Woman Demands £16,000 Compensation After Bad Bleach Job Made Her Hair Fall Out

Most of us have been unhappy with a hair cut or colour at some point in our lives - the sinking feeling when you see what your trusted hairdresser has done, and the attempt to politely tell them you love it.

But one woman hated her hair that much that she decided to seek £16,000 in damages.

Jessica Bray, from Melbourne, Australia, said she suffered emotionally after a bleach job left her with hair so brittle and damaged that it broke off.

She also says she had to buy a $1,000 wig to wear on her 30th birthday as she felt so insecure about the condition in which her hairdresser had left her hair. In her claim she also included the costs of a psychologist appointment she went to due to the humiliation and distress she experienced.

The case went to a tribunal, where Ms Bray lost her claim for damages worth AUD $30,000 (£16,000).

Facebook/Jessica Bray

Speaking to news.com.au she said: "I was told to shave my head because of the damage.

"A few visits later they started to do my hair wrong. Initially I thought it was a one off and they fixed it to my satisfaction. Thinking they wouldn't do it twice in a row I returned and they did it again, and dropped dye on my clothes and also under-bleached my hair again meaning I would have to have my hair bleached four times in around six weeks."

Ms Bray went to another hair salon, where they told her they were shocked by the how the business had treated her.

"They didn't know what had been done so (they told me to) go back to them to get and it fixed then return to them next time I need my roots done," she said.

"I go to the salon and they put a random girl on the right side of my hair so they could do it 'quickly'.

"They then go out back and leave me alone for what seems way too long so I decide to check my own hair.

"I tug on it gently and it falls out in my hand. The owner sees, stops cutting a man's hair and runs out back to my hairdresser."

Following that, she said her hair came out in such big clumps that it blocked her shower drain.

"It was just a mess," she said.

Facebook/Jessica Bray

Ms Bray has said that her hair has even stopped her from applying for jobs as she feels she will be rejected because of its condition.

She added: "Hair does play an important role, it's a very big thing to a woman."

Jessica hopes to appeal the decision.

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. After a few years working on festivals and events, she went back to her roots. In her spare time, Amelia likes music, Liverpool FC, and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward