Hairdressing Injuries Left Me In Hospital

If there is one essential home styling product at the moment, it is a pair of straighteners. Sleek, glossy locks are in, and thanks to the affordability of hair straighteners, any girl can have them. Hair straighteners are so popular that even celebrities like J Lo and Jennifer Aniston are devoted fans, preferring their home straighteners to exclusive hair salons.

Hair straighteners are versatile, allowing women to look glam and sexy on nights out, or well groomed and confident for office meetings. Yet most women who use them regularly will have had minor 'accidents', small burns or singed hair ends.

Few women consider how dangerous straightening equipment can actually be. When hair straighteners go wrong, they can do as much damage as a power drill, yet how many people give them the attention they deserve? Many women straighten their hair whilst listening to music or chatting to friends. Would you drill a hole whilst doing the same thing? Unfortunately, straightening accidents are common, and not just at home, but in professional salons too.

Carrie Webster was 15 when she was getting ready for a school disco. She had bought new straighteners for the event, and plugged them in excitedly, thinking about her new look. She didn't notice the exposed wire on the cable, and when she did, it was too late. She received 10,000 volt electric shock and would have died, but luckily her medically trained Mother was able to resuscitate her. 'She was dancing around her room one minute, the next she was almost dead. Carrrie's straighteners were a reputable brand bought from a high street outlet, yet they nearly killed her. She was in hospital for over a week.'

In addition to burns and electrical dangers, a faulty pair of tongs can do serious damage to hair structure, causing:
- Dry, brittle hair
- Split ends
- Discolouring
- Clumps of hair falling out
- Singed, burnt hair
- Burns on the scalp, neck or hands
- Blisters on the scalp
- Bald patches
- Facial scarring

Much of this damage is uncomfortable rather than life threatening, but can have a huge emotional and financial impact. Jenna was straightening her hair before an important job interview. She'd prepared a presentation and an excellent portfolio. Yet when she heard the sizzle of her hair straighteners scorching her hair, she knew she'd lost the job. 'The damage was reversible, but my self esteem plummeted. I looked like a scarecrow rather than a business woman.' Jenna blew the interview, and felt like she'd made a fool of herself, all because the company made a batch of faulty straighteners. A friend suggested that she should sue them.

'I laughed at first, but then thought about what I'd lost. The job would have added £5, 000 a year on my salary, and that was no joke. I looked online, and found a law firm who were really helpful. I made a claim and after a few months was awarded thousands of pounds in damages. Remember, if the worst happens in the hairdressers, you are not alone. Take my advice, the memories aren't as painful if you don't get mad, but get even.

NHS Direct Information: Burns or scalds

Hairdressing Negligence: Hair Gone Wrong