Guides › Health and Private Care › Bad Haircut or Beauty Treatment: Your Rights
Bad Haircut or Beauty Treatment: Your Rights
A hairdresser or beauty salon must carry out its service with reasonable care and skill. If it did not, you can ask it to put the work right, or ask for a discount, which can sometimes be the full price. Usually you must give the salon a chance to redo it first, unless that is impossible or would take too long or be very inconvenient for you.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Rights for Services
Citizens Advice
Services must be provided with reasonable care and skill, for example a haircut. You can ask the trader to do it again if possible, or ask for a discount. You must give them the chance to redo it unless that is not possible, would take too long or would be very inconvenient. If you told the trader at the time that the service was good enough, you lose these rights. Suggest a discount figure and explain your reasons. source
The Law
Every service must be performed with reasonable care and skill. If it is not, you can ask for repeat performance, which must be done within a reasonable time, without significant inconvenience to you and at the trader's cost, or for a price reduction, which may be the full price. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 yearsTo claimEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Take clear photos straight away, in good light.
Step 2 of 5
Contact the salon quickly and say what went wrong.
Step 3 of 5
Decide whether you want it fixed or a discount.
Step 4 of 5
If you do not want them to redo it, explain why.
Step 5 of 5
Put your complaint in writing and keep a copy.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
The Salon
Raise it quickly, in writing.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Free advice; can pass cases to Trading Standards.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
If a treatment caused an injury or reaction, get medical advice and keep the records.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/complain-about-a-service Checked 13 October 2026
- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/part/1/chapter/4 Checked 13 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue Checked 8 October 2026