Hairdresser ripped my earring out by accident...

[liklypaddy]

Was getting my hair done today. I have a hoop earring in the cartilage of my ear. It's tiny and never had a problem with it before. I leave it in as I find it hard to take in and out.

Hairdresser had a ring on today and it got caught in my earring. Cue a lot of pain, a lot of blood and a tear in my ear. I won't be able to put it back in so will have to have it re-pierced. It was cleaned up, plaster stuck on it, hair finished.

She didn't really apologise and when she went over to her colleague at the till I heard her moaning about me having an earring in. Couldn't really make out all of what she was saying but I could tell she was pissed off. I definitely heard her say 'seriously I can't deal with any more difficult people today'

Until this point I hadn't made a fuss at all, I laughed it off, so thought this was unprofessional. It was just an accident.

I asked for a partial discount based on her being rude about it, and the fact that my earring had been ripped out.

So my question. WIBU to ask for a discount? (Which they refused btw).

Can you complain to the manager that's not on at all.

It’s risk of having earrings isn’t it. It doesn’t sound like your hairdresser dealt with it very well but I’m sure she didn’t do it on purpose.

Yes you should complain but you should have done it before you left the hairdressers

@AllsortsofAwkward I could yes. I usually have my hair done by the manager, it's only a small place, but she's away (as far as I can tell from their Facebook). Back next week.

Surely hairdressers shouldn’t be wearing rings as it prevents adequate hand hygiene.

There were only two of them there and the only other person there was the one she was bitching to. Just didn't feel confident enough to complain. My fault I know.

I'm not actually angry about the earring I realise it was a mistake.

Your hairdresser will have personal injury insurance. You can make a claim on that.

Worth doing - probably in the region of a few hundred pounds but get specialist PI advice.

Take lots of photos and email them detailing the injury and impact on you.

I think it’s two fold here. You should take the earring out where someone is going to be working on or around your hair - the hairbrush could even catch it - but she would also have taken her rings off.

She definitely shouldn’t have been bitchy though.

You accept the fact that you shouldn't have been wearing the earing. I don't think she should have been wearing jewellery either though.
The problem was afterwards when she was unprofessional about you to a Co worker.

Both earrings (especially hoop. Studs, maybe not) and hairdresser's rings really should have been removed. Accidents do happen.

That said, that was really unprofessional and insensitive...if not nasty of the hairdresser. You're the one who's got your ear bleeding. Goodness!

I know, I didn't think. Oh well, it's out now 😅

@BoredHoolet

Seriously??

OP, I feel for you. I think that if the hairdresser had been apologetic and respectful, you'd have been fine. But she was rude and that's not ok.

😮😮 she injured you and then complained about you?! What a cow. Yes it was an accident but she should have apologised profusely. I hope you are ok op that sounds horrendous tbh

@BoredHoolet oh I really don't have the time or energy for that over a small cut on my ear.

I have a similar earring and hairdressers have caught it with combs a few times. Luckily mine is years old so it doesn’t hurt at all and the style of ring means if you yank it, it just comes out rather than damaging my ear, but every hairdresser who has done it has been absolutely mortified and apologised profusely, even when I have insisted it’s not a problem. Your hairdresser was totally out of order.

I mean, yeah, maybe the earring shouldn't have been in. But etiquette would usually demand an apology anyway!
YANBU.
Hope you're ok and that your ear heals quickly.

Gosh OP, I hope you're okay! I winced thinking about your poor ear

Her attitude was disgusting. Speak to the manager next week, I'm sure she will sort something out.

And OP, I hope your ear will be okay? I winced as I saw he thread title and clicked on the post.

Did someone already say, get it checked out? My son had a small cut in his ear after being pushed over at school and they booked him into hospital for the plastic surgeon to stitch it to make sure it didn't heal wrong, you know, cauliflower ear.

I hate it when hairdressers have long scratchy nails and oversize rings, it is completely inappropriate and right now as a pp pointed out it is unhygienic. I would definitley make a point about that if you can be bothered. Hope your ear feels better soon.

Ouch 😓

It’s an occupational hazard of visiting a hairdresser though. I always remove earring and necklaces (they can accidentally be snipped) before I go.

She should have apologised, even though it was an accident. But perhaps an apology is considered the same as admitting fault, if you were to take it further, so she felt like she needed to cover herself?

She definitely should have apologised accidents happen her attitude was completely wrong I'd be complaining as soon as the usual manager is back.
Today complaining wouldn't have had the desired effect.
I'd say you got a fright. I agree with pp's hairdressers shouldn't be wearing hand jewellery especially with covid.

No you were not. Bare minimum is a discount.

You were not being unreasonable, and I would take it further. I wouldn't have taken it further if she had apologised, but what happened sounds completely unacceptable.

This is the downside to being 'too' polite!