Hairdye & hospital

kittiwoz

My friend had an awful experience with a bottle of Schwarzkopf live Cosmic Blue recently. Dyed his hair Sunday and had a bad reaction. His skin welted and his head was covered with open sores which wouldn't stop seeping puss, his hair matted, his head got infected and yesterday the side of his head swelled up. His flatmate drove him to the hospital and he was given steroids which seem to be helping a lot. He's been off work all week (though he gets sick pay) and has been in a lot of pain. He has psoriasis and didn't do a patch test but has used this particular dye before without any problems.

I said he should complain to Schwarzkopf and try to get some form of compensation and have found the address and phone number for him. We neither of us have a lot of experience in complaing so I would like to know what is the best way to go about it. Should we phone up or write a letter to start a paper trail? What should we say? And what sort of a response should we expect? What do you think would be reasonable for the pain and distress he has suffered?

impy78

Unless he's done the test with this specific colour of dye, then they will not do anything.

nearlyrich

Whilst I sympathise with his pain and distress, if he used it against the advice of the manufacturer or without following the instructions I don't really think he has a case for compensation.

However maybe the batch was faulty, too much of a particular chemical perhaps, has he still got the container and packaging? might be worth getting it tested. I would send a letter to the company outlining the problems, as you say you will start a paper trail.

jenniferpa

I doubt you'd get any compensation. Every bottle of hair dye I've ever seen instructs you to do a patch test, even if you've used the dye before. Allergies can appear unexpectedly, and in a way, although I'm sorry for what happened to your friend, he was very fortunate that the allergic reaction took the form of a skin reaction, rather than anaphylactic shock. By all means complain, politely and persistently, but don't expect more than an apology, if that.

Jennifer