor in Chief
You will be able to claim for compensation for hair ruined by bleach if it can be established that your injury was caused by the beauty salon’s negligence, i.e. that your new hairdresser left the bleach in for too long and is to blame for your ruined hair.
The substance “melanin” which gives your hair its natural colour is broken down when covered in bleach and as a result, moisture is also removed from the hair. If bleach is left on for too long, hair can become damaged – dry and brittle – and therefore, an experienced hairdresser should know to perform a patch test on the new client’s hair prior to the treatment in order to calculate the adequate length of time to leave a bleaching agent in their hair. If your hairdresser neglected to perform this patch test, they would have shown negligence towards the care of your hair and would consequently be deemed responsible for the damage done.
Before you begin to pursue your compensation for hair ruined by bleach claim, you should return to the beauty salon and have your injury recorded in their “Accident Report Book”, and ensure that you keep your own copy of the written report. It is recommended that you present this report to a solicitor who can recommend if your claim is worth pursuing or not.
Most solicitors offer a free initial consultation in which they can answer any questions you may have regarding your compensation for hair ruined by bleach claim. In the case that the hairdresser accepts liability and the beauty salon offers compensation, your solicitor will be able to advise you on whether the amount offered genuinely reflects how much compensation you should be eligible for.