I Have Hyperpigmentation On My Face.

Is it right to just let this salon worker slide after she burnt my face?

• I go to this salon regularly because it's where my mom goes. There's usually one lady working there. When I went there the last time, she was took another client because that client was in a rush and stuck the new woman on me, because, you know, waxing someone's face is an easy first task. But this woman put scolding hot wax on my face! It really burned me. I flinched and yelled in pain. And she was just like oops. And the other woman turns around and just says "don't press too hard when you put the cloth over it" THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL SHE SAID! AFTER THIS WOMAN BURNED MY FACE. So the next time she goes to put wax on me she blows on it first to cool it down. I was so preoccupied with the first burn she gave me that I didn't even feel how hot it probably STILL was the second time around. Anyway, as I told them, I have hyperpigmentation. So when I get a burn, it leaves a brown mark for a very long time. Now it is my opinion that they should not have been burning me in the first place. I even told them and showed them other marks I had because of my hyperpigmentation. They assured me that no mark would happen and that all I had to do was put cucumber water on it and everything would be fine. At the time, my face was just a little red above my lip. So I figured, hey, maybe the redness will just go away. NOPE. The redness stayed the entire day. It disappeared the next day. But today, those spots have turned into rough, wrinkly patches... just like how my waxing burns in the past have been (when I so boldly tried to do it myself as a child.) From my history with waxing burns, it seems like this rough skin will just peel, and underneath will be the ugly brown hyperpigmentation spot I was speaking of. Like I said, I don't think she should've burned me in the first place. My parents say that I should just not go there next time. But I don't want to let that lady go so easily. I think her cosmetology license is fake because I honestly believe she had NO clue what she was doing and that this was her first time waxing ANYONE. AND she BURNED my face! I'm not her ******* test dummy experiment at beauty school, MY GOD. I thought I was stepping into a salon! What should I do about this and what can I do about this? If anyone has worked at a salon before or gone through a similar experience, please let me know what you did/would do...

• Answer:

  I would speak to the owner and tell him/her about your experience. It sounds like part of your bad experience was the way it was handled and I would express that as well. All of my clients must sign a consent form listing the potential issues with waxing so they are informed of some of the risks. I agree that this should not have happened to you, but if it does there are better ways for the professionals to handle it, starting by admitting they made a mistake. You can look up a professional license on your state's licensing website, but if the owner is smart you should get that service for free plus a discount on the next one. If the owner doesn't put you at ease or treats you poorly you can always go on YELP or other review websites to tell others your experience. Good luck.