Rinse — and wince?
Having your hair shampooed and your scalp massaged is a key — and typically relaxing — part of any salon appointment. The amount of time spent at the special sink usually depends on the extent of the cleansing and conditioning treatment.
The problem is that tilting your head back in a salon basin for too long can compress or tear the vertebral arteries that supply blood to the brain, potentially leading to a life-changing stroke.
It’s a common enough phenomenon that it has earned a colloquial name — “beauty parlor stroke syndrome” (BPSS).
A recent review of medical literature — published in May in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine — identified 54 cases of BPSS over 48 years. Forty-two originated at salons, while dental procedures resulted in eight cases. Other settings were responsible for the remaining four incidents.
“Within the panorama of neurological urgencies, (BPSS) stands out not only for its unique etiology but also for the commonplace nature of its trigger — neck hyperextension during salon hair washes,” the researchers wrote.
A tear in the vertebral arteries, which run along the back of the neck, or the carotid arteries, on the sides of the neck, can turn into a stroke when blood entering the injured wall forms a clot that travels to the brain.
That’s what Elizabeth Smith said happened to her in 2014, two weeks after getting her hair done at a California blow-dry bar.
“I go to sleep wondering, will I wake up tomorrow?” Smith told reporters after suing the salon.
She said the hyperextension of her neck at the shampoo bowl “cut” her vertebral artery.
The cervical artery dissection triggered an “unsteady gait,” the “loss of motor skills” in her left hand and impairment in her left eye, according to her lawsuit.
BPSS symptoms vary based on the extent of the vascular damage, but can include:
- Sudden paralysis or weakness on one side of the body, especially the face, arm or leg
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Loss of balance and trouble walking
- Blurred or double vision in one or both eyes
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing, chewing or swallowing
- Slurred speech
In the medical review, the researchers reported that the most common BPSS symptoms were dizziness, balance problems and headache.
Treatments included drugs to address the blood clots, stent placement to restore blood flow in the blocked artery and surgery.
“Outcomes ranged from full recovery to persistent symptoms and death,” the researchers wrote. “Follow-up data was sparse.”
BPSS was initially described in four patients in 1974 — the term was coined nearly two decades later, in 1993, by a New York neurologist reporting on five cases.
The risk of BPSS doesn’t mean you have to cut out or cut back on salon visits.
“When going to the salon, the neck needs to be supported so as not to require significant extension backward,” triple-board-certified New York neurologist Dr. Jeremy M. Liff told The Post. “Alternatively, have the hair washed or rinsed in an upright position.”
A rolled towel or a cushion placed under the neck can provide support as you tilt your head back. Your stylist could also use a handheld sprayer on your hair as you sit upright.
Be sure to speak up immediately if there’s any discomfort.
