Complaints about hair salons up 11 per cent: Consumer Council

Complaints against hair salons are on the rise, with 11 per cent more filed to the Consumer Council this year compared to last year.

The council says customers should keep a sharp eye on the fine print.

One man ended up in hospital with a bloody ear, snipped by a pair of scissors, the council said.

In another case, a woman was persuaded to pay HK$400 over and above her initial package, which she had bought for HK$148 on a group-purchase website.

People should pay attention to the small print when making a transaction, council vice-chairman Philip Leung Kwong-hon warned.

"Consumers have to ask if any surcharges will be levied on their designated hairdresser or the length and type of their hair," Leung said yesterday. "Sometimes, the terms are not listed clearly in the [group] packages."

He also advised customers request a receipt, to help their case if they did lodge a complaint.