Suing salon after hair dye disaster

5:20am Wednesday 4th April 2007

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A DINNER lady is suing after she was so disfigured by a salon's hair dye her autistic son did not recognise her.

Jessica Plummer's face was left swollen and she had burns to her scalp and behind her ears after her hair tint at Simply Hair turned into a disaster.

The 35-year-old was pleased with her newly blonde hair when she left the salon in The Walnuts, High Street, Orpington.

But the next morning she went to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, because she felt her head tingling and her husband said her scalp was red.

She was given antihistamines and a medicated shampoo to try to stop the burning sensation.

And she has also been given steroids by her doctor to reduce the swelling in her face.

Her six-year-old son Liam did not recognise her for two days after her appointment on March 24.

Mrs Plummer, who works at Grays Farm Primary School, Grays Farm Road, St Paul's Cray, said: "It was only when I broke down in tears that he recognised me.

"Before then, he saw a stranger in the house and he was worried about it."

Mrs Plummer has spoken to a solicitor, who is going to take on her case against the hairdresser.

She added: "I'm suing for the peroxide allergic reaction.

"I would be quite happy with any amount to compensate for the trouble it has caused me and my family."

The resident of Petersham Drive, St Mary Cray, added: "I'm very upset.

"I wish they had given me a strand test, which they should have done to see if I was allergic."

She said: "I think people should demand an allergy test."

Mrs Plummer says she will never go back to Simply Hair.

Its owner Denise Ebsworth said: "I've never come across anything like this with a semi-permanent colour. She's had colours on it and there's never been a problem before.

"She's had a reaction and we've given her a refund. As far as I'm concerned we've done all we can."

She added: "We totally understand how she feels and if she wants to go down the compensation route, we will let our insurance company know about it."