It's always worth checking out a business' reputation before handing them your money — Becca Peet from Hampshire in the U.K. knows this much better than most.
Like many women, Peet liked to have her hair done at the salon, often trying out new colors and styles. And with so much variety to choose from these days, even for your armpits, it's no wonder that she wanted to experiment a little.
In Peet's case, she wanted to lighten her naturally brunette hair with some highlights for her 21st birthday. That's where things got out of control.
She scheduled an appointment at a salon near her home. This international chain of salons typically has positive reviews and feedback, but on this day, Peet got unlucky.
"When I was having the coloring done, my head suddenly felt like it was touching a hot pan that just kept betting hotter and hotter," Peet recalled. "The foils were steaming and I said that it was burning and asked the girl."
But the girl didn't stop, even when asked. "She said, 'No, it's fine,'" Peet said.
Eventually, the foils were removed and the bleach rinsed from her hair. Peet said that her scalp had become numb by this time, though the pain came back with the heat from the blow dryer. At that point, she again asked that the procedure stop.
Eventually, the complaints got her an apology from the management and her payment fee waived.
But little did Peet know that her nightmare was just beginning.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Today, nursery worker Becca Peet is 24. However, she's still living with the results of a horrifically botched highlight procedure from three years ago, when a serious chemical burn to her scalp left a permanent bald spot.
Click to reveal the image of her injury below. Be warned, it's a little graphic.
It started with a severe burning sensation while the highlights were being applied.
Peet complained, but was assured by the salon worker that everything was "fine."
She ended up getting comped for the highlights, but that was just the beginning.
"In the weeks afterwards, I was in constant pain from my scalp and severe headaches," she said.
And the burn was refusing to heal.
"My hair started sticking to the pus and scabs that were forming on my scalp due to infection, and moving my face or changing my facial expression moved my scalp and worsened the pain," Peet said.
She was also losing sleep from the pain, having to apply burn cream and dealing with the unpleasant smell of the infected wound.
This went on for some eight months.
Eventually, she had to seek medical attention when the infection started causing her hair to fall out.
As a result of the removal of the infected tissue, though, she was left with a hairless patch right in the middle of her head.
Due to the scars from the burns and the surgery, this area will never grow hair again.
Three years later, the bald patch still digs at Peet's self esteem.
"If I go outside and it is windy, I worry that the wind will blow the hair across and expose the bald patch," she says. "I still feel tearful sometimes."
She's learned to style her hair to cover it, and honestly, you'd never guess parts were missing. Peet looks great, but the events still haunt her.
"It has been absolutely horrendous and after it happened, I wasn't just in pain, I was tearful all the time and very self-conscious about how I looked because of the bald patch and scar on my scalp," she said.
Peet sued the salon for the damages, and her lawyers claimed that the burns were due to a trainee staff member mixing the highlight solution improperly.
They also alleged that the staff had been negligent in realizing the severity of the situation. Peet was awarded an undisclosed amount in damages.
This story is unusual, but it shows what kind of real and lasting damage can happen when the proper attention isn't paid.
If you're ever somewhere like a salon or spa and feel that a treatment isn't going right, or if something is causing pain, speak up and stop things to prevent any potential damage to your body.
And SHARE this warning with anyone who gets routine styling to keep them safe!
