Hairdresser to launch legal action after hospital visit allegedly revealed formaldehyde exposure that has left her unable to work

Louisa Curtis, 55, from Milton Keynes, is now warning hairdressers and clients about the potential dangers of exposure to formaldehyde-releasing products used in some Brazilian blow dry treatments, after alleging years of prolonged workplace exposure to toxic fumes left her with a catalogue of debilitating symptoms and life-changing health problems that has ultimately forced her to stop working.

Louisa, a hairdresser with more than 40 years' experience, says others in the industry should seek medical advice if they are experiencing similar unexplained symptoms after carrying out Brazilian blow dry treatments.

Louisa regularly carried out keratin smoothing treatments from 2008 onwards, spending hours blow-drying and straightening clients' hair. While some products are marketed as formaldehyde-free, certain treatments can release formaldehyde gas when heated.

Louisa alleges that not long after she began regularly carrying out the treatments, she started suffering a growing list of symptoms including headaches, breathing difficulties, chest pain, chronic fatigue, skin rashes, bone growths on her head, swollen joints, joint pain, memory problems, eye irritation and severe mobility issues. Despite years of undergoing numerous medical investigations, she says nobody could explain why her health was deteriorating. In 2018, she was diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease, but many of her symptoms persisted and she still had no clear explanation for the overall decline in her health.

The breakthrough came, she alleges, in March 2026 when she suffered an acute reaction while carrying out a hair-smoothing treatment. Louisa says she experienced an immediate burning sensation in her mouth, throat and airways before later attending hospital with severe breathing difficulties. After presenting healthcare staff with the product involved, she alleges she was informed it released formaldehyde when heated and that she had suffered burns to her respiratory system caused by exposure to the gas. Her GP has since linked her long-term health problems to prolonged chemical exposure.

Louisa said: “When I used what I believed was the same smoothing treatment as usual in March this year, I immediately felt my throat and airways burning. By the time I got home I was struggling to breathe and ended up in hospital.

"When I went back to my GP after the hospital confirmed it was formaldehyde burning, she told me that at least we finally knew what was wrong with me.

"After that, everything seemed to fall into place, finally started to make sense and I began to understand that many of the health problems I'd experienced over the years could potentially be linked to the products I had been working with."

Louisa says the discovery finally provided an explanation for years of unexplained illness.

She said: “I have been a hairdresser for 41 years, but my life has now been completely ruined. My health is in an unbelievable state. I live with constant pain; I struggle with mobility and can barely walk up the stairs. My family have had to help me with everyday tasks and I can't work anymore."

She added: "Looking back, I started getting symptoms that affected every part of my life not long after I began carrying out these treatments. I spent years leaning over customers' heads breathing in these fumes for three to four hours, stuffing myself with hayfever tablets as I thought that would stop my eyes streaming. I just tried to get on with work because I needed to earn a living.

"I kept going back and forth to doctors, but nobody could explain why I was becoming so unwell. At the time I didn't know there could be any connection between my work and my ever-growing list of symptoms."

Brazilian keratin smoothing treatments are widely used to reduce frizz and straighten hair. Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen and health agencies have previously warned that exposure can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory symptoms, skin reactions and other adverse health effects. While some products are marketed as formaldehyde-free, certain formulations can release formaldehyde gas when heated.

Louisa who is now set to take legal action and is represented by Slater and Gordon, which is investigating allegations that long-term occupational exposure to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances caused or contributed to Louisa's health conditions. The allegations have not been determined by a court, no liability has been admitted and the claim remains ongoing.

Simon Mathews, Senior Associate Solicitor in our Industrial Disease Team, said: “Louisa has suffered a devastating, life-altering range of symptoms and we are investigating allegations that prolonged exposure to formaldehyde-releasing products used during hair-smoothing treatments caused or contributed to her illnesses.

“This case also raises wider concerns about awareness of the potential risks associated with repeated exposure to formaldehyde within the hair and beauty industry. Importantly, Many people associate formaldehyde exposure with irritation of the eyes, nose and throat but they can extend far beyond these. Workers may experience respiratory problems, skin reactions, headaches, fatigue and a wide range of other health issues, in addition to those allegedly suffered by Louisa.

"Hairdressers should not ignore persistent symptoms, particularly if they regularly work with heated smoothing products or frequently notice a strong chemical smell during treatments. Anyone who believes they may have been exposed to formaldehyde should seek medical advice. Depending on the circumstances, they may also have grounds to pursue a compensation claim.

"This case raises important questions about awareness of potential workplace exposure risks within the hair and beauty industry and whether adequate protections are being put in place for workers carrying out these treatments on a regular basis. We hope Louisa's story encourages greater awareness across the industry and helps workers recognise the potential signs of exposure much sooner."

Louisa says she has chosen to speak publicly in the hope sharing her story will help and encourage other hairdressers experiencing unexplained health problems to consider whether workplace exposures may be a factor.

She said: “I am taking this action because I want justice, I want answers and I want accountability. More than that, I want to warn other hairdressers and clients to be aware of the potential risks and to make sure they understand and ask questions about exactly what products they are working with and what protections should be in place. People out there may be suffering from misdiagnosed symptoms right now, and they need to know the dangers of these heated chemical treatments.

"I don't want anyone else to go through what I have been through, so if sharing my story stops that, then something positive can come from it.”