Hair dye caused burns, woman claims; court rejects BD5,000 case

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A Bahraini woman who claimed she suffered burns and scalp injuries after a hair dye treatment at a salon has lost her compensation case after failing to prove fault.

The woman had sought BD5,000 in damages from the salon in a lawsuit filed before the Eighth Lower Civil Court, according to lawyer Fatima Al-Khabbaz.

She alleged that she experienced a burning sensation immediately after a chemical substance was applied to her hair and informed a salon employee, who told her the reaction was normal. As the pain worsened, staff applied ice, which she claimed caused burns and damage to her scalp and hair follicles, as later diagnosed by a specialised dermatology clinic.

In response, Al-Khabbaz argued that the injuries were caused by a keratin treatment, not the service provided by the defendant salon. She said the agreed service was a balayage hair colouring treatment, which does not involve direct contact with the scalp roots and includes protective measures for the skin. This, she argued, indicated that the claimant may have undergone a keratin treatment at another salon, absolving the defendant of liability.

In its ruling, the court noted that the medical report submitted by the claimant stated she had visited the clinic for scalp irritation and mild burns following a recent keratin treatment at a beauty salon. The report indicated she was prescribed a topical lotion for five days, a vitamin hair tonic spray, and advised to avoid chemical or heat-based hair treatments for at least four weeks.

The court found that while witness testimony established the existence of injury, it did not prove fault. It also ruled that the medical report could not be relied upon due to inconsistencies regarding the cause of the injury. As the burden of proof rests with the claimant and no fault was established, the court dismissed the lawsuit for lack of legal basis.

The court found that the witness testimony established the existence of damage but did not prove fault, and that the medical report could not be relied upon due to discrepancies regarding the cause of the injury. As the burden of proof lies with the claimant, and no fault was established, the court ruled that the compensation claim lacked legal basis and dismissed the lawsuit.