‘Beauty parlour stroke syndrome’ is the terrifying risk of going to the hairdresser's you’ve never heard of

Until now, the scariest to think about at the hairdresser's is ending up with wonky layers or the haircut from hell.

Expectation versus reality has led to many a tear shed in the salon, but there's a much more terrifying (but fortunately rare) event that can happen besides a scissor-happy trim.

Getting your hair washed and shampooed at the hairdresser's is often a time of relaxation and a moment for yourself in a busy schedule.

However, it turns out it could go horribly wrong and have a devastating impact on your health.

The danger comes from tilting your head back at an angle in the sinks they have at the salon, as it can cause terrifying amounts of damage.

Maybe something to think about the next time you consider having a lengthy beauty treatment added or a mask, which will make you spend much longer at the sink.

The risk is fortunately rare, but still needs to be considered (Getty Stock Images)

'Beauty parlour stroke syndrome' happens when tilting your head back at that strange angle can compress or even cause tears in the vertebral arteries.

These arteries supply blood to the brain, and any compression or damage could lead to a life-changing - or even fatal - stroke.

The term was first coined by a researcher back in the 1990s.

Fortunately, it doesn't happen all that often.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine published research earlier this year which looked into 54 cases of beauty parlour stroke syndrome over the last 48 years.

Of those, 42 started at the salon, while eight cases were triggered by a trip to the dentist's chair.

The other four started in other settings.

The act of extending the neck backwards into the sink can damage arteries (Getty Stock)

Researchers wrote: “Within the panorama of neurological urgencies, (BPSS) stands out not only for its unique aetiology but also for the commonplace nature of its trigger — neck hyperextension during salon hair washes."

They found that torn arteries can evolve into a stroke when the blood forms a clot which can travel to the brain.

One woman experienced this in 2014, after visiting a salon in California.

“I go to sleep wondering, will I wake up tomorrow?” Elizabeth Smith told ABC 10 News San Diego.

"I vomited, my head became hot and I couldn't stand. I had weakness in my arms and legs. They didn't think I was going to live," she recalled.

She said it was relaxing with her neck back at the basin which 'cut' her artery, leading to 'unsteady gait,' the 'loss of motor skills' in her left hand and damaged her left eye.

Symptoms can include dizziness, vertigo, paralysis on one side of the body, blurred or double vision, difficulty in walking, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting.

A rolled towel under the neck or extra support can reduce the risk.