Hair damage from perm not hairdresser's professional negligence

Court clears hairdresser of injury charge from perm

By Choi Ha-young

Hair damaged by a perm is not the result of the hairdresser’s professional negligence, a local court said Tuesday.

The Seoul Northern District court acquitted the hairdresser, Choi, 28, of professional negligence resulting in injury, saying hair damage is not an injury.

Choi was indicted last November for damaging a customer’s hair by allegedly applying excessive heat at a hair shop in Nowon, northeastern Seoul.

The customer surnamed Kwon, 26, said Choi burned her hair due to improper use of products and inadequate skill, causing broken hairs and split ends. Kwon claimed Choi failed to fulfill her duty to pay attention not to damage her customer’s hair.

She submitted pictures before and after the perm procedure, as well as a medical certificate to prove the damage.

Choi, however, claimed the customer refused her advice to have a special procedure to minimize hair damage. She also said Kwon’s hair was already damaged by repeated dyeing.

The court accepted Choi’s defense.

“There’s no evidence that Choi used improper products and skills. Rather, according to Choi, the temperature and time of the perm procedure was lower and shorter than usual,” the court said.

It said the damage may have resulted from repeated dyeing and perms.

“Hair damage doesn’t disturb the human body’s physiological function, so it does not constitute injury,” the court said. “Even though the customer underwent psychological problems including feeling intimidated in personal relationships, it is not the designer’s fault.”