0:00:02 > 0:00:06I'm Jessica-Jane Clement. When I'm not modelling or protecting you against getting scammed
0:00:06 > 0:00:10on The Real Hustle, you'll find me at the beauticians, trying out new treatments.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13But I've learnt from my own experience that it can be
0:00:13 > 0:00:15like the Wild West out there.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20In most parts of the country, you, me or anyone can open up a salon.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22You don't need qualifications to practise
0:00:22 > 0:00:26and I can tell you, there's some shocking work out there.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29A few years ago, I had some lip fillers and ended up with
0:00:29 > 0:00:33two small, hard lumps right in the middle of my lips. Attractive(!)
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Each week, we're going to be investigating
0:00:35 > 0:00:40various beauty disaster stories and try to discover what went wrong.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Tonight, a skin peel bought online turns ugly.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47I sort of looked down and just saw red, raw skin.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49SHE GASPS
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And one girl's dream hairdo becomes her worst nightmare.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Slowly, my face was ballooning up.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58If you don't get treatment within an hour, you can die.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01'I'm on the case to find those responsible.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Can I talk to you about the acid you're selling?
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Where are you getting this acid from, please?
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Are you making it yourself?
0:01:15 > 0:01:21Last year, we spent an incredible £420 million
0:01:21 > 0:01:23carrying out beauty treatments at home,
0:01:23 > 0:01:26but we're no longer satisfied with just dyeing our hair
0:01:26 > 0:01:28or painting our nails.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30We can now get our hands on products that only used to be
0:01:30 > 0:01:34in the hands of trained beauticians or medical professionals.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39And as Alisha Clarke found out, DIY beauty can turn into a disaster.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43# My body tells me no
0:01:43 > 0:01:47# But I won't quit, cos I want more... #
0:01:52 > 0:01:5723-year-old Alisha is from Tottenham in North London.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00Ever since she was a little girl, she has dreamed of a pop career.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I have a day job, I am an accountant, but I enjoy writing,
0:02:06 > 0:02:07I enjoy singing, playing piano,
0:02:07 > 0:02:12but if this hobby did turn into a career that did make me money, all the better for it.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Alisha has always been hell bent on looking her best.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Image is more important than musical talent.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20There's a lot of people
0:02:20 > 0:02:24out there in the charts right now that cannot sing, but look amazing.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27So, Alisha went on a quest for the body beautiful.
0:02:27 > 0:02:33I had a few small, almost unnoticeable marks on my legs
0:02:33 > 0:02:37that I wanted to get rid of. I just wanted my legs to look perfectly airbrushed.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Alisha believed the key to perfect pins lay in a chemical peel,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44a powerful acid which burns through skin.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's usually carried out by professionals,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49but Alisha decided to do it herself.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- She went online... - I actually Googled it.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00..and for just £12.99, thought she'd found a quick fix.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I couldn't believe how cheap it was.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06It says, "removes lesions or scarring, including stretch marks
0:03:06 > 0:03:08"and ice pick scars."
0:03:08 > 0:03:11I guess I took its word for it, really.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Alisha paid her money
0:03:13 > 0:03:16and set to work on her legs as soon as the product arrived.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19I literally just poured it onto the cotton pads
0:03:19 > 0:03:21and put it straight onto my legs.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27It burnt, but, erm, it's acid, so it's supposed to burn.
0:03:27 > 0:03:28Then it started changing colours
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and that's when I looked down and just saw red, raw skin
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and thought, "I've done something stupid."
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Alisha was left with 18 scars across her thighs.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Best pal Wande is one of the few people she showed her legs to.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46- When I saw it, I was just like... - SHE GASPS
0:03:46 > 0:03:49"Oh, my God! What have you done?"
0:03:49 > 0:03:53To see the extent of what she had done to herself was awful.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56It has affected her confidence, she can't wear skirts or shorts.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59'I'm conscious of the scars when I'm walking down the street
0:03:59 > 0:04:03'and my legs are always covered. I wear tights, but I tend to wear'
0:04:03 > 0:04:07two or three pairs of tights now because you can see the scarring through the tights.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09Will you get your legs back to normal?
0:04:09 > 0:04:13There is no cure, I feel like... I don't know what I'll do.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Oh, Alisha! Oh, don't get upset.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Skin peels are the nation's favourite chemical cosmetic treat.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25A professional job costs from £90 to £800,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28depending on which bit of your body it's for,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32but Alisha opted to buy one of the chemicals commonly used,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35trichloroacetic acid, or TCA.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It burns through the outer surface of your skin,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42removing up to seven layers, but it's dangerous stuff,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46and in the wrong hands can lead to a disaster.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53Nowhere is the unregulated world of beauty more uncertain
0:04:53 > 0:04:56than when you're shopping on the internet.
0:04:56 > 0:04:57I really feel for Alisha.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01I've bought all sorts of DIY beauty products to use at home.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06But the consequences for Alisha could mean that she's scarred for life.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09I'm really nervous, but hopefully she'll be able to help.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- I'm Jess, nice to meet you. How are you?- Fine, thanks.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20- I've got a room for us downstairs, do you want to come down? Bit more privacy.- OK.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27So, Alisha, it's nice to meet you, finally. What were you thinking?
0:05:27 > 0:05:31- I think I was after that whole perfection thing, because really... - Who were you looking at?
0:05:31 > 0:05:35I'm constantly seeing music videos and images of these models...
0:05:35 > 0:05:38All these girls are so airbrushed and that's what angers me -
0:05:38 > 0:05:40girls look at these girls and they aspire to be like that.
0:05:40 > 0:05:45I just feel so ridiculous now, cos I knew that at the time, I don't know what I was thinking.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Have you got any photos of what it looked like immediately after?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- Yeah.- You do? Can I have a look at those?
0:05:50 > 0:05:56- SHE GASPS - Oh, I don't know what to say!
0:05:56 > 0:05:58- Awful.- I would be distraught.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01- Exactly.- I'd be scared.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03I can't believe that. You're very self-conscious
0:06:03 > 0:06:09about showing them in public now, how would you feel about showing them to me now?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- Yeah, I suppose that'll be fine. - So what have we got?
0:06:12 > 0:06:16- Oh, Alisha!- There's a few round the back as well.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17These are in-growing hairs?
0:06:17 > 0:06:19There's tiny pin pricks...
0:06:19 > 0:06:22I can't believe this has done this to you.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Can you just talk me through exactly what you did, how you applied it?
0:06:26 > 0:06:31It came in, like, really simple packaging, with, I think it was two A4 sheets of instructions.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Literally opened the bottle, emptied it onto a cotton bud
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and applied it to the areas that I had a problem with on my legs.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41So all the dark marks or the in-grown hair, pin pricks and stuff.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45I remember it was really painful, they went really red and it didn't subside,
0:06:45 > 0:06:47that's when I got a bit worried.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49On this bottle, this product,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51what did it say that it could actually do?
0:06:51 > 0:06:55Was it for your legs? Was it for your face? What did it say?
0:06:55 > 0:06:56It promised to get rid of age spots,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00sun damage, acne scarring, stretch marks,
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- tattoos, warts...- Warts? - It said that it could remove warts as well.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08It sounds like a miracle cream. That's when it's too good to be true - it can get rid of anything!
0:07:08 > 0:07:12I really appreciate what I had before. I wish I could have it back.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15So, I think there's two things that need to be done now.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18We need to find out exactly what has happened to your legs
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and what the extent of the damage is.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22And investigate what is in that bottle?
0:07:22 > 0:07:25- Hopefully we'll be seeing you soon. - It was really nice meeting her,
0:07:25 > 0:07:28she's really lovely, I just hope that she can help, really.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32I want to find a fix for Alisha's legs and get to the bottom of why
0:07:32 > 0:07:36this product is so readily available to buy online.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41I'm angry because I think, what if I had a child
0:07:41 > 0:07:44who found this product and started putting it on their skin
0:07:44 > 0:07:47and started... You know, I want to meet the person
0:07:47 > 0:07:49and see what they have to say about it.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59Last year, hair dye addict Rachel Dowley had her own
0:07:59 > 0:08:03DIY beauty disaster when she had a horrific reaction
0:08:03 > 0:08:06to a product sold on every high street.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09The hospital said next time I dye my hair,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11I might go into anaphylactic shock,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14and if you don't get treatment within an hour, you can die.
0:08:16 > 0:08:2020-year-old Rachel has lived in Southend in Essex all her life.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25She's a natural blonde who spent years trying to be a brunette,
0:08:25 > 0:08:27using home dye kits.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I was 11 when I started dyeing my hair.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33My beauty role models are Megan Fox and Eva Longoria.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38I loved Katie Price's hair when it was black, but I don't like her!
0:08:38 > 0:08:41All the celebs Rachel loves have one thing in common,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- the colour of their barnet. - I love black hair.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47If you've got a certain colour hair, you can have certain styles,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51whereas I think certain styles don't suit certain colours.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55But six years ago, while on her holidays,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Rachel had an allergic reaction to a black henna tattoo.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Ever since, she's been allergic to most hair dyes as well.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07I've tried about 20 or 30 different hair dyes
0:09:07 > 0:09:11and about six wash-in, wash-out ones and every one, I'm allergic to.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15But one day, Rachel's mum thought she'd come up trumps.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It just looked like quite a natural-looking product
0:09:18 > 0:09:22and the name HerbaShine made me think maybe it was herbal.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26I was really, really excited when Mum brought it back.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29In her rush to get back to black,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Rachel cut short the pack-advised patch test.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36It said to leave on for 48 hours, the patch test,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40and I left it on for about 40 and then put it on my head
0:09:40 > 0:09:42because I got a bit excited.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46Within about ten minutes, my arms started to react
0:09:46 > 0:09:49where the patch test was, so I really quickly washed it
0:09:49 > 0:09:51out of my hair, but it was too late.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56Rachel's reaction spread to her face. Mum sent her straight to A&E.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Slowly, my face was ballooning up, you could actually see it.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Everyone kept saying, "Rachel, your face is getting bigger."
0:10:04 > 0:10:08I got there as quickly as I could, walked straight past her cubicle,
0:10:08 > 0:10:11because I didn't realise it was Rachel,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14because by this time, all her features had disappeared
0:10:14 > 0:10:17into the swelling and she didn't look like Rachel anymore.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21The hospital said it was most probably a chemical called PPD.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25The doctors said they had never seen a reaction as severe as mine.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30I was so shocked that something that could do that much damage
0:10:30 > 0:10:34was being sold, and I find it really weird how they can take hearts out of people
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and put it in someone else and it works, but they can't make
0:10:37 > 0:10:40a hair dye that stops me from looking like a balloon.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And Rachel isn't alone.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46PPD allergies have caused breathing difficulties,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48severe facial swelling and even death.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52It took two weeks for Rachel to recover,
0:10:52 > 0:10:55but astonishingly, she's still hell bent on being a brunette.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59As soon as my face went back to normal, I thought, "I'm going to dye my hair again."
0:10:59 > 0:11:04And my friends said, "Rachel, you really can't dye your hair, stop being an idiot."
0:11:04 > 0:11:07But I said, "At least I'd die with nice hair!"
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Next - I'm back on Alisha's case.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15Regulation of cosmetic products sold over the internet is woeful.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Alisha Clarke fears she's scarred her legs for life
0:11:18 > 0:11:21with a £12.99 acid peel she bought online.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23We've been doing some digging and according to
0:11:23 > 0:11:27Department of Health guidelines, the acid that Alisha bought
0:11:27 > 0:11:30should only be handled by medical professionals,
0:11:30 > 0:11:34but Alisha was able to buy this acid over the internet.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39'I want to find out more about the skin peel she bought,
0:11:39 > 0:11:44'so I've ordered the same product from the same supplier as Alisha.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:49"TCA instructions." There's a lot of stuff on here, but already, I'm a bit confused.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53'Alisha read these instructions and applied the acid neat.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56'Looking at this, I really can't tell
0:11:56 > 0:11:59'how much to dilute the acid by, if at all.'
0:11:59 > 0:12:03"For 50% solution, mix one part 100% TCA with one part bottled..."
0:12:03 > 0:12:07That's even wrong, because it's not even a 100% solution.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Shall I open it? You know what that looks like?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13That looks like a little hygiene pack that you get in a hotel.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16This is the actual product here, it look like a sweetie.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I'm sorry, that's just shocking. That looks like a little tester bottle
0:12:22 > 0:12:25that you get in a department store for perfume.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27I know from an organisation called the MHRA,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31that's the Medical Health Regulatory Authority,
0:12:31 > 0:12:35that anything that claims to fix a medical problem
0:12:35 > 0:12:38is a medical product, not a cosmetic product.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42In these instructions, it claims to get rid of genital warts,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46which is definitely a medical problem. If that's the case,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49this bottle should have been through strict controls
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and have a mark on it to prove it, called a CE mark.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54This looks more like it's been made at home.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57I want to find out if this stuff is actually legal.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00But first, I want to find Alisha some help.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05So I've arranged to take her to a top London clinic
0:13:05 > 0:13:08to see Dr Raina Zarb Adami.
0:13:10 > 0:13:15Raina is a leading practitioner in Botox, fillers and peels.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18A chemical peel is a very serious procedure
0:13:18 > 0:13:20and it's very worrying that members of the public
0:13:20 > 0:13:22are carrying this out at home.
0:13:22 > 0:13:29- Do you know, by any chance, what strength it was?- 50.- 50%?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- That's what I used on my legs. - That's industrial strength acid, practically.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36I would never, ever go higher than a 30% peel.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39I usually use 15-20% peels,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42my insurance will only cover me up to 30% peels.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44- You'd only go to 30%? - Absolutely.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46This is heavy duty stuff.
0:13:46 > 0:13:51'Raina wants to show Alisha the effect acid has on our skin.'
0:13:51 > 0:13:54And when we peel, we want to separate this layer.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56That's what 12.5% does.
0:13:56 > 0:14:0250%, I would hate to hazard a guess, but it's somewhere about here.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04This is where all the action occurs.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08This is where all the blood vessels, the nerves, the hair follicles -
0:14:08 > 0:14:11go any deeper than this and it's a full wound.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Did you just pour the acid neat?
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I done it straight with a cotton bud,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17just applied the acid to the cotton bud and rubbed it
0:14:17 > 0:14:19on the problem areas there.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21How long did you leave the acid on?
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Maybe 30 seconds, a minute, not too long.- OK.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26- And you just washed it off with water?- Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29If you had done this on your face,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32with 50%, you'd basically look like a burn victim.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37- Shall I have a look at these scars? - Yeah.- Do you want to jump up onto my couch?
0:14:37 > 0:14:41These ones. But those ones on my thighs were the stretch marks
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- that I was talking about.- Mmm.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45They're definitely burn scars.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49But one good point is that they're flat.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51When I run my hand over them, they're flat.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54What we're seeing here is actually
0:14:54 > 0:14:59excess pigmentation, because when I press it, it doesn't lighten.
0:14:59 > 0:15:04Will they go away completely? They won't, they won't.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07The options depend on the commitment you're willing to undertake
0:15:07 > 0:15:11and that obviously depends on how much this costs, probably.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14They really do bother me a lot.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16I feel like it's impeded on my lifestyle.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20I don't know, I'm trying to get into an industry as well
0:15:20 > 0:15:22where image is important, and it's really
0:15:22 > 0:15:25an infringement on my life, it's so inconvenient having them there.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29Oh, bless. No, of course, I completely understand.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Let me think on it and I'll get back to you.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36- How do you think that went? - I do want to get this sorted out
0:15:36 > 0:15:39to get it to the best that it possibly can be.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41It'd be great if she did say it was 100% fixable,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44but anything's better than what I've got now, really.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53Earlier, we met 20-year-old hair dye addict, Rachel Dowley.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57She's been warned she could die if she dyes her hair again.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Friends said, "Rachel, you really can't dye your hair,
0:16:00 > 0:16:04"stop being an idiot!" But I've said, "At least I'd die with nice hair!"
0:16:04 > 0:16:06So I think it's time for an intervention.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10I've arranged something for Rachel that should hopefully quench
0:16:10 > 0:16:13her desire for new hair colour and keep her out of A&E.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Hello. Nice to meet you - Toni, you Mum?
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- I am, yes.- Nice to meet you.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22- Rachel, hello. How are you? - Fine, thank you.- Good, good.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27So, Rachel, I've heard all about your story, and I can relate to you
0:16:27 > 0:16:31more than anybody, cos I've dyed my hair, I mean, as you can tell, so many times.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- Mum, what do you think?- I think she should leave it as it is,
0:16:34 > 0:16:37but I know she doesn't like it. I know she's not happy with it
0:16:37 > 0:16:39and I know she will try something again,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41but I just wish she would leave it as it is, really.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Do you know why I've dragged you out of bed?
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I hope it's something to do with my hair.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Shall we go and find out? Come on, follow me.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54My secret weapon is super-stylist to the stars, Jonathan Long.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59His clients include the Beckhams and Leona Lewis,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and now, Rachel Dowley.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Rachel's been running really big risks with her hair.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10It's something we're not too comfortable with. She needs to look after herself.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13So what we want to do is wean her off colouring her own hair
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and get her to actually love her own look.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20So, Rachel, I've heard about your history with colour from Jess.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23What don't you enjoy about your hair? What don't you like?
0:17:23 > 0:17:28It's got all different colours in, but they're not nice colours.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33For me, you're incredibly lucky, cos we can go many a different place with your hair colour.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35- I love your hair. - She wants your hair!
0:17:35 > 0:17:37I'm trying to do multi-coloured, look.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I think I've got some of yours in there now. I'd love that.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- See, I want the dark bit in your hair!- Do you?
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- If you actually did that, if you put your hair on...- Go on.
0:17:47 > 0:17:53You look quite pale. And even if you go fake tan or sunbed, you can't do that all the time.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56If you came in to me a normal, everyday client, I would say no.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58I think we can do a small amount
0:17:58 > 0:18:02of colour where we don't put it on your scalp, so you won't have these issues.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Sound good?- Thank you.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07And Rachel's got a surprise coming.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10We'll give her some highlights through the top of her hair
0:18:10 > 0:18:14just to break down her natural block colour on top.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Then we'll give her a fabulous haircut, really give it some shape
0:18:18 > 0:18:19and then a big blow-dry.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23She won't have a clue, because we've covered up the mirrors
0:18:23 > 0:18:25to prevent her getting a sneaky peak.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Whose hair have you cut, then?
0:18:27 > 0:18:31Westlife, Girls Aloud, Naomi Campbell...
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Not scaring you by how much hair's falling on the floor?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41I'm not scared, cos I know you've cut famous people's hair.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43So I know they wouldn't come back to you!
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- You wanted it pink, didn't you(?) - Don't scare me!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53After half a day of grooming,
0:18:53 > 0:18:58it's time to see if our hair dye horror loves her lighter look.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02- Do you want to give her a spin? - Shall we? Here we go, are you ready?- Yeah.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- Ta-dah!- Oh, my God! Oh, I love it.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11- Yeah?- You OK?
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- You promised me you weren't going to cry.- You OK, sweetheart?
0:19:14 > 0:19:16It just shows that you are really a blonde.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20- Gone are the dark, stay away from that.- A blonde bombshell.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Your eyes are popping... I think you just look stunning.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27I never thought I'd suit light hair, but I really like it.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30It's the first time I've had coloured hair
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- and my face hasn't been out here. - Aww!
0:19:38 > 0:19:40Mum, what do you think?
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- I love it. I really do like it. - This is the new, natural you, yeah?
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- You sticking to it?- Yeah.- Good. Happy?- Yeah.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Well, it's worked - Rachel looks incredible
0:19:49 > 0:19:53and most importantly, we've used a treatment that's safe. I think I can say
0:19:53 > 0:19:55that my work here is done.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01I'm making progress with my investigation
0:20:01 > 0:20:06into the acid Alisha Clarke bought online.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11'I want to take the supplier to task and find out what they've got to say about Alisha's scars.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15'But first, it's time to don a white coat for a spot of science.'
0:20:16 > 0:20:22I'm at the London Metropolitan University and behind me are the science labs.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25I've given them some of the acid and asked them to run some tests.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I think it's time to find out exactly what's in this bottle.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32'Dr Andrew Searle is the chief biochemist here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35'I've asked him to check if it is what it says on the bottle,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39'50% concentration TCA acid.'
0:20:42 > 0:20:46What do your results tell you?
0:20:46 > 0:20:48Well, if we look at the results here,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51we can see the concentration of TCA
0:20:51 > 0:20:55in that test solution is 62%.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57There's a margin of error there,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- so it's plus or minus 5%. - 62%?!- 62%.
0:21:00 > 0:21:05So it ranges from 59 up to possibly 65%.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08The supplier that we got it from said it was 50%.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10I'm genuinely shocked.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Raina can't even get insurance to use 30% TCA.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17If a dermatologist actually bought this off the internet
0:21:17 > 0:21:18and tried to use it
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and diluted it down to what they thought was 30%,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24they'd be wrong, it would be considerably more than that.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28'But the point is, a complete novice got her hands on it
0:21:28 > 0:21:33'and this is what 62% strength acid does on raw flesh -
0:21:33 > 0:21:35'well, a juicy steak.'
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Oh, wow! So, straight away, it's turning white.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Yeah, it's turning it white. What TCA does is it alters
0:21:42 > 0:21:47the normal, natural structure of proteins into an unnatural structure
0:21:47 > 0:21:50and then, what you've got now
0:21:50 > 0:21:53is a sort of artificial skin on top of the meat.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55It actually feels slightly stiff.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Alisha put this on her legs.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Well, I think at that strength, I'd be very surprised
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- if she didn't see some similar effect.- Wow!
0:22:05 > 0:22:09- It's a very dangerous thing to do. - It just looks like cooked beef.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Why do you think that the strength of the TCA was so different to what it claimed to be on the bottle?
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Well, in my opinion, this looks home-made,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and when these things are home-made,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23then they lose things like quality control. When you buy it
0:22:23 > 0:22:26from regulated suppliers, they have much greater accuracy.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29They would have accuracy to within a fraction of a percent.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I wasn't expecting that at all.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34To be told that it's being sold at a higher concentration
0:22:34 > 0:22:38than it's been advertised is just scary and it needs to be stopped.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42- Hi, Alisha, come in.- Hi.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Alisha's about to get big news too -
0:22:44 > 0:22:48the prognosis on her acid burn scars.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50I've had a think about things.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54There are various treatments, none of which, I think, are going to be
0:22:54 > 0:22:58a super miracle that's going to make your legs look like new.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02It's a combination of creams and a technique we call micro-needling.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06I don't think the scars are going to disappear completely,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10but I think we could be reasonably hopeful of a significant difference.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14I'm just really happy that you guys can help, thank you so much.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16That's what we like to hear!
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Can I give you a hug? I'm so... Thank you so much!
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Feeling comfortable? Are you happy for this?
0:23:26 > 0:23:30- Scratching. - It's just scratching.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Micro-needling uses hundreds of fine needles to stimulate skin growth.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39SHE MOUTHS
0:23:39 > 0:23:41It is painful, obviously -
0:23:41 > 0:23:47it's 200 needles, it's painful! But hopefully it will be worth it.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50But you know what they say - no pain, no gain.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53I'm relieved there's now some hope for Alisha.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58'But I want to make sure the supplier knows what their acid has done.'
0:23:58 > 0:24:02We wrote a letter to the seller who sold Alisha her acid,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06asking her to talk to us about the product.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08They did reply, but unfortunately,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11they've chosen not to respond to any of the allegations.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13I just don't think that's good enough,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16so I'm now on my way to the address that we found in the online ad.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I've been doing some research.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21She actually comes up as being registered
0:24:21 > 0:24:24on an online networking site for witches,
0:24:24 > 0:24:26and it also says that she dislikes meat,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29so she probably won't like our acid test very much.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33'I'm closing in on our acid supplier.'
0:24:33 > 0:24:35Today, I want to find out
0:24:35 > 0:24:38why the acid is so much stronger than what it says on the label,
0:24:38 > 0:24:40how and where the acid is made,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44and also, I want to find out how they feel about the fact
0:24:44 > 0:24:47that a young girl significantly scarred her legs
0:24:47 > 0:24:49after using the acid that they sent her.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51So the address is just round the corner,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55it's a normal-looking house in a residential area.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59My best chance of getting answers is to spot them before they spot me.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02We've got this camper van that we're all going to be waiting in,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05me and the crew, so fingers crossed, it's all going to go down well.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I don't really know what to expect.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16She might end up wanting to talk to me
0:25:16 > 0:25:19and giving her side of the story - if she's smart, she will.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22If not, I'm just going to have to get as many questions out
0:25:22 > 0:25:25as I possibly can and hope that she responds.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30'We've parked outside the business address
0:25:30 > 0:25:32'and within minutes, I've spotted the seller.'
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Shall I go?
0:25:34 > 0:25:37I'm Jess, from the BBC. Can I talk to you about the acid
0:25:37 > 0:25:40you're selling on the internet, please?
0:25:40 > 0:25:43It's a significantly higher strength than what you say it is.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47I've got some photographs to show you of a young girl
0:25:47 > 0:25:51who's used your acid and she's ended up severely scarring her legs.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53How do you feel about that?
0:25:55 > 0:25:56She's not coming out.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Hello?
0:25:59 > 0:26:03Excuse me, I'd just like a few minutes of your time, please,
0:26:03 > 0:26:04just to talk about the acid.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08I just want to know if you know the acid you're selling isn't 50%.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12Where are you getting this acid from, please?
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Are you making it yourself?
0:26:14 > 0:26:18'Sadly, it doesn't look like she's coming out.'
0:26:18 > 0:26:21So I still haven't got the answers to my questions,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24but there's one thing that I've definitely learnt -
0:26:24 > 0:26:26there are some beauty treatments out there
0:26:26 > 0:26:29that should be left to the people who know what they're doing.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Because when you buy online,
0:26:31 > 0:26:33you can't always be sure what you're getting.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35After three sessions with Dr Raina,
0:26:35 > 0:26:40Alisha's scars are already showing an improvement.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46We contacted the MHRA to see
0:26:46 > 0:26:49if they could do anything about the online acid.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52They say they've investigated the matter..
0:26:57 > 0:27:03But we've had a result. Since our investigation, the site selling the acid has closed down.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08And we contacted Garnier about their HerbaShine hair dye.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10They say...
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Hold it together like that, straight in.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Oh, my God, what have I done?
0:27:31 > 0:27:35He'd got holes in his lips along the top here, dripping with blood.
0:27:35 > 0:27:36- So you've got your camera?- Yeah.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41That was absolutely unbelievable.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42It's disgraceful.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44It was weeping and bleeding.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46I'm scarred for life, basically.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:05 > 0:28:08E-mail: subtitling@bbc.co.uk