Bad hair day: Your legal rights

What can you do if the final look isn’t what you wanted? What rights do you have if you don’t like your new hair style? Do you still have to pay if you didn’t get the look you desired? Do you have any legal recourse?

Grace Hughes from ARAG Law, has all the information you need to know about your rights and what you can do if your dream makeover turns into a nightmare.

My hair/makeup was done by a professional, but I don’t like it. Can I request a refund?

If the stylist has provided you with a service at your request but you don’t like how your requested look has turned out on you, you would not be entitled to a refund.

If a mistake was made, such as the stylist cutting off too much hair or dying it the wrong colour, or if I asked a makeup artist for a specific look, and even showed them a photo but it looks different, am I still required to pay?

If the stylist has failed to provide the service with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you may be able to argue they have breached the contract. The remedies available under a breach of contract claim here are repeat performance or a price reduction. Repeat performance is the first remedy to exhaust, where they should provide the service again at no additional cost and within reasonable time and without significant inconvenience to you as a consumer. Whereas a price reduction becomes available only where repeat performance is impossible, or the stylist has failed to provide repeat performance within a reasonable time and without significant inconvenience.

One of the products used by the hairdresser/makeup artist caused irritated skin or allergic reactions. What can I do? Can I sue the hairdresser/makeup artist?

If the stylist has been negligent in carrying out the service, you could potentially claim personal injury. Negligence could be through situations such as not carrying out a patch test prior to carrying out the treatment or not taking information relating to any allergies or medical conditions prior to commencing the service. The limitation period for personal injury claims is three years from the date of the negligent act or the date that the injury came to light.

The salon is charging me extra for a treatment, but they didn’t inform me of the additional cost first, can they legally charge me for this?

If you have booked an appointment for a treatment and there was an agreed price, then this is legally binding. The salon should not therefore be able to charge an additional cost if they have failed to make you aware of this.

I wrote a bad review for a makeup artist online and they are threatening to sue me. What can I do?

If the review that you posted is accurate and true, you would not be committing any offence, and no legal action could be taken against you. However, if you are posting inaccurate or false information that would have an impact on their reputation, they could potentially sue you for defamation if you fail to remove the post.