Complain about a hairdresser – unsuccessful haircut, hair dyeing and price reduction | Word/PDF/Excel

Dissatisfied with the cut or color after a visit to the hairdresser? This document package helps you as a consumer write a factual complaint, document what was actually agreed, request the opportunity for appropriate correction, and, if necessary, make a specific claim for a price reduction. The package consists of five different Swedish templates, two guides, and an Excel-based case register with nine tabs.

Quick answer: Photograph the result, save your booking confirmation, and document the hairstyle, color, or treatment you agreed upon with the salon. Complain in writing as soon as possible. Simply not liking the result does not automatically mean the treatment was incorrect. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency's hairdressing guide, the agreed result and professional execution are central considerations.

What Can You Complain About to a Hairdresser?

Example 1 – unsuccessful cut: You ordered a minor trim but received significantly shorter hair than agreed. Use document 01 if you can explain and substantiate the difference. A cut that is too short cannot always be corrected immediately.

Example 2 – unsuccessful coloring: You and the hairdresser agreed on a shade or method, but the result was documented differently. Document 02 helps you request an investigation and assessment of a possible correction. In case of suspected hair or skin damage, any potential need for medical care should be handled separately.

Example 3 – the salon offers correction: Use document 03 to request a clear plan for who will perform a possible correction, what it entails, and whether it is appropriate. A person should not be pressured into an additional treatment that could worsen the damage.

Example 4 – the salon charges extra: If the booking had an agreed price and the salon charged a surcharge you did not accept, document 04 can be used to obtain price documentation and dispute a specific incorrect charge. Document 05 is used for a later and specified refund claim.

Complete File List

Excel – Nine Tabs to Keep the Case Organized

START · Treatments · Agreements · Deviations · Evidence · Complaints · Costs · Overview · READ ME. The workbook uses clear case IDs, date fields, and separate amount columns. In the complaints tab, you can track calendar days between an actual complaint and an actual response, but the result is not a legally mandated response time.

You can record the requested refund, other requested additional costs, amounts the salon has actually approved, and what has actually been paid out. Example: 170 + 55 = 225 SEK registered claim. If the salon has approved 110 SEK and paid 50 SEK, Excel shows 60 SEK as an arithmetic difference – not as a proven debt from the template. All customer registers are delivered without sample data and without macros.

Important Legal Difference: The Consumer Services Act Does Not Apply Directly

For treatments of persons such as cutting and hair coloring, it is **incorrect** to claim that the Consumer Services Act automatically applies in the same way as for craftsmanship and work on movable property. The Swedish Consumer Agency expressly states that hairdressing is an exception to the law's direct scope. We have therefore not created any template claiming that the law's three-year complaint period automatically covers hairdressing services.

The complaint should instead describe what the customer and the salon agreed upon, how the treatment was performed, and why it is alleged to deviate from professional execution. The Swedish Consumer Agency states that the salon is normally given the opportunity to correct an actual error, but also that a price reduction or refund may be relevant if correction is not possible or appropriate. The assessment is individual, and the letter does not guarantee any compensation. Read the Swedish Consumer Agency's guide.

How to Use the Documents in Six Steps

1. Collect the booking, receipt, price list, any reference image, and messages regarding the cut or coloring you agreed upon.
2. Document what actually happened with clear and dated images. Separate observations from assumptions about the cause.
3. Choose the template that corresponds to the situation, fill in the information in brackets, and remove any claims that cannot be substantiated.
4. Send the complaint in writing to the salon as soon as possible, request a written response, and save a copy.
5. If an appropriate and safe correction is offered, document the proposal and the result. In case of risk of further damage, clarify the objections in writing.
6. If the dispute remains, specify your claim and check whether the Swedish Consumer Complaints Board (ARN) can review the case. Save the contact log, photo compilation, and cost details in Excel.

ARN and Disputes over Hairdressing Treatments

According to ARN's current dispute areas, hairdressing services normally fall under the General category with 750 SEK as the normal value threshold. A complaint should normally have reached ARN within one year from when the customer first complained to the company. According to ARN's consumer information, the application fee is 150 SEK. Always check the current threshold, whether the case can be reviewed at all, and what requirements apply for the company to have first been given the opportunity to address the complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions about Complaining about a Hairdresser

Can I Demand a Refund for an Unsuccessful Cut?

This may be possible in the event of an actual breach of contract or incorrectly performed work, especially if the result cannot be corrected. You do not automatically get a refund simply because you regret the hairstyle choice.

Can the Hairdresser Try to Correct an Incorrect Hair Coloring?

Usually, the salon should be given the opportunity to assess and propose an appropriate correction. But you do not necessarily have to accept a new treatment that risks worsening the damage. Document why a proposal may not be appropriate.

Does the Consumer Services Act's Three-Year Right of Complaint Apply to Hairdressers?

No, not as a directly applicable legal rule. The Swedish Consumer Agency states that hairdressing services are treatments of persons and therefore fall outside the direct scope of the Consumer Services Act. Contact the salon promptly.

What Happens if the Hairdresser Charges More Than the Agreed Price?

Save the confirmed price information, receipt, and all information about any surcharges. You can object to a specific deviation and ask the salon to explain what change you were supposed to have approved.

How Do I Prove that a Hairstyle or Color is Incorrect?

Booking confirmation, messages, reference images, and dated photos before and after the treatment may be relevant. Clearly describe the deviation from the agreement or why the treatment was not performed professionally.

Can I Demand Compensation for Another Salon Correcting the Error?

In certain circumstances, substantiated additional costs may be relevant, especially if you have reasonable grounds not to return. Notify the original salon, document the reasons, and preserve actual cost documentation.

Can ARN Review a Hairdressing Dispute Involving Less Than 750 Kronor?

Normally, at least 750 SEK is required within the General category, but ARN has special exceptions. Check the authority's rules before applying.

Are the Swedish Complaint Letters Translated into English?

No. Five templates and one guide are in Swedish. The separate English User Guide explains how the Swedish letters are used, but does not contain English versions of the complaints themselves.

Related Products – Choose the Right Type of Template

If you run a hair salon and want to calculate treatment prices and margins, Hairdressing Calculations and Salon Pricing is a separate tool for businesses. If your consumer dispute is not resolved, ARN Application – Consumer Dispute and Evidence may be a later addition; always follow ARN's official e-service and your own requirements.

Official Sources and Document Status

Swedish Consumer Agency: Dissatisfied with Hairdresser · Swedish Consumer Agency: When the Consumer Services Act Applies and Does Not Apply · Swedish Consumer Complaints Board: Dispute Areas · Swedish Consumer Complaints Board: For Consumers.

Version 1.0 · AI-assisted legal source review dated 2026-11-07 · Jurisdiction: Sweden. No external independent legal review or government certification. The documents do not imply any promises of refund, medical outcome, or right to compensation. The digital ZIP file is linked separately after possible publication.