By Helen Wagstaff

A Headcorn hairdresser who almost had to quit her dream career after developing severe allergic reactions to hair products is opening Kent’s only organic salon.

Lisa Waters, 21, of Chaplin Drive, Headcorn, started as a Saturday girl in a hair salon when she was just 14.

She decided to train full-time but one day noticed her hands were a bit sore. The rash gradually spread up Lisa’s arms and eventually all over her body.

She said: “The doctor prescribed various creams but nothing seemed to work. In the end the skin on my fingers was literally falling off. I was in so much pain.”

Lisa was diagnosed severe contact dermatitis and signed off work. Tests revealed she was allergic to chemicals in shampoo and hair dyes.

Her dermatologist told her to give up her career but determined Lisa waited six months for her skin to heal before returning to work, wearing protective gloves and a jacket with waterproof sleeves.

For a while everything was fine but then Lisa started coughing and wheezing.

One day she started coughing uncontrollably and could not breathe.

She said: “I went to hospital and was told that I had become highly allergic to something in the salon. I was told by the doctor never to step in a hairdressing salon again.

“My dreams had been shattered.”

Lisa researched skin problems and discovered she was not the only person suffering. She realised organic products could be the answer.

On June 3, she is opening her own salon Hair by Lou, in Rye Road, Hawkhurst, the only organic salon in Kent and Sussex.