Accessibility Statement

Hair Island — Accessibility Statement

Working to make hairisland.co.uk usable for everyone

We want every customer to be able to browse our nano ring and clip-in extensions, find the right shade, and check out with confidence — regardless of disability, impairment, or the technology they use to access the web. This statement explains the standard we aim for, what we've already built, where we still have work to do, and how to reach us if something isn't working for you.

Targeting WCAG 2.2 Level AA Equality Act 2010 & UK GDS guidance Alternative ways to browse & order
Last updated & effective: 6 September 2026
0.2WCAG conformance level targeted (AA)
0Hours target reply to access requests
0Alternative ways to reach us
0% of product images given alt text
Our commitment

Accessibility is an ongoing standard, not a one-off project

Hair Island is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability. We're actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of hairisland.co.uk, and in doing so adhere as closely as possible to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level AA — the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility, and the benchmark referenced in UK accessibility law and guidance.

Why this matters to us

Choosing hair extensions is a personal decision, and we don't want the way our website is built to get in the way of that decision for anyone — whether you use a screen reader, navigate by keyboard, rely on voice control, or simply need larger text or higher contrast to read comfortably.

Where this statement fits

This statement covers the main hairisland.co.uk storefront, including our product pages, collection pages, Colour-Match service, and checkout. It's reviewed and updated regularly as we make improvements, and whenever we're made aware of a new barrier.

What's already in place

Accessibility features built into hairisland.co.uk today

Descriptive image alt textProduct photos, colour swatches and shade charts for our nano ring and clip-in ranges carry descriptive alt text for screen reader users.
Keyboard navigationMenus, product filters, colour and length selectors, and the checkout flow can all be operated using a keyboard alone.
Resizable text & responsive layoutText can be resized up to 200% using your browser's zoom controls without loss of content or function, and the site adapts to phones, tablets and desktops.
Clear, consistent navigationThe same header, footer and menu structure appear across every page, including our Nano Extensions, Clip-In Extensions and Accessories & After Care collections.
Colour contrast checked on key pagesText and background colour combinations across our policy pages and product pages are checked against WCAG AA contrast ratios.
Reduced motion respectedIf your device is set to reduce motion, animated elements on our site — including on this page — are automatically minimised or removed.
Labelled formsNewsletter sign-up, contact and checkout forms use clear, programmatically associated labels rather than placeholder text alone.
Human alternative to self-service colour matchingOur Colour-Match service and Salon Finder let you get a professional recommendation if browsing swatches yourself isn't practical.
Being honest about gaps

Known limitations we're actively working on

We'd rather tell you where we fall short than claim a perfection we haven't reached. Here's what we know still needs improvement, and roughly where things stand.

Some third-party embedded contentCertain review widgets and payment provider pop-ups are supplied by third parties and may not fully meet our accessibility standard.
Reviewing
Older blog and shade-guide imagesA small number of older blog posts and shade illustrations are being updated with improved alt text and captions.
In progress
Video content on some product pagesNot all styling and fitting videos currently include captions or an audio description track.
Planned
Core storefront navigation & checkoutHeader, footer, product filtering, cart and checkout follow our accessibility standard.
Meets standard
Alternative ways to browse & order

If the website itself is a barrier, we still want your order

If you find any part of hairisland.co.uk difficult to use — choosing a shade, comparing nano ring and clip-in options, or completing checkout — you don't need to struggle through it alone.

Email or call us and we'll do the browsing with you

Email hello@hairisland.co.uk or use live chat on hairisland.co.uk during support hours, and a member of our team will talk you through shades, lengths and pricing, describe products in as much detail as you need, and take your order directly.

Reporting a problem

What happens when you tell us about an accessibility issue

1

Tell us what you found and where

Email hello@hairisland.co.uk with the page URL or product name, a description of the problem, and the browser, device or assistive technology you were using, if you're able to share it.

2

We acknowledge your report

We aim to acknowledge every accessibility report within 48 hours, and to give you an honest timeframe for a fix or a suitable workaround in the meantime.

3

We investigate and respond

We'll look into the specific barrier you've reported, let you know what we've found, and — where a fix isn't immediate — offer an alternative way to complete what you were trying to do, such as placing your order by email or phone.

The rules we follow

The UK law and standards behind this statement

This Accessibility Statement is written to reflect the following UK legislation and recognised standards.

Legal framework

What governs accessibility for a UK online retailer

Equality Act 2010
Applies in England, Scotland and Wales, and requires service providers, including online retailers, to make reasonable adjustments so disabled customers aren't put at a substantial disadvantage.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
The internationally recognised technical standard we target at Level AA, covering perceivable, operable, understandable and robust web content.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Requires that pre-contract and product information be presented clearly, which we interpret as including making that information accessible wherever practicable.
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008
Requires that any claims we make about the accessibility of our site are honest and not misleading, which is why this statement is kept deliberately specific and up to date.
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024
Reinforces fair-trading standards for UK online retailers, including clear and non-misleading presentation of site features and policies.
EN 301 549
The European accessibility standard for ICT products and services that WCAG 2.2 AA is aligned with, and that we use as an additional reference point for testing.

England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland — how the legal framework differs

Nation Governing disability law Where to escalate a concern
England & Wales Equality Act 2010 Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
Scotland Equality Act 2010 Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS)
Northern Ireland Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI)

Because Hair Island is a private online retailer rather than a public sector body, the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 don't apply to us directly — but we've chosen to follow the same WCAG 2.2 AA standard those regulations require of the public sector, as a matter of good practice.

Common questions

A few specific scenarios, answered

Does this statement mean the site is fully WCAG 2.2 AA compliant?

Not yet in every area. We treat WCAG 2.2 AA as our target standard and test against it regularly, but the "Known limitations" section above is a live, honest account of where we haven't fully met it yet. We'd rather be transparent about that than overstate our progress.

I use a screen reader and can't tell which shade a product image shows — what should I do?

Please let us know which product and image this affects so we can add or improve the alt text. In the meantime, our Colour-Match service and email support can describe the shade to you directly and help you choose with confidence.

Can I request information in a different format?

Yes. If you need policy pages, product information, or order confirmations in a different format — for example, plain text, larger print, or read aloud over the phone — contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate your request.

What if I'm not satisfied with your response to an accessibility complaint?

We hope to resolve any concern directly, but if you feel it hasn't been addressed satisfactorily, you can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) if you're in England, Scotland or Wales, or the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) if you're in Northern Ireland, for independent advice.

Who's behind this statement

Company details & how to reach us

Hair Island Limited

Hair Island is the trading name of Hair Island Limited, the company responsible for hairisland.co.uk and for the commitments made in this statement.

Company number 16790985
VAT number GB522646694

Registered address:
19-20 Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8HD, United Kingdom

Email us about accessibilityhello@hairisland.co.uk
Live chatAvailable on hairisland.co.uk during support hours
Support hours (GMT)
Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00
Weekend & bank holidays Closed
Response timeWe aim to acknowledge accessibility reports within 48 hours