In yet another example of why it’s important to be cautious when enlisting services from strangers online, a New Jersey woman says a hairstylist she hired on Craigslist pepper-sprayed her in the face when she expressed dissatisfaction with the results.

It all started last week when a 25-year-old woman agreed to meet with the stylist at an apartment in Bloomfield, NJ to have her hair styled and her extensions dyed, CBS New York reported at the time.

When all was said and done, she told the stylist wasn’t happy, which is when the other woman allegedly sprayed her in the face.

“I had the police on the phone when she attacked me with pepper spray,” she told the station, but the woman fled before police could arrive.

Police tracked down the suspect eventually and arrested her on Monday, Patch.com reports. She’s been charged with aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

There are no guarantees someone is who they say they are online, so if you are going to arrange to meet with a stranger, it’s smart to bring someone with you or have the appointment in a public place. Asking for information like the person’s name, a photo, and a list of references you can check is also a good idea, one security expert tells CBS New York.

“I have them text me their name, their address and a picture before I ever send them any of my information,” he said.

N.J. Woman Pepper-Sprayed After Complaining About Bad Hair Coloring [CBS New York]
N.J. Hairstylist Pepper Sprays Client During Argument: Police [Patch.com]

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