Salon Injury Lawyers
A trip to a hair, nail, or beauty salon should not result in a serious injury. Clients trust salon professionals to use chemicals, heated equipment, sharp instruments, and other products safely and to maintain sanitary conditions while providing their services.
Unfortunately, mistakes and unsafe practices can result in chemical burns, infections, permanent hair loss, cuts, allergic reactions, scarring, eye injuries, and other serious harm. New Jersey requires cosmetology professionals to be licensed, and salon owners are responsible for ensuring their staff is properly licensed.
At The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel, we represent individuals throughout New Jersey who have suffered serious injuries because of another party's negligence. When a salon, stylist, technician, product manufacturer, or other responsible party causes a preventable injury, victims may have the right to pursue compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Common Types of Salon Injuries
Salons provide services that can involve strong chemicals, high temperatures, electrical equipment, sharp tools, and prolonged contact with the skin and scalp. When products or equipment are used improperly, clients can suffer significant injuries.
Common salon injuries may include:
Chemical burns
Thermal burns
Scalp injuries
Permanent hair loss
Cuts and lacerations
Bacterial or fungal infections
Allergic reactions
Eye injuries
Nail and nail-bed injuries
Permanent scarring
Facial injuries
Nerve damage
Slip and fall injuries
Injuries caused by defective products
The severity of these injuries can vary considerably. Some require relatively limited treatment, while others can result in hospitalization, surgery, permanent scarring, or disfigurement.
Chemical Burns at Hair Salons
Hair coloring, bleaching, relaxing, permanent-wave treatments, and other salon procedures can involve chemical products that must be used correctly.
New Jersey cosmetology rules require practitioners to use safe practices and follow manufacturers' instructions when using chemical preparations. Salon license holders must also maintain manufacturers' recommendations and safety information for hazardous chemicals used in the shop.
Chemical injuries may occur when:
A product is mixed incorrectly
Chemicals are left on the hair or skin for too long
Products are applied improperly
A stylist ignores complaints of burning or pain
Incompatible products are combined
Safety instructions are not followed
Chemicals come into contact with the eyes
A client's scalp or skin is exposed to excessive concentrations of a chemical
New Jersey courts have addressed injuries involving salon chemical treatments, including cases involving skin injuries and hair loss following permanent-wave procedures.
Hair Loss and Scalp Injuries
A serious salon injury can damage more than a person's hair. Chemical burns and other trauma can injure the scalp itself and, in some cases, damage hair follicles.
Depending on the severity of the injury, a client may experience:
Temporary hair loss
Permanent hair loss
Bald spots
Scalp burns
Open wounds
Infection
Permanent scarring
Changes in hair growth
Permanent hair loss can also have a significant emotional impact, particularly when the injury produces visible scarring or disfigurement.
Treatment may involve dermatological care, wound treatment, reconstructive procedures, scar revision, or other medical intervention.
Burn Injuries Caused by Salon Equipment
Chemicals are not the only source of salon burns. Hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, wax, hot water, steam, and other heated equipment can cause significant thermal injuries when used improperly.
A burn may result from:
Equipment being excessively hot
Heated tools remaining against the skin for too long
Improperly heated wax
Scalding water
Defective electrical equipment
Failure to monitor equipment temperature
Careless use of styling tools
Severe burns can require extensive wound care and may leave permanent scars. Burn injuries associated with salon or spa services have resulted in serious litigation in New Jersey, including injuries requiring substantial medical treatment.
Nail Salon Injuries
Manicures and pedicures can also result in injuries when tools, chemicals, or equipment are not used safely.
Potential nail salon injuries include:
Cuts
Puncture wounds
Nail-bed injuries
Bacterial infections
Fungal infections
Chemical burns
Allergic reactions
Burns from excessively hot water
Permanent nail damage
Scarring
Unsafe sanitation practices can create additional risks when equipment is reused between clients without appropriate cleaning or disinfection.
A minor cosmetic problem with a manicure or pedicure is different from an actual physical injury. However, infections, burns, serious cuts, and permanent damage caused by negligent salon practices may warrant further investigation.
Infections Caused by Unsanitary Salon Conditions
Salon professionals frequently work directly with a client's hair, scalp, skin, hands, and feet. Maintaining appropriate sanitation is therefore an important part of salon safety.
Clients may potentially be exposed to infection when salons fail to properly clean tools, workstations, foot baths, or other equipment.
Unsafe practices may include:
Reusing contaminated instruments
Improperly disinfecting tools
Using dirty towels or equipment
Failing to clean pedicure tubs
Using contaminated products
Performing services on damaged or infected skin
Failing to follow appropriate sanitation procedures
An infection that begins as a relatively small problem can sometimes require antibiotics, additional medical treatment, or hospitalization.
Allergic Reactions to Salon Products
Hair dyes, adhesives, nail products, skincare products, and other chemicals can potentially cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Not every allergic reaction means that a salon was negligent. However, questions may arise when a salon professional ignores known sensitivities, fails to follow product instructions, improperly mixes products, or continues a procedure despite obvious signs that the client is experiencing a serious reaction.
Symptoms may include:
Swelling
Rash
Blistering
Severe itching
Facial swelling
Difficulty breathing
Skin irritation
Chemical burns
Severe reactions can require emergency medical treatment.
Eye Injuries at Hair and Beauty Salons
Salon chemicals can cause serious injuries if they enter a client's eyes.
Hair dyes, bleaching agents, adhesives, cleaning products, and other chemical substances may cause irritation, burns, or more serious eye damage.
Eye injuries may also occur because of sharp instruments or other equipment used near the face.
Depending on the nature of the injury, a victim may experience pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or other vision problems. Serious eye injuries should receive prompt medical attention.
Facial Scarring and Disfigurement
Salon injuries involving the face, scalp, or neck can leave permanent visible scars.
Chemical burns, thermal burns, cuts, and other injuries may require reconstructive or plastic surgery. Even with appropriate treatment, it may not be possible to completely restore the person's appearance.
Permanent scarring or hair loss can affect more than physical appearance. Victims may experience emotional distress, reduced confidence, difficulties with social interactions, and other changes to their quality of life.
These long-term consequences can be important when evaluating the full impact of a salon injury.
When Is a Salon Responsible for an Injury?
An unfavorable haircut, hair color, manicure, or other cosmetic result generally is not the same as suffering a physical injury because of negligence.
A potential salon injury claim may arise when a salon professional or business fails to exercise reasonable care and that failure causes an injury.
Examples may include:
Improperly applying chemical treatments
Leaving chemicals on too long
Ignoring a client's complaints of burning or pain
Using unsafe or unsanitary equipment
Failing to follow product instructions
Using excessively hot equipment
Improperly using sharp instruments
Allowing unsafe conditions to exist in the salon
Failing to properly train or supervise employees
Determining whether negligence occurred requires examining the particular service performed, the products and equipment used, the salon's practices, and the medical evidence surrounding the injury.
Defective Salon Products
Sometimes an injury may result from a problem with the product itself rather than—or in addition to—the way a salon professional used it.
Hair dyes, chemical treatments, cosmetics, adhesives, styling products, and salon equipment can potentially cause injuries because of manufacturing defects, unsafe designs, inadequate warnings, or other problems.
Depending on the circumstances, potentially responsible parties may include:
Product manufacturers
Distributors
Retailers
Salon owners
Individual salon professionals
New Jersey litigation involving hair-care products has included claims based on negligence, defective design, and failure to warn.
A salon injury case may therefore require investigation into both how a product was used and whether the product itself was defective.
Evidence in a Salon Injury Case
Preserving evidence can be important when determining how a salon injury occurred.
Potential evidence may include:
Photographs of the injury
Photographs documenting the healing process
Medical records
Receipts and appointment records
The name of the stylist or technician
Communications with the salon
The products used during the service
Product packaging and instructions
Witness statements
Surveillance footage
Salon licensing information
Medical opinions regarding permanent injuries
If possible, clients should document visible injuries before they substantially heal or change.
Compensation for a Salon Injury
When salon negligence causes a serious injury, the injured person may be entitled to pursue compensation for the resulting losses.
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:
Past and future medical expenses
Reconstructive or plastic surgery
Dermatological treatment
Lost wages
Reduced future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Permanent hair loss
Scarring and disfigurement
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Other damages available under New Jersey law
The value of a claim depends on the individual circumstances, including the severity and permanence of the injury, treatment required, and the impact the injury has on the person's life.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Salon Injury?
Responsibility depends on what caused the injury.
Potentially responsible parties may include:
Hair stylists
Barbers
Nail technicians
Estheticians
Salon owners and operators
Property owners
Product manufacturers
Equipment manufacturers
Other individuals or businesses whose negligence contributed to the injury
Some incidents may involve more than one responsible party. A careful investigation can help determine what went wrong and who may be legally responsible.
Contact a New Jersey Salon Injury Lawyer
A salon appointment should not leave a client with chemical burns, permanent hair loss, infection, scarring, or another serious injury. When unsafe practices, improper chemical use, unsanitary conditions, defective products, or another form of negligence causes preventable harm, injured clients deserve to understand their legal options.
For more than 30 years, The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel has represented injured individuals and families throughout New Jersey. Our firm investigates serious personal injury cases, identifies potentially responsible parties, and helps clients pursue the compensation available under New Jersey law.
If you suffered a serious injury at a hair salon, nail salon, beauty salon, or similar establishment because of another party's negligence, contact The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.
