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A visit to the hairdressers should be a pleasant experience. No-one should be left with damaged hair or an injury. 

No matter how skilled or experienced a hairdresser may be, stylists work with various chemicals and salon equipment that are extremely hot and sharp, creating the potential risk of injury to the customer. Scalp injuries and hair loss are commonly caused by bleach damage, hair extensions which have been incorrectly applied, or accidently cutting a client with scissors. Injury includes both physical and emotional harm. As well as trips, spills and accidents caused by salon equipment, hairdressers may also be faced with a claim for emotional trauma.

Public liability insurance provides important protection for business such as hairs salons which come into contact with members of the public. Whether it’s a minor slip-up that causes damage to a customer’s property, or an accident with salon equipment that results in serious harm, there’s a chance that a client will claim for compensation. Thankfully, public liability insurance covers any damages that are awarded because the insurance provider bears these expenses, saving hairdressers from large pay outs. Additionally, insurance covers associated expenses and legal costs.

Surprisingly, hairdressers are not required by law to have public liability insurance in case of injury to customers. Furthermore, stylists are not currently required to be registered or hold any formal qualifications. The consequences of not being insured are two-fold: customers can be left without a remedy because their hairdressers are not insured, and hairdressers are vulnerable to financial and legal difficulty, bearing the huge cost of pay outs themselves.

The Hair Council are seeking to change this. The Hair and Barber Council aim is to raise standards and improve professionalism within the hairdressing industry through making it a mandatory requirement for hairdressers to join the UK Register of Qualified Hairdressers and Barbers. The Hair Council is currently in discussion with The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Hairdressers without insurance may soon be a thing of the past. 

If you have suffered an injury at a hair salon or any other public place, Duncan Lewis has a leading Personal Injury team which accepts public liability claims on a no win no fee basis, so you will not have to worry about legal costs. Our team can visit you at your home if you are recovering from injuries and can arrange expert medical evidence to support your claim.

About the author: Julie Leslie is a Director in the Personal Injury department at Duncan Lewis. She is a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500, 2021 for her expertise across London and the South-East and has over 14 years’ experience representing clients nationwide on all types of personal injury claims. Julie leads a personal injury team recognised by The Legal 500 has having ‘a niche specialism in accident at work claims’. Headquartered in the City of London, Duncan Lewis holds offices across London and throughout England and Wales.

For assistance on making a public liability compensation claim contact Duncan Lewis on 033 3772 0409.