Oxnard : Woman Sues Salon Over Scalp Injury

An Oxnard woman has sued J. C. Penney Co. and Helene Curtis Industries, alleging that a permanent she received at a department store beauty salon caused scalp burns and irreversible hair loss.

In the suit, filed Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court, Debbie Charbonneau said the injuries occurred Sept. 12, 1991, when she went to the Penney’s salon in Ventura for a permanent.

Charbonneau’s attorney, E. P. (Mike) Karcis, said his client told the hairstylist that she had sensitive skin. In spite of the warning, the stylist failed to test the hair chemicals on a small area before applying them to Charbonneau’s scalp, Karcis said. The hairdresser also did not wrap cotton around Charbonneau’s neck to prevent the chemicals from irritating the skin there, the attorney said.

Karcis described Charbonneau as a businesswoman in her 30s whose hair had been her most striking feature. Now, he said, “she has permanent scarring and complete loss of hair on portions of her head.” She can no longer apply hair coloring and can use only mild shampoos, the attorney said.

A J. C. Penney Co. representative did not return a phone call seeking comment. No one at Helene Curtis headquarters in Chicago could be reached for comment.

Charbonneau filed the suit after J. C. Penney ignored her request to pay medical bills, Karcis said. He declined to say how much money she is seeking in the suit.

“Nothing they can do can make her better physically,” Karcis said. Superior Court suits must seek at least $25,000 in damages.

The case has been assigned to Judge Richard D. Aldrich.