Hairdresser Negligence or Hairdresser Mistake?

It is difficult to tell sometimes whether the poor results of a haircut are negligence on the behalf of your hairdresser or just a genuine and very unfortunate mistake.  It is true that all hairdressers have bad days, but workers in other industries are made to deal with the consequences in a way that hairdressers often don’t because of the embarrassment of any unsatisfied customers.

People feel differently about this issue, many hairdressers being very vocal about the fact that they are ‘only human’ and like anyone else ‘have bad days’.  Reading an internet blog which asserts consumer responsibility over receiving a bad haircut leaves any reader with a sense of ‘right and wrong’ less inclined to accept hairdressing horrors as a mistake they should take willingly. According to this blog:

‘Ultimately it is the hair consumers responsibility to access the expertise of their hairdresser or hair colonist before proceedings.  Of course life happens to the very best of hairdressers and hair colonists and when it does, the client should be prepared to be flexible and cut the hairdresser some slack.’

 

It is hard to understand why the paying customer is expected to have the responsibility to check out a hairdresser’s previous experience and credentials and accept a poor job purely because the hairdresser is human. In an accepting culture like the one in which we live, many customers will accept a bad haircut or colouring as part of life. But this isn’t their responsibility or obligation. Accepting an uncharacteristically bad job from your regular hairdresser is a mark of good faith rather than something you should be expected to do. If a hairdresser places your long-term hair condition in jeopardy by failing to conduct a patch test or blatantly ignores clear instructions, you should not feel obliged to accept this as a ‘mistake’; this is hairdresser negligence.

This leads to question to what extent we should accept poorly handled hair treatment if it could have been prevented. Yes, it is true that we all make mistakes. But in other areas of commerce and business it is the not the consumer but the provider who holds the responsibility for the mistake. The writer’s comment that we should cut the hairdresser ‘some slack’ seems naïve and to have a desire to leave the consumer in a situation where they deal with somebody else’s mistake, and usually even take the financial responsibility. In most other situations, the seller will not expect to get away with selling a faulty product. Why should this apply differently to hairdressers? The fact that your hair is a much more personal and obvious part of your appearance, and therefore life, than say a faulty washing machine should really mean that a hairdresser should hold more concern and responsibility over their working performance.

The same blog gave a list of things that consumers should do to avoid receiving a bad hair cut or colour.  This list consisted of some obviously sensible options such as ‘if the hairdresser looks tired, ill or rushed for time, offer to come back at a better time’. But how exactly is a customer expected to do this without sounding rude and offending the hairdresser’s professionalism? On the other hand, a suggestion I would personally recommend from the list would be ‘ask lots of questions’. As advised throughout the pages of ‘Hair Gone Wrong‘, for the sake of your hair it is important to pay attention to your hairdresser’s efforts. At the same time, it should not be the consumer’s responsibility to keep tabs on the hairdresser when a hairstyling is generally advertised as a ‘relaxing’ experience and a ‘treat’ rather than a ‘chore’.

Macks Solicitors does not believe you should accept hairdresser negligence as a mistake. If you find yourself in the situation where a hairdresser’s care could have prevented a hair disaster, you should feel able to complain and receive ample compensation. If you feel you have been placed in this position and wish to receive expert advice from our legal specialists, contact Macks by calling Free phone 0800 980 9386 or 01642 252828, visiting our website at www.mackssolicitors.co.uk or by completing our online claim form. At Macks Solicitors, we are concerned with providing expert assistance on claiming your rightful compensation and returning your life to normality.