Stylist scraped my neck up; should I complain?

[LillFilly]

I had my hair trimmed today. I keep it short and just wanted the inch or so off my neck. I asked that it be cut close at the bottom, and merged-up into my hair. I've had my hair trimmed like this dozens of times, but this is the first time I had to really explain it to the stylist. It's the same place I've always gone to, but it was a girl I've only seen recently.

The first guard she used on the trimmer was too long, so she took it off and used it like that. It felt like it was scraping across my neck, but did not hurt too much. She made several comments that my hair was really hard to trim! I've never heard that before.

Several hours later at home my neck felt like it was on fire! I managed to take photos and my neck is raw in a line of skin where she trimmed my neck!



I've never had this happen before, but I also realized that she did a 'dry shave' on me; not even misting my head. I think she went higher on the right side too.

Should I speak to a manager about her? Maybe she had not used the razor before or didn't know to use a shorter guard? I might have to ask my boss to let me wear my shirt with an open neck, because I think my tie would kill me!

(Update 20min post photo)

Oh Gods, IT'S BURNING MORE AND GETTING PIMPLES!

[Kiwi]

Geesum crow! Yes I would complain, take this photo and your neck back into that place tomorrow and show the manager!

[Mystic]

I agree. I would inform them. It could be she is new to the trade and needs more training.

[bainsidhe]

If there was ever a reason to complain, this would be it. I've had a couple stylists catch an earring & yank it out, one even after I warned her (owie!), but I chalked it up to a simple mistake. Your cut wasn't something out of the ordinary, I'd hate to think if you'd asked for a bald head, can you imagine the razor burn?!?

Complain. Ask for a refund. And make damn sure you remember the stylists you like from now on. More importantly, file an incident report in case this turns into a medical necessity (I hope not!!). It's probably just going to hurt for a while, but you don't know where that razor has been used. Just because many stylists are anal about cleanliness doesn't mean this one is. Make sure you properly clean the wound (that's what it is, after all) and salve it. I find some types of hand lotion help razor burns when I do it to myself. Dry burns hurt like the dickens!

Good luck and quick healing.

[MaggieTheCat]

Definitely complain. Show the owner the pictures you've got. The pimple outbreak makes me worry that the tools she used on you were not properly cleaned and cared for before she used them on you. Make sure to clean and disinfect it at least once a day for a couple of days and aloe vera gel helps with burning. Keep us updated!

[Darkforge]

I'll be honest with you, I've kept my hair short in the back before, and i did get the trimmers used with no guard on (it was a specific pair of trimmers designed fo only this purpose) for the back of the neck and just around the ears as a regular occurence (every 3 months or so for about 10 years)

That said, I never had a mark like that in my head thats hurt. It seems that they didn't use them properly and probably applied too much force, retraining is probably required at the least.

I can't really tell from the photo, but did it break the skin at all? if so you need to bring it up, purely from health and safety point of view - if there is a chance that you bled on the clippers then that is a health hazard.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Man. What it looks like is a bad razor burn. Maybe get a little Neosporin +Pain and rub it back there. That should calm it down a bit.

[draftermatt]

That's happened to me more times than I care to remember. I've never complained though, because I always feel like it could easily be a new stylist and if the stylist has Atilla the Manager and gets fired for my neck getting scraped (which I won't feel in a day or two), then that new stylist's career is off to a very bad start (or an end)

[LillFilly]

Update:

I spoke to the morning managers who gave me a round of 'OH GOD!' and exclaimed that that shouldn't have happened. A few had questions, but were answered by one of the managers who actually cuts my hair regularly and assured them this has never happened. They said my stylist definetly should have wet my hair, and at this point they tell me that the rash could be because she did not properly sanitize her clippers.

Yeah, I wanted to hear that REAL bad. I don't think it's any type of infection, because it happened so fast, and the skin is not broken.

They tell me come back when my stylist is in and we can all talk. They recommend I put lotion on it. So I go buy some aloe.

I come back and...nothing. The stylist looks at my neck and the photos and says matter-of-factly "Yeah, looks like you got a little irritation. Better put some cream on that."



No apology. No "gosh I'm sorry this happened." Nada.

There was not another word from ANY of the managers that I'd spoken to that morning other than agreeing that I should put lotion and perhaps an intiseptic on it. Even after I told them that I was very concerned since they had mentioned that the clippers might not have been properly sanitized. But they all sort of...wandered away and my words sort of trailed-off and I left.

Of course my 'wonderful' coworker boosted my spirits by telling me to think of how many people she might have clipped before me using that same razor and to just imagine what diseases I might have picked-up! Thanks Asswipe. Thanks.

[Amina516]

Id like to point out that A. Its uneven. That, by itself, would be basis for complaint.

I think its good that you brought it to their attention. They probably should not have said anything about it possibly being due to improper sanitation, thats just dumb on their part, to scare you like that. While it could be, Im betting it actually IS just an irritation, it happens all the time.

Lotion it up and watch it.

In the mean time..look for another stylist/salon...

[RedRoseSpiral]

I think it's time to start going to a new stylist in a new shop. Seems like management doesn't give a damn about what their stylist are doing. If I were you I'd document this all and go to a doctor if you're able to afford it to make sure it's nothing nasty. Don't want to sounds like the average sue happy American but if you do get some type of infection you'd have a great case against the place especially with the lack of care the managers have shown.

[ralerin]

Oooh, that makes me MAD. If stylist doesn't care and managers were polite and do not seem to care anymore, then I'm certain a well placed call to corporate (if a chain salon) or the local board of health (and to your doctor for skin samples/bacterial identification, etc) would do a lot better. Especially board of health.

[Sapphire Silk]

Update:

I spoke to the morning managers who gave me a round of 'OH GOD!' and exclaimed that that shouldn't have happened. A few had questions, but were answered by one of the managers who actually cuts my hair regularly and assured them this has never happened. They said my stylist definetly should have wet my hair, and at this point they tell me that the rash could be because she did not properly sanitize her clippers.

<snip>

I come back and...nothing. The stylist looks at my neck and the photos and says matter-of-factly "Yeah, looks like you got a little irritation. Better put some cream on that."



No apology. No "gosh I'm sorry this happened." Nada.

There was not another word from ANY of the managers that I'd spoken to that morning other than agreeing that I should put lotion and perhaps an intiseptic on it. Even after I told them that I was very concerned since they had mentioned that the clippers might not have been properly sanitized. But they all sort of...wandered away and my words sort of trailed-off and I left.
<snip>

Odds are it is simply skin irritation. If it gets worse, take more pictures. If you need medical attention, you can insist the salon cover it.

Is your salon part of a chain? If so, time to go higher up the food chain. To dismiss your compalint like that is inexcusable. Did you get a refund?

Oh, and I'd find a new hair stylist. Clearly the manager didn't care enough to say something to the stylist when she blew you off.

[Anakah]

I got my hair cut and the lady didn't even clean up her station before she had me go in and so I had my sandals on someone else's hair and the little cover they put on you was also covered in the previous person's hair. I was grossed out but stupid me didn't say anything.

But yeah if they hurt you that bad, that person needs more training. We stopped going to a place that did something similar to my boyfriend. Its hard to find a good place to get hair cut anymore. Anywayz, I hope everything turns out okay for you.

[PepperElf]

yes complain.

if it's still irritated complain.

it happened to my boyfriend when he was in the navy - some navy barber. only in his case they cut into the back on his neck and left a permanent scar, pretty big one too