Hair damage can have repercussions that are much more serious than a casual bad hair day. Damage to hair can be caused in various ways and can result in several short as well as long-term consequences. If your hair damage was due to professional negligence, an accident that was not your fault, or a criminal act of violence, you may be eligible to file a hair damage compensation claim.

If you decide to seek compensation for hair damage, we can help. A member of our team will review your claim and explain your options during a free telephone consultation. They’ll offer free legal advice and could partner you with a personal injury solicitor from our team. If they believe the case is viable and agree to represent you, they’ll do so on a No Win No Fee basis. That means you won’t have to pay anything for your solicitor’s work unless they win compensation for you.

To talk to us right away about your hair damage claim, please call us on 0800 6524 881 today. Otherwise, please read on to learn more about how to claim compensation for hair damage.

Am I Eligible To Make A Hair Damage Compensation Claim?

Our solicitors don’t want to waste anybody’s time so they will only take on hair damage compensation claims with a realistic chance of success. Therefore, during their assessment of your case, they’ll try to find out whether:

• The defendant in your case owed you a duty of care; and
• Because they were negligent an incident or accident occurred; in which
• You suffered hair damage.

You should not worry too much about proving that a duty of care existed. A solicitor from our team will check this for you when you call. Essentially, there are many laws that can be used to prove that the defendant owed you a legal duty of care. For example, if you’ve suffered hair damage in a workplace accident, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 might be relevant.

To prove the other two statements are true, you’ll likely need to supply some form of evidence. Therefore, we’ll explain what you could use to support your claim later on in this guide.

Common Causes Of Hair Damages Claims

Any process or action that makes the condition of your hair worse than it was before the event, constitutes hair damage. While negligence on the part of hairdressers is the most common cause of hair damage claims, it is not the only cause.

These are some of the different causes of hair damage that could result in a compensation claim:

• Your hair was burnt by a faulty hairdryer in a salon.
• Your hair was pulled out during a criminal assault (see our criminal injuries claims guide for more on this type of claim).
• Your hair was pulled out by a machine in an accident at work that had a safety guard removed.
• Your hair was damaged during a road traffic accident.

This is just a small sample of the reasons hair damage compensation claims might be possible.

Professional Negligence In Terms Of Wrongful Hair Product Usage

This refers to hair damage that results from the hairdresser, for example, leaving chemicals such as hair dye on the hair too long, or applying chemicals that are too strong for the hair. Either of these actions could result in a wide range of injuries and hair conditions including:

As well as the physical effects the consequences of damaged hair can cause, you could also claim compensation for psychological injuries too. For example, you could be eligible to claim for any embarrassment suffered by bald patches. If you believe you should be compensated for hair damage, please call to discuss your options.

How Much Compensation For Hair Damage Could I Claim?

Your solicitor will calculate the amount of compensation for hair damage to claim based on your pain and suffering and any financial losses/expenses associated with your injuries. Essentially, a settlement figure will be based on general damages (the suffering you’ve endured) and special damages (any costs you’ve incurred). Each hair damage claim will vary from the next but, in general, you could claim for:

• The physical pain and suffering your hair damage has caused.
• Loss of amenity (not being able to participate in social activities, hobbies, etc, because of your damaged hair).
• Any psychological impact caused by your injuries such as anxiety, distress or embarrassment.
• Medical expenses and the cost of remedial treatment.
• Care costs if somebody else needed to look after you while you were injured.
• Travel expenses linked to your hair damage such as parking fees and fuel costs when attending medical appointments.
• Lost earnings if you could not work while you were injured.

Getting your claim right is vital as you cannot request additional compensation after you’ve settled your case with the defendant. Therefore, it’s important to consider exactly how you’ve suffered due to your damaged hair before filing your claim. This is something our personal injury solicitors are experienced in. If your case is taken on, they’ll always try to secure the maximum compensation possible for your suffering.

Hair Damage Compensation Amounts

When solicitors and insurers settle hair damage claims, the amount of compensation awarded (for general damages) is based on guidelines from the Judicial College. We’ve used the same data below to give you some idea of compensation amounts for hair damage that could be awarded. Please be aware that these figures are not set in stone.

• £7,340 to £11,020 compensation for hair damage that has led to conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, burning of the scalp, hair loss, causing distress, embarrassment, and depression. Where there is significant psychological disability or surgery has been required compensation may be higher.
• £3,950 to £7,340 compensation for less severe cases of hair damage where symptoms are typically minor.

The amount paid in a successful hair damage claim will usually depend mainly on the severity of your injuries. Therefore, as part of your hair damage compensation claim, you may need an independent medical assessment to help determine how severe your injuries have been and what effect they’ve had on your life. Our solicitors can usually book an appointment with a local medical expert so you won’t have to travel too far. After the meeting, a report will be compiled to list your injuries and explain your prognosis for the future.

Hair Damage Compensation Claims FAQs

In this section, we’ve answered a few questions that we’re often asked about the hair damage claims process. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Do I Need To Go To Court When Claiming Compensation For Damaged Hair?

In the majority of cases we deal with, claims are settled out of court. Usually, the defendant will ask an insurance company to deal with the claim on their behalf. Our solicitors and the insurer will always try to reach an amicable agreement because court cases can be costly and time-consuming. However, a very small number of cases do end up in court if an agreement can’t be reached on liability or the value of the settlement.

How Long Do I Have To Make A Hair Damage Compensation Claim?

The limitation period for personal injury claims involving adult claimants is 3-years in the UK. For most hair damage claims, that period will start from the date your hair was damaged. Our advice here is to begin your claim as quickly as you can as you’ll find it easier to collect evidence to support your case. If you claim for hair damage through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), you’ll need to act within a 2-year time limit.

For children, please see our guide here to what a litigation friend is.

Can I Sue My Employer If My Hair Was Damaged At Work?

Some people worry about the consequences of claiming against their employer. However, legally, they cannot stop you and they cannot treat you differently for making a legit claim. That means you can’t be sacked, disciplined, demoted or prevented from applying for promotion because you’ve made a claim.

I Had An Allergic Reaction After My Hair Was Dyed, Can I Sue?

Hair and beauty salons should always carry out a patch test before using products that contain known allergens. If this didn’t happen or you weren’t asked about known allergens, you could claim if you then suffered an allergic reaction following your treatment.

No Win No Fee Hair Damage Claims

We believe it’s best to have a personal injury solicitor on your side if you decide to seek compensation for hair damage. Their legal skills and experience could have a positive difference in the outcome of your claim or the amount of compensation you’re awarded.

If your claim is accepted by one of our solicitors, they’ll make the process much less stressful by working on a No Win No Fee basis. This will also reduce your financial risk too.

At the start of your hair damage claim, you will sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). This will make it clear what your solicitor will do for you, when you’ll need to pay for their work, and how much you’ll pay from your compensation as the fee. If your claim fails, you don’t need to pay any solicitor’s fees at all.

To check if one of our No Win No Fee solicitors could represent you, please call today.

Starting A Hair Damage Compensation Claim

We hope this guide has made it clear when you could be compensated for hair damage. If you have decided that you’d like to start a hair damage claim right away, call our advice centre on 0800 6524 881. During your free consultation, you’ll be advised on your options and the steps you should take next.

Remember, you’ll only need to pay for your solicitor’s work if your case is won because all accepted claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.

Please use live chat to connect with an advisor if you have any further questions on hair damage compensation claims.