The hair-do from hell

She had hoped to look like Beyonce Knowles.

But what should have been a relaxing trip to the hairdresser turned into a nightmare for 22-year-old Ebony Glanville.

The student suffered what appeared to be an allergic reaction to hair dye used during her trip to the salon. Her scalp, face and eyes swelled severely within a few hours of the treatment.

Today, almost two weeks later, Ms Glanville is still taking steroid medication. She now plans to sue the salon she claims is responsible.

She said: "I left the salon at 8pm on the Friday and the next day my scalp started itching and I saw blood and dye on my headscarf.

"I went to hospital and they gave me some tablets, but when I woke up on Monday the top of my head was three times bigger than normal and my eyes were swollen as well.

"I looked like Frankenstein's monster. I could hardly see anything and I was really scared because I truthfully thought I was going to stay like that. I thought I was going to go blind.

"I wanted to look like Beyonce not ET." She added: "My mum calls me the Elephant Man. I have hardly spoken to anyone because I could see from the corner of my eye that people were giving me funny looks."

Miss Glanville paid £140 to have her hair dyed and micro-weave hair extensions added at Doreen Hair Fashions in Finsbury Park. She added a ?5 tip.

The owner of the salon is out of the country but a member of staff claimed Miss Glanville must have been allergic to the black dye used.

Miss Glanville, who lives in Stonebridge and is studying counselling, said she was still feeling the after-effects. "I am on crutches because I get weak. The dye is still in my system. My eyes are jet black. It looks like someone's punched me in the eye.

"When you go to a salon you put your trust in them. I have spoken to a solicitor and they are going to try to sort it out. I want an apology and compensation."

A spokesman for Accidents Direct, the compensation claims company contacted by Miss Glanville, said: "She definitely has a case."

The Doreen salon website says: "We do our upmost (sic) best to make you feel beautiful ... all of our customers leave with beautiful hair and most of all, a smile on their faces."