Dip dye hair colouring has been one of the most in-demand treatments at hair salons for over a decade now, with its popularity fuelled by social media exposure and numerous celebrities adopting the two-tone fading colour technique.

While dip dyeing is generally considered safe, the same level of skill and attention is required of hair stylists when mixing up dye products and applying them, including paying attention to how long they are left in the hair. Because dye is only applied to the tips of the hair and should not come into contact with the skin, no patch test is strictly necessary. However, the smallest error on the part of a stylist can mean that the dye comes into contact with the skin, with unpredictable consequences including the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Furthermore, dip dyes are often carried out before hair dye products containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a common trigger of allergic reactions, are applied to the main body of hair, and in such cases a patch test will always be necessary at least 48 hours prior to the treatment being carried out.

A hair dye patch test will therefore normally be advisable before a dip dye hair colouring treatment, and hair salons can be held legally responsible if they fail to carry out a patch test and a client subsequently experiences an adverse reaction to chemical ingredients contained in the dye solution.

Our female solicitors are experienced in claiming compensation for injuries caused by botched hair dyeing treatments, including allergic reactions to hair dye. Get in touch with our team for free legal advice that you can rely on:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/allergic-reactions-to-hair-dye/

While hair dye products are not necessarily unsafe for the under 16s, children have much finer hair and greater sensitivity to chemicals than adults, which increases the likelihood of hair dye solutions damaging their hair. They are also more likely to develop allergies from exposure to these chemical ingredients which may affect their health in the future. All legal hair dye products used in the UK are labelled as “not intended for use on persons under the age of 16”, and any salon which offers hair dye treatments to clients under that age will not be covered by their insurance in the event of a procedure going wrong.

Despite this, many hair salons ignore the possible consequences and continue to offer hair dye treatments to children. In 2017, BBC Wales sent a 12-year-old girl undercover to try and get her hair dyed at a hairdressing salon, and found that only one out of the 17 salons she visited refused to offer her an appointment. This largely reflects the unregulated and competitive nature of the hairdressing industry in the UK. Salons are not legally obliged to follow industry guidelines or the advice of hair dye manufacturers, yet should still be well aware of the risks.

The potent chemicals contained in most hair dye products include hydrogen peroxide and ammonia, which can dry the hair out excessively and harm its structure, as well as P-phenylenediamine (PPD), a common trigger of allergic reactions. Hair dye products may cause burns and hair loss if they are applied directly to the skin on the scalp, while children may also be affected by fumes from the ammonia contained in hair dye solutions, particularly if they are asthmatic.

Hair salons must follow the recommendations of manufacturers and industry bodies to avoid the possibility of children getting injured by hair dye treatments. You can find more about allergic reactions to hair dye and the legal service provided by our female solicitors who specialise in hairdresser treatment injuries:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/allergic-reactions-to-hair-dye/

Many hair salons will currently be fully booked with hair colouring appointments in advance of the Platinum Jubilee and upcoming summer holidays. While safety standards at salons offering hair dyeing treatments have improved considerably since 2009, when an APIL survey found that the vast majority of salons were not carrying out patch tests to check for allergies, a significant number of women continue to experience allergic reactions to hair dye products during procedures every year, often with extremely painful and distressing consequences.

The main cause of allergic reactions to hair dye is the ingredient paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is contained in more than two-thirds of hair colouring products, although adverse reactions may also be triggered by other ingredients including ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The fact that such reactions are not uncommon is the reason why hair salons must carry out patch tests on clients 48 hours before a treatment is carried out. This involves applying a small amount of the dye product to the client’s skin (normally behind the ear), and checking for any adverse effects over the specified time period.

Nowadays, hair salons are normally very efficient in patch testing customers, mainly because their insurance will be invalid if they fail to carry out a test and a client experiences an allergic reaction. While it is especially important to patch test new customers, even regular clients should be patch tested at least every 6 months, as it is possible to develop a sensitivity to chemicals like PPD through contact with other substances at any point in time. Even if a client refuses a patch test or signs a waiver, a hair colouring treatment should not be allowed to go ahead, as the salon will still be liable for any subsequent adverse reaction.

The symptoms of an allergic reaction to hair dye range from very mild to very serious. The skin on the scalp may become itchy, red and inflamed, while a person’s face will often swell up, particularly around the eyes. Headaches, neck pain, dizziness and nausea are other common symptoms, and a course of antihistamines will normally be required to deal with these problems. Hair loss and patches of baldness may develop, and in rare cases individuals may experience breathing difficulties which can indicate a systemic reaction in the body with potentially very severe consequences including toxic shock and cardiac arrest.

Our solicitors have represented hundreds of clients who have been injured following allergic reactions to hair dye products at salons over the years, with our firm being one of the first to handle these claims. Contact our experienced female solicitors today for free, confidential legal advice if you have experienced an allergic reaction to hair dye at a salon:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/allergic-reactions-to-hair-dye/

With millions of Britons booking long-awaited overseas beach holidays this year, as Covid restrictions on international travel finally ease, many women will be booking bikini and similar waxing treatments at their local beauty salon in order to look their best beside the sea and around the pool.

While waxing treatment safety standards at beauty salons have improved markedly in the past decade or so, there are still a number of unavoidable dangers involved in waxing procedures performed on intimate areas of the skin by poorly trained or inexperienced beauticians, which may result in relatively serious injuries and profound distress.

After the wax product and waxing paper are applied to the required area of skin, the paper should be removed swiftly in the direction of the hair growth, which will normally cause short-lived pain and redness. However, the sensitivity of the skin around the vagina and inner thighs means that if the waxing strips are removed incorrectly, for example, too quickly, too forcefully, or at the wrong angle, they may tear the skin, potentially resulting in bleeding, scarring, damage to hair follicles, and both physical and emotional suffering.

A woman’s skin may also be burned if the wax is overheated when applied or spilled accidentally onto exposed areas, which can result in redness, blistering, scarring and infection. The most serious risk is the possibility of an allergic reaction to a waxing product, which properly conducted skin patch tests (at least 48 hours before a waxing treatment appointment) are supposed to prevent. An adverse reaction of this kind can cause burning skin rashes, blistering and potential hospitalisation depending on the severity of the reaction.

While the negative outcomes from bikini and similar waxing treatments outlined here are thankfully rare, our solicitors have represented hundreds of women in claims against beauty salons for these types of injuries over the years. Apart from the physical pain and suffering, there is also the embarrassment that waxing injuries in intimate areas cause, as well as the loss of enjoyment of an impending holiday which may subsequently need to be cancelled. All these factors will be taken into account when calculating the size of the compensation award due to the injured party.

You can find out more about bikini and other types of waxing injuries in the dedicated beauty treatment injuries section on our website:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/waxing-treatment-gone-wrong/

If your GP has misdiagnosed your illness or medical condition, the consequences to your health can be severe and sometimes even life-changing due to the unnecessary suffering or pain – and you will likely be able to sue for medical negligence.

Doctors have a duty of care to their patients and if your health has been damaged because the medical care or treatment you have received has fallen short of what is deemed reasonable, then you have a right to claim for compensation.

What Is Medical Negligence?

You should expect to receive good care and attention from your doctor, and if a medical professional fails to examine or to investigate your symptoms correctly, that doctor has likely not fulfilled his or her duty of care and been negligent.

A delayed or incorrect diagnosis can lead to the wrong kind of treatment being given or the correct treatment being given too late, both of which can badly impact on a person’s health.

Grounds for making a medical negligence claim can include:

• Incorrect diagnosis of test results
• Incorrect treatment
• Delayed treatment
• No referral to the right specialist
• Delayed diagnosis
• Medication errors

How To Make A Misdiagnosis Claim?

To make a claim for medical negligence against your doctor, you need to provide proof that there was a failing in your diagnosis and that this failure caused your health to worsen.

You need to be able to prove:

• The doctor did not meet his or her duty of care to you
• The physical or mental injuries you have suffered would not have happened without the misdiagnosis

The law is complex and there are different types of claims you can make:

• Total misdiagnosis
• Wrongful misdiagnosis
• Late diagnosis

It can take between 3-4 years to settle a medical negligence claim in court but it is important you receive the compensation you deserve in order to overcome the injury or suffering caused by your misdiagnosis.

How Much Compensation Will You Receive?

Every misdiagnosis outcome varies, as does the compensation awarded for each case. The amount of compensation you will potentially receive will depend on a number of factors including your symptoms, the costs you’ve incurred, and whether any long-term treatments which would not otherwise have been required are needed.

As a guide, factors that influence how much compensation you may receive, include:

• The extent or severity of your injury
• Whether your illness has worsened
• If you underwent unnecessary surgery
• If any further treatment is needed

Your solicitor will be able to advise you of your potential compensation, depending on the details of your experience.

How We Can Help You With Your Misdiagnosis Claim

If your diagnosis has been delayed or you’ve had a misdiagnosis that has impacted on your health, then we will support you at every step of the process should you want to make a claim for compensation.

Our specialist solicitors will take the time to fully understand your experience and ensure you have the necessary proof to make a successful claim against your doctor. Your solicitor will assist you throughout the claims process to make it as straightforward and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on your recovery.

Health is so important and if your health has suffered due to misdiagnosis, it can be traumatic for you – which is why we will do everything possible to secure the compensation you deserve and that you need to recover fully.

To speak to one of our specialist solicitors about making a medical negligence claim, please call us FREE now!

Phone:  0800 988 3674  or Mobile: 0333 200 4465, or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.

New Year’s Eve will bear a semblance of normality this year, in England at least, after the government gave mass events the go-ahead and nightclubs permission to open, in contrast with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where restrictions on social gatherings and mass events are in place. Many women will be rushing to book last minute appointments at salons to look their best at parties and family gatherings, and as our solicitors have seen in previous years, an unfortunate number will have their big night ruined by botched hair and beauty treatments.

Various hairdresser treatments can cause hair loss and skin damage if performed incorrectly, including dyeing, straightening and extensions. The chemicals contained in hair treatment solutions can cause scalp burns and accompanying hair loss if they are not applied correctly, or if a particular product is unsuitable for a person’s hair or skin type. Allergic reactions are another possible consequence of exposure to unsuitable hair and beauty treatment products, and may also result in skin damage and hair loss. Burn injuries and torn skin are a common result of botched beauty treatments like waxing, while other beauty products may also damage the skin (particularly around the eyes) and cause allergic reactions.

Hair and skin damage of this kind is particularly embarrassing, distressing and inconvenient when a treatment has been booked in advance of a special occasion like New Year’s Eve, and there is often a financial cost involved, not only for correctional procedures and/or medical treatment, but also for cancelled reservations and bookings. Uniquely, we offer an experienced all-female team of lawyers specialising in hair and beauty treatment injuries and claiming compensation from hairdressers and beauty salons, not only for the physical effects of their negligence, but also for the emotional pain and suffering caused, which is very often the worst part of the whole ordeal.

Find out more about our hairdresser and beauty treatment injury service:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/hairdresser-injury-compensation/

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/injured-in-a-beauty-salon/

 

A local customer services advisor who suffered for more than a year because of several surgical errors has been awarded compensation after making a claim with the help of Bartletts Solicitors personal injury team in Chester.

The specialist team at Bartletts Chester worked on this case to help the customer services advisor, who is in her early 50s, secure compensation after developing a vaginal fistula following surgery for a gynaecological issue.

When the hospital tried to fix the vaginal fistula, it made the problem worse and the lady ended up with significant difficulties for 12 months before another consultant was able to resolve it.

The customer services advisor got in touch with the dedicated personal injury lawyers at Bartletts Chester who were able to prove that the original surgeon should not have carried out the second surgery when he did as this was not in accordance with hospital protocol for this type of procedure and in fact made the problem worse for her.

Furthermore, the hospital failed to pick up on the vaginal fistula for months, causing the lady many months of stress and anxiety.

In total, the lady was awarded £35,000 in compensation for her injury plus significant loss of earnings.

Thankfully, the customer services advisor has since made a full recovery.

If you have suffered as a result of medical negligence speak to one of our specialist personal injury solicitors about your injury or accident claim, contact us on 0800 988 3674 or Telephone our Wrexham office on: 01978 360056 or Chester on: 01244 405 399 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk

 

 

Quick weaves are a hairstyle that dates from shortly after the introduction of weaves in the 1950s. Tracks (wefts) of hair extension are glued to an easily applied and removed cap, which allows for an unlimited range of lengths, styles and colours. A quick weave takes roughly half the time of a full weave, and will generally last up to 4 weeks before needing to be removed.

Although they can be installed at home, quick weaves require a significant amount of skill to install correctly, and both poor technique and human errors on the part of a stylist can cause unacceptable results and lasting hair damage. However, the main problem with quick weaves is the bonding glue used in the procedure. The glue can bond with the natural hair if the quick weave is not installed properly or the cap is of poor quality, and the natural hairs may then be pulled out when the quick weave is removed, damaging the follicles.

It is essential that stylists use high quality caps, glue and solvents to minimise the risk of these products damaging clients’ hair and scalp. Poor technique on the part of stylists when installing or removing a quick weave can cause breakage and hair loss, while excessively tight extensions will create tension on the natural hair strands, potentially with the same results. While quick weaves are a popular and versatile hair styling technique, therefore, they are not without their risks, and prospective clients should check the experience and skill of their chosen stylist carefully before undergoing a quick weave procedure.

Our firm offers an all female team of lawyers specialising in claiming compensation for hair treatments that have gone wrong. If you have been left with hair or scalp damage from a quick weave, contact us for free advice from a law firm you can trust.

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/hairdresser-injury-compensation/

Various reports suggest that people are experiencing unexpected allergic reactions to hair dye after contracting Covid-19, indicating that the virus may be permanently changing the immune system of a minority and making them vulnerable to new allergies, including to hair dye products which they may have used for many years without any ill effect.

One woman who had recently recovered from Covid-19 told the BBC she experienced an adverse reaction following a patch test for the same hair dye product she had used regularly for 10 years. Multiple anecdotal reports from within the industry also appear to confirm that clients are suffering allergic reactions to various hair dye products which they previously used safely.

There is currently no evidence of a direct link between coronavirus and allergic reactions, but the long-term effects of Covid-19 and its differing impact on certain individuals remains unclear. Researchers at Imperial College London are now investigating whether the virus does indeed have a permanent impact on some people’s immune systems in the same way that other illnesses do, making individuals more susceptible to allergic reactions to hair dye.

The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), the trade body that represents hairdressers and beauticians, is currently calling on all salons to carry out skin patch tests on existing as well as new customers to minimise the risk of allergic reactions among clients who may have only recently developed a sensitivity to hair dye ingredients like phenylenediamine (PPD). Many salons are now implementing compulsory patch testing for all clients, and this may be the only way forward in terms of minimising the risk of allergic reactions in the future.

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/allergic-reactions-to-hair-dye/

Following the reopening of hairdressers and barbers in Wales on Monday, March 15, customers in England are eagerly awaiting Monday, April 12, when hairdressing salons and barber shops are scheduled to reopen (along with all non-essential shops) in accordance with stage two of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

In Wales, hairdressers are currently only allowed to serve customers with pre-booked appointments, and are limited to providing haircuts only. Temperature checks are common before clients can enter the premises, and social distancing requirements mean that most salons will not be using every station in order to maintain the two-metre distance rule. Indeed, many smaller salons are likely to operate a one-in, one-out policy due to space restrictions.

During the series of lockdowns in England and Wales over the past year, those in need of a trim have been forced to decide between attempting to cut and style their own hair (sometimes with less than satisfactory results), or letting it grow and accepting the aesthetic consequences. With reports suggesting that hairdressers in Wales were ‘inundated’ with calls for appointments on and after April 12, and ‘heaving’ on that day, many people have clearly come to appreciate the fact that DIY hair care and maintenance is not as easy as it seems.

Another factor in the apparent ‘rush back to the salon’ is the community role that these locations play in many people’s lives. Particularly for those who live alone, a visit to the hairdresser is often a social occasion when having a chat with the hairdresser and catching up on the local gossip may be just as important as having their hair attended to. The state of a person’s hair can also affect their mental wellbeing and confidence, underlining the fact that lots of people have an emotional connection with their hairdresser and salon which they are currently keen to reestablish at the earliest opportunity.

While the government has emphasised that the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions will depend on ‘data not dates’, hair salons in England are on course to reopen on April 12. The anticipated surge in bookings will be challenging for hair salons in terms of sanitation measures and customer numbers, but also heartening news from a business perspective, and a welcome sign that life is slowly but surely returning to some semblance of normality.

Bartletts Solicitors offers an all female team of lawyers specialising in hair and beauty treatment injuries. Call us for a free consultation if your hair has been damaged by a  poorly trained, inexperienced or incompetent hairdresser:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/hairdresser-injury-compensation/