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When Your Hair Do Goes Wrong

By: Sarah Clark (ILEX) - Updated: 2 Jul 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
Hairdresser Salon Stylistdye Hair Style

Getting your hair done is a big treat, and you expect to come out of the hairdresser feeling glamorous and like a million dollars. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't go according to plan, and you're not happy with the result. What are your rights when it comes to your 'do' and what can you do if it all goes horrible wrong?

Nasty Reactions

One very important thing with any chemical hair treatment is that you let the hairdresser carry out a patch test which involves putting a small amount of the dye somewhere unobtrusive (your elbow or behind your ear) before you have it put all over your head. We usually hear about reactions to home hair dye treatments but it's dangerous to assume that only home dyes can set off an allergic reaction. When you go to a new hairdresser for a colour or another treatment, don't be annoyed if they ask you to have a patch test before they will do it. If they don't, and you have an adverse reaction, you could potentially sue them for damages, depending on how serious the reaction is. Don't take any chances, it's only a quick test and will only delay your treatment for a day or so.

Thankfully, allergic reactions to hair dye are very rare, and you should be OK to go ahead once you've had the patch test.

A Lack of Communication

Hairdressers aren't psychic, and the number one thing to remember when you're asking for a new 'do' is to be as specific as possible when you discuss what you want with the stylist. It's not in their interest to deliberately make a mess of your hair, so if there is a problem, it's often down to a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate attempt to make you look terrible.

If you don't like what the hairdresser is doing - tell them! If you're not happy when they've finished, again, you need to tell them. Be polite, and reasonable, and explain why you're not happy. Most hairdressers will be mortified if you don't like their handiwork, and only too happy to try and sort something out. If it's the style, you might be able to salvage it, and if it's the colour you could ask them to try again, although it's not a great idea to keep chemically treating your hair. You need to take advice from the salon though.

The problem with hair is that what you like and what the stylist thinks looks good is entirely subjective. Unless they do something really obvious like cut an uneven fringe or dye your hair bright orange instead of red, it's difficult to argue that they didn't style your hair with 'reasonable skill and care'. Negotiation is the way forward and telling the stylist that you're not happy, nicely, is the best thing. Shouting and screaming about how terrible the salon is won't get your hair sorted out.

Uncooperative Hairdressers

If the stylist has quite obviously done a terrible job, snipped your ear, dyed your hair a hideous colour or similar, but they won't do anything about it, you could use the Supply of Goods and Services Act to get compensation. You're only entitled to claim for actual financial loss, and in this case it would be the cost of getting your hair fixed by another salon. If you do go down this route, don't just go straight to another hairdresser before you speak to the stylist that messed your style up. If they refuse to rectify the mistakes (and it's reasonable to insist on a different stylist if you've lost confidence in the original one) you should tell them that you will be getting the job put right elsewhere and claiming the cost back.

If you need to go to another salon, tell the new stylist what happened, and ask them to give you their comments - in writing if possible. Write to the original hairdresser with a copy of the receipt and any comments, and give them 14 days to reimburse you.

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I had a mobile hairdresser come out to colour my hair and fit nano extensions. However, she didn’t colour match me for the Extentions prior to application neither did skin test me. After 8 hours in the chair (although she said would only be 4) I was in such a hurry to get home I barely noticed anything wrong as she’d curled it. When I got home I platted it like she advised for bed. The next day I woke up brushed it with a tangle tweezer brush as advised. The hair looked, smelt and felt like dolls hair. I tried to tie it up to keep it hidden as I had to go out. I couldn’t as the nanos were so high and close to my face could see them all. I contacted her and told her, and also complained about the colour of the hair was too yellow and didn’t match my own colour. She had bleached my hair and done my roots as a block and not highlights which, I didn’t want. My hair is too yellowy/ blonde. She said she would take the yellow ones out and replace with blonde ones. However, I had to travel to her. This being over an hour journey and over the dartford toll I refused, to do this. I’ve messaged her photos since of the poor quality hair and explained everything I’m not happy with she took £445 from me and I’m left with awful awful hair. She admitted she’d used 250 degree heat on them yet advised me to only used 180. So if they can only take 180 why did she use 250? I’m getting no response. Help ? What do I do? I cannot go out? I cannot do anything with this mess of a awful hair style.
Kay - 2-Jul-23 @ 7:40 AM
I had a perm yesterday.i asked and showed the stylist what I wanted. a quite tight spiral perm.its far from a spiral perm and the roots and ends are straight. She cut quite a lot off my hair too .ive spoke to the stylist and she says she won't redo my hair but only curl the bits that are straight.really don't know what to do
Lindyloulou - 1-Jul-23 @ 5:14 PM
Last June I had my hairdresser to put a straightening treatment on my hair which she advised me to have when she did a last straightening treatment last March. To my horror the chemicaltreatment has burnt my hair to the extent that I’ve had to have about 14 inches cut off . My hair looked like a scouring pad, it has devastated me and made me poorly . I’ve been in touch with my solicitor and she’s denying what she has done , yet I’ve got all the photographic evidence and the text messages which shows her admitting it. I can’t let her get away with what she’s done so where do I go from here .
Daisy - 3-Mar-23 @ 3:32 PM
Just had my full head coloured purple but the purple hasn't taken properly the peroxide blonde is showing all over in different patches and the hairdresser actually sent me the tube of colour to reapply myself at home what is the right 5hong to do
Shells3280 - 29-Apr-22 @ 11:44 AM
Hi Kim, did your friend have a hair mesh/interlace system?
Maria - 25-Mar-22 @ 11:06 AM
Trusted and completely had faith in Liya at Staines as she had cut my hair before. She commented on it looked good and I had obviously been looking after it. We discussed getting my dark roots done to match the rest of my bleached hair. I even called her before to discuss and on the day. I listened to Liya complain about how she’s been coping on her own with back to back clients. I was looking forward to my hair ready for an important work do. Imagine my borrow when paying almost £90 I come home to hair which had been snapped off and the roots were still dark. She overlapped the bleach causing it to snap off. I now have 4 different colours in my hair ginger, blonde (not from her!), dark roots and shades of blue! I called her and all she said that shouldn’t have happened as she only touched the roots! Well why are my roots still dark?! Hair has snapped off in different areas and I am so upset as nothing can be done to fix the damage and all she offered was a treatment mask!! I use olaplex regularly so that was not consultation to the damage she has left me with!! I drove nearly 40mins to get my hair done I look awful! Avoid Supercuts Staines with Liya who couldn’t even be honest and was rude when I rang to say how upset I was. Her attitude has left me needing to complain to head office
RR - 13-Sep-21 @ 6:15 PM
I have coloured my own hair very successfully over the years. When it is due to be coloured, the last few times I have noticed that it is coming through a white silver colour, so I decided to die my blonde hair silver to match the new colour coming through, ultimately hoping not to have to colour it anymore. I used an Olia silver hair colour, did the patch test 48 hrs before and checked the colour on a small piece of my hair cut from the back. The colour looked fine. I went ahead and coloured it, closely following instructions. When I washed it off, to my horror my fresh growth of hair at the roots was purple. The lengths were a sludgy grey I washed it several times but it was still purple. I phoned Olia and they were less than helpful, telling me to buy some clarifying shampoo. I visited 9 chemists before managing to find some. I tried this several times and it has barely madeany difference. Olia have offered to reimburse me £6.99 for the cost of the product which I think is insufficient. I believe they should add a warning note to their packaging to advise that this could happen to silver hair. I was wondering what my rights are under these circumstances and who else I could complain to.
CassyG - 5-Apr-21 @ 11:57 AM
Hi I've been wearing the same colour beauty works extensions for 5 years (bronde balayage). They have recently been discontinued. My hairdresser recommended a similar colour (brondm'bre) and said she would only have to make my roots slightly darker I ordered the hair myself brought them to the hairdressers, she died it and took the extensions out the packaging and cut them (width ways to fit my head, she didn't take anything off the length). When she held up the extensions to my head, they didn't look anything like the same colour. When we compared the colour to the sample ring she had matched them to, the extensions were a lot lighter. My hair is warm and they had lots of ashy blonde running through it. When I rang beauty works, they are saying that they're non returnable as they've been taken out the packaging and using the excuse that their sample ring has been updated and my hairdresser has an old one. Who's fault is this and how do i get my money back? I ordered the hair myself so I can't exactly ask the hairdresser for a refund? Thanks
C - 23-Sep-20 @ 4:06 PM
My friends just had a weave done to cover her alopecia. The weave looks like a wig rather than natural hair (expected natural looking hair). This cost her £1800.00. Is there anything she can do to get the money out? She wants the weave removing ASAP. She also said that she wants to be able to scrape her hair back into a ponytail. She can't do this as you can see the netting. Thanks for you help.
Kim - 6-Aug-20 @ 10:08 AM
Hi Just had my har done by ROSMIN based in southall Broadway. who claims she is best at her work, thereis no price list she charges in a range of £450 -£600 for a balyage ombre hair You come out of her salon with the colour you didn't want Ask for a fix up... she's not willing to do it unless you pay her mir...
blue - 30-Jul-20 @ 7:50 AM
So I just got my hair done at a salon after my sister tried to do a balayage. My sister colored maybe, if not less than 3 inches of my long hair. So I go into the salon, I ask for subtle, DARK highlights that go about 3/4 of the way up, to tone down the straight across light brown my sister previously did. I showed the lady what I wanted, she even referenced where she would stop the so called “highlights”. I come out, with full blown BLONDE highlights, all the way up to the root. The mirror I looked in was in a poorly lit room, so I could barely see how light it was.I went outside, I don’t have mirrors in my truck, so I’m looking through my phone camera, still, can barely see it. So I go eat, and go home, finally see my hair in an actual mirror, I don’t like it, so I call and tell the lady what’s going on. She claims she didn’t reference where she was going to stop the highlights, that highlights go up to the root. when she said to my face where she was going to stop. I know this is miscommunication on both parts, but I’d really just like at least half my money back. I paid $170 for this, and it’s really upsetting.
Makayla - 23-May-20 @ 7:59 PM
I went to a salon in Chingford that sounds like ‘misha n pearls’ ! after never having been to a hair dressers. I paid a fortune for permanent hair colour and highlights. The hair colour has not held and no one can see any highlights. It’s been weeks and the dye still comes out in the shower, on the towels, on my clothes. It’s terrible... I don’t know if this is normal but either way I was not expecting that and I wasn’t told.
Dockertt - 1-Feb-20 @ 11:51 AM
Hi, I've had a hair extension fitting last night, i paid for 22" extra thickness extensions, when fitting them I had 50g bundles in my hand and I was passing the person doing my hair a strand at a time, she only fitted 2 bundles which makes me believe she only fitted 100g in my hair, when "extra thickness" should be 150g-175g. She didn't offer to style my hair, so when I got home and styled it myself I realized straight away the difference in this set compared to my last set. (My last set of extensions, by a different person were a lot longer and thicker baring in mind I had asked and paid for exactly the same length and thickness) After styling it, i measured the strands and they're only 20". I've messaged the person who fitted them for me to check the packaging for the length, and the amount shes put in and also sent her the comparison photos I've got. Obviously, I just want what I've paid for, so don't want to go down this route unless I have to, but do I have any leg to stand on when it comes to the legal route? Thanks in advance
jayne123 - 13-Dec-19 @ 10:10 AM
I've had my hair coloured numerous times but last week was with a new product, no patch test done. My hair should have looked pale platinum but ended up a very brassy colour. My stylist asked me to come back the following day to redo it, still some brassiness there. I was charged £70, really not happy and contacted her and she has offered to put a lighter colour all over and charge me £25should I be paying and should I have paid in the first place
Gp67 - 2-Dec-19 @ 2:14 PM
This was my 3rd visit to the same hair salon with the same stylist for a colour, cut and blow dry.I know my colour and told the hairdresser my colour was Wella Professionals dark brown with ash as this is very close to my natural hair colour.I was happy with the cut and blow dry yet next day noticed in the daylight my hair is medium brown and looks very red.It looks as though she has coloured it medium brown and its not as dark as I expected.I don't know what to do as do not want to offend my hairdresser as mistakes can happen but if I have been very specific with my brand and colour where do I stand as this is definitely not dark brown and know it will only get lighter as and when I wash it.Opinion appreciated.
Jules - 29-Oct-19 @ 1:13 PM
I had my hair cut and coloured last week, I was charged full price. When I looked at her facebook page she was offering 20% discount From October ( I had it done in October) till December which she didnt apply at the time. When I asked her about it she said she had forgotten about the discount and will knock it off my next service. I asked if she would pay me £13 she forgot to knock off the full price ( how do you forget when you run a business!!! ) as I wont be having another service, she said she cant do this and wont pay me. Is this right, I cant see the problem with it!
R - 26-Oct-19 @ 2:06 PM
Hi I had extensions put in 4 weeks ago - I wasn’t given a choice of colour or length - she matched and ordered with 5 minutes. I had to pay my £240 straight away. When applying she layered 3 lengths of extensions in One row and making too heavy. The application was lose I had to go back a week later and ask to move them. They were applied tighter but too tight in places and caused test in and ripped my hair out in places and cause red raw lumps and obviously hair loss. She blamed it on me not being used to the method or not washing shampoo out properly?!When I said the second time it wasn’t ok. I’ve had to reach out to a more expert hair extensionsist and have them taken out and re fitted (3 rows of one layer and leaving two out!!) and in correct manner. The colour match isn’t correct and I’m left with sore scalp and bald spots and £250 down the drain plus £60 to re fit? Can I claim my money back?
brit - 24-Oct-19 @ 9:38 PM
I also had hair extensions put in off a lady who has been doing my hair on and off for 8 years. I wanted high light look they was yellow she said they was real hair but would melt every time I tried to straighten them also really dry I had to pay another salon to take them out the hair was fake had bits of red cotton in it etc I messaged my original hair dresser and all she said was nobody else has complained I paid £280 and she didn't offer me a penny back I had to pay a salon £95 to take out and colour my hair as it was all patchy also not sure what I should do about it I paid cash as she is mobile
Mammy1 - 8-Jul-19 @ 9:30 AM
Hello there,i feel really disappointed and stressed out,I had my colour done with a student on a model day and she totally messed up my hair.My dark roots are showing really badly and the highlights she did were so tiny they are invisible.I complained to the salon and they just having a laugh after I sent them the pictures if I was looking for a certain look and sorry it didn’t come as I wanted to.They refuse to give back my £40 or correct the colour they offered 25%off with a senior stylist.Its all a big joke,I just want a refund as I have to go and have it redone!Please advise me what do I need to do and how to speak to salons owner to get a refund?Thank you so much.
Iefka - 26-Jun-19 @ 12:24 PM
I am still suffering problems due to a couple of cuts in local salons a year ago, and a lack of trust in Hairdressers, finding a genuine caring and real good Hairdresser in south West London is virtually impossible, I told the Salon owner in question I went to her Salon for help because the last cut I had locally was bad, but her staff members work was worse actually, and got threatened she would tell the police because I was putting her business at risk, so telling the truth about her salon in the online review will be erased, I paid £75 for each of those haircuts from hell, no negative only positive is acceptable, my situation and felling some did not matter, I am not a celeb, she is only interested if you are, that is the truth.
Susieq - 9-Jun-19 @ 11:14 PM
I went to a hairdressers for a balayage. They put bleach foils head for 5 hours. My hair was like chewing gum i lost 6 inches off the back and 8 from the front. I approached the salon and they said they would fix the front of my hair with extensions but i would have to pay for hair. I don't see why i have to pay anymore money to fixed what they ruined. My hair was in perfect condition and now i can't even brush my hair. Could i have some advice please.
Beckz - 1-Jun-19 @ 1:34 PM
I brought in a photo of the cut and color I wanted. It was a dark brown.She looked at the photo and after she washed out the color- my hsir was red with blond tips.She said she did an hombre and thought this color would look good. She wasn't able to fix it then because her flight to Jamaica was leaving in a few hours. She said I could come bsck in 2 weeks and she would redo and I could pay then. However this color is horrible.I am embarked to go to work or in public and havenoticed my scalp looks like there was also hair loss.What do I do?Do I pay her to fix it? .Do I tell her out of the 4 times I went there only 1 time she did what I wanted and request that they pay for me to go to a salon that has never failed me.(I only went to this girl because it as about $100 less). Thank you!!
Jen - 10-Oct-18 @ 4:59 AM
Randa86 - Your Question:
I had a perm yesterday, I had been for a consultation a few days prior and showed a picture of what I wanted (loose, beach waves) it’s my first perm so I don’t know the procedure. The stylist (who owns the salon) gave me poor service and was very distant. The end result wasn’t what I wanted but I thought I’d give it few days as I was told it would drop. I asked the stylist the procedure and what to do/and not to do. She said I could wash it the next day, never brush it and use a comb. I washed it today and it’s completely changed. It’s very uneven, some bits are even straight. I have now read that you are not supposed to wash it or get it wet for at least 3-5 days. It was raining when I left the salon and she didn’t say anything so it got wet straight away. I really don’t want to go back there but I’m £90 out of pocket and left with horrendous hair. What shall I do. I’m nervous about approaching them but I know they are in the wrong.

Our Response:
Get someone else (another hairdresser) to give you an independent viewpoint to take back to the salon. Follow the advice in the article above.
ConsumerRightsExpert - 13-Aug-18 @ 12:43 PM
I had a perm yesterday, I had been for a consultation a few days prior and showed a picture of what I wanted (loose, beach waves) it’s my first perm so I don’t know the procedure. The stylist (who owns the salon) gave me poor service and was very distant. The end result wasn’t what I wanted but I thought I’d give it few days as I was told it would drop. I asked the stylist the procedure and what to do/and not to do. She said I could wash it the next day, never brush it and use a comb. I washed it today and it’s completely changed. It’s very uneven, some bits are even straight. I have now read that you are not supposed to wash it or get it wet for at least 3-5 days. It was raining when I left the salon and she didn’t say anything so it got wet straight away. I really don’t want to go back there but I’m £90 out of pocket and left with horrendous hair. What shall I do. I’m nervous about approaching them but I know they are in the wrong.
Randa86 - 12-Aug-18 @ 5:28 PM
Hi I posted previously. What do I do if the hairdresser in question that caused the damage are refusing responsibility. I have had to visit my usual hairdressers who have written an email in confirmation of their finding. But I have had to have a considerable amount of hair cut out and off and still not sorted. I have full photo evidence and the hair as proof. As a consumer I have paid for a service and they have damaged my hair extensively not just the extra cost to try to correct but the huge distress this has caused ?
Els - 21-Jul-18 @ 10:29 AM
Els - Your Question:
Hi I went to a local salon to get a simple wash and straighten and later that day I noticed it had a funny texture. By Sunday I noticed I have huge patches of burnt hair. The salon are saying it must be from bleach damage. I had my hair coloured months and months ago. She basically made out I am lying and was showing me my hair is not a natural colour by showing me my roots!!!??? I went in my hair was fine the same day my hair was completely burnt.PLEASE what do I do my hair looks awful and am devestated

Our Response:
Get a second opinion then if necessary claim for financial loss i.ethe cost of getting your hair fixed by another salon. Tell the new stylist what happened, and ask them to give you their comments - in writing if possible. Write to the original hairdresser with a copy of the receipt and any comments, and give them 14 days to reimburse you.
ConsumerRightsExpert - 22-Jun-18 @ 2:33 PM
Hi I went to a local salon to get a simple wash and straighten and later that day I noticed it had a funny texture. By Sunday I noticed I have huge patches of burnt hair. The salon are saying it must be from bleach damage. I had my hair coloured months and months ago. She basically made out I am lying and was showing me my hair is not a natural colour by showing me my roots!!!??? I went in my hair was fine the same day my hair was completely burnt .PLEASE what do I do my hair looks awful and am devestated
Els - 21-Jun-18 @ 6:19 PM
Hi. I wanted some hair extensions in and found a girl local advertised on Facebook as a specialist in hair extensions. She had some photos and reviews so looked like a good option. Her Facebook page is her business page. I wanted them ombré. Dark on top blonde on ends. She fitted them last night and I could tell something was wrong when she rushed out and made excuses that it would fluff out after washing. I paid £250 on credit card. When having a close look in the mirror upstairs they look horrendous. You can see my hair underneath and it’s blatently obviously they are extensions at the back especially. Which I didn’t see before she left. They are also not ombré but blonde and dark mixed together. I messaged her straight away after she left to say I was disappointed and explained why and that I would like them out and a refund. She’s ignored me. I called credit card company to try stop payment but they couldn’t and said to let payment go through and give her opportunity to make things right. Next day still no reply so I messaged again. She has seen the messages as it tells you when read. But she’s ignoring me. What do I do now? Do I go through credit card company to claim money back? Through trading standard? Small claims? I’m absolutely gutted and I’m also going to have to pay someone to remove them seems as she’s ignoring me
Fox2018 - 15-Jun-18 @ 8:12 PM
Hi. I wanted some hair extensions in and found a girl local advertised on Facebook as a specialist in hair extensions. She had some photos and reviews so looked like a good option. Her Facebook page is her business page. I wanted them ombré. Dark on top blonde on ends. She fitted them last night and I could tell something was wrong when she rushed out and made excuses that it would fluff out after washing. I paid £250 on credit card. When having a close look in the mirror upstairs they look horrendous. You can see my hair underneath and it’s blatently obviously they are extensions at the back especially. Which I didn’t see before she left. They are also not ombré but blonde and dark mixed together. I messaged her straight away after she left to say I was disappointed and explained why and that I would like them out and a refund. She’s ignored me. I called credit card company to try stop payment but they couldn’t and said to let payment go through and give her opportunity to make things right. Next day still no reply so I messaged again. She has seen the messages as it tells you when read. But she’s ignoring me. What do I do now? Do I go through credit card company to claim money back? Through trading standard? Small claims? I’m absolutely gutted and I’m also going to have to pay someone to remove them seems as she’s ignoring me
Fox2018 - 15-Jun-18 @ 7:55 PM
I had Remy extensions yesterday and when I got home my daughter said they looked nice but she could see the glue! To my horror, when I inspected them and saught advice from a high end hairdresser in town, I was told that there was far far too much glue .I spoke with the lady who done them and she insisted that was how she had always done them and they were fine, but did agree to remove them in a week!!! I have pictures and will be asking for a refund
Bish - 23-May-18 @ 2:13 PM
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