A mom has been left stunned after a hairstylist refused to let her in to her daughter’s hair appointment.

To be honest, it is perfectly normal for a parent to not want their young children in the company of a stranger completely by themselves.

So with that in mind, it doesn’t come as a surprise that one TikTok mom wanted to go with her daughter while she got her hair done.

China Anntrice was left scratching her head after booking her daughter in to get braids, only to find out last minute she wouldn’t even be allowed to attend the appointment.

TikTok/@chinaanntrice

China ultimately took to the video-sharing platform to share the situation with her followers and asked for their honest opinion.

And, the internet was pretty divided as to who was in the wrong.

“I follow this girl on [Instagram]… she braids kid’s hair, adult hair – she braids everybody’s hair, right?” China began the TikTok video.

“I noticed that she braids really well.”

China said she is careful when it comes to picking who she lets braid her kid’s hair, but she quickly decided on this one hairstylist that seemed like the perfect match.

Ahead of the appointment, the stylist apparently left multiple reminders that ‘no guests’ would be permitted at the appointment.

However, China didn’t think this would include a parent – leaving her utterly gobsmacked when she was refused entry.

The mom claimed she received a text on the day of the appointment informing her she could walk her daughter to the stylist’s house but would not be allowed to enter.

“I can’t come in? First of all, I don’t know you from a man on the moon, I don’t know you. Secondly, she’s seven years old – seven!” China exclaimed in the video.

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In a follow up video, China revealed that she did, in fact, let her child go into the appointment alone.

She explained: “I did let her go in because, one, I talked to my mom before I even made the rant. And two, she had her tablet with her.

“So, of course, I sat outside the house and could video chat her, which I did. We talked through text, everything.”

The mom added: “My daughter’s hair came out beautiful. It was so neat. The best braider she ever went to thus far.”

TikTok/@chinaanntrice

Nonetheless, viewers have been left divided by the original story.

One penned: “Nah I would NEVER leave my daughter alone with a stranger. Ever.”

Another added: “Absolutely not. There’s NO reason why she would need her to be alone. Hell no.”

On the other hand, some hairstylists revealed why the rule may be in place.

One wrote: “As a kid braider, I know kids act worse when the parent is there. So I get her [point of view]. Parents don’t have to leave but leave out of the kid’s view.”

A second remarked: “As a stylist I prefer the parents to leave but I never mind if they want to stay. Especially for the first appointment. You don’t know her!”

Someone else claimed: “I braid hair & 95% of the mother’s leave their children. They act so much better without their parents there.”

What do you think?

Specialists are warning those wanting to lighten their under eye area with a non-surgical procedure to be aware that dangerous ‘lumps and bumps’ could arise.

Statistics published by the National Institutes of Health cited that more than 19.1 million non-surgical procedures were performed worldwide in 2023.

Botulium toxin, more commonly known as Botox, topped the list, with hyaluronic acid, hair removal and chemical peels trailing behind.

Another rising non-surgical procedure that’s rising in popularity in the United States is Mesotherapy.

But what is the ‘tweakment’ and why are medical practitioners warning about ‘reptilian skin’ side-effects?

What is Mesotherapy?

Healthline has defined mesotherapy as a ‘technique that uses injections of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and plant extracts to rejuvenate and tighten skin, as well as remove excess fat.’

This non-surgical procedure – billed as being ‘minimally invasive’ – utilizes very fine needles to deliver injections into the middle layer of the skin.

Often, these injections take place around the neck, face, hands, hairline, stomach and/or the décolletage.

What is Mesotherapy used for?

Primarily, Mesotherapy is employed by those who want to treat a myriad of skin, hair and body hangups.

The rejuvenation technique is versatile—often being used to minimise stretch marks and diminish the look of cellulite. As mentioned, some also use the treatment for fat removal.

It should be noted though that the American Society for Plastic Surgeons does not recommend mesotherapy in the latter instance, citing a lack of research into its effectiveness.

Recently, there’s been an uptick in people opting to have injections to get rid of dark circles underneath their eyes—with the procedure promising you can lighten the skin and reduce eye bags.

Medical practitioners have outlined the side-effects of Mesotherapy (Getty Stock Image)

What are the risks of Mesotherapy?

If you’re adamant that you want to go ahead with the procedure, then you should consult with a qualified healthcare provider first.

After being injected, expect to experience negative side-effects like redness, tenderness and even bruising.

Some will also experience small raised bumps underneath the skin, which some have described as ‘reptilian like’.

“Lumps and bumps are probably the most common complication from mesotherapy,” writes the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology.

“They can result when the solution is distributed unevenly or when the solution is not homogenous and has different effects in different zones.

“Concentrations vary when the mix is not homogenous and one area may have totally different materials from an adjacent one.”

Unfortunately, there are some other, more serious, risks that come with having Mesotherapy.

There’s a risk of infection which could cause long term tissue death or damage, says Dr Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a New York based dermatologist.

“Patients may experience long-lasting bruising, severe allergic reactions, skin necrosis due to product placement in blood vessels, or even permanent eye damage,” she added.

Who performs Mesotherapy and is it regulated?

Unlike other injectable procedures like Botox, practitioners mix up their own blend of fluids to use in Mesotherapy—meaning the substance isn’t regulated or tested.

“While mesotherapy may be legal in some other countries, the absence of US regulatory oversight means patients could be exposed to counterfeit or unverified products,” explained Dr Kazlouskaya.

One expert quipped: ‘not all eyebags are created equal’ (Getty Stock Image)

Meanwhile Dr Tripathi, a plastic surgeon based in California, said that inexperienced practitioners could cause more harm than good where Mesotherapy is concerned.

“Inexperience can be a problem that creates unsightly results,” he told the Daily Mail.

“If someone wants a solution for their under eyes, the treatment has to be tailored based on their particular anatomy. Not all eyebags are created equal.”

What other ways can you relieve dark circles and eye bags?

Dr Hannah Kopelman, a dermatologist based in New York, recommends you understand the risks of Mesotherapy before heading in for treatment at your local clinic.

“As a dermatologist, I always emphasize the importance of a tailored approach to addressing dark circles, starting with identifying the underlying cause and exploring evidence-based options that provide safe and predictable results,” she told the publication.

If you decide not to go ahead with the non-surgical treatment then there are a few ways you can get rid of dark circles.

The Cleveland Clinic writes that getting more sleep, elevating your head at night and laying cucumber slices on your eyes are all methods that can help.

Meanwhile, those with eye bags are advised by the Mayo Clinic to cut down on fluids before bedtime and use a cool compress.

A TikToker’s tattoo may be simple and small, but that’s not stopped her branding it the ‘ugliest tattoo in the world’.

For some, getting a tattoo is a split second decision made on holiday on a gap year to commemorate how life-changing an experience you’ve had finding yourself. To others, it’s a thought out process which results in an inking with special tribute or meaning.

Either way, some people still end up with some shockers, and one woman from Florida believes she has the worst tattoo over anybody else.

What Armstrong’s faded banana tattoo looked like. (TikTok/ @marieaarm)

Marie Armstrong – who goes by @marieaarm on TikTok – says she has a tattoo which has resulted in her actually having to hold back tears when she spots it everyday – despite it being small and fairly discreet.

In a video shared to her page in February earlier this year, Armstrong reveals the tattoo is on her index finger and is supposed to be a half-peeled banana.

Initially, she got the tattoo done and everything was fine and dandy. The additional art complimented the other small tattoos she has on her fingers and hands.

But while it did look good after it was just done, the banana went on to fade so Armstrong opted to get it re-done. Something she has done before with her other finger tattoos.

“You could not tell what it was. I didn’t even count it as a tattoo,” Armstrong said of the faded tattoo.

“So when my boyfriend told me he had a tattoo appointment and that he was getting a tattoo done by this artist who’s really good,” she continued, “I was like, I’ll go with you and I’ll get my banana re-done.”

“I show him a picture of right when I got the banana done the first time, and he goes ahead and starts free-handing, like, adding on the rest of the banana to what he can already see and sketching it,” she explained.

“I didn’t really expect him to print [a] stencil because, like, you’d have to size it perfectly,” Armstrong went on. “So I’m like freehand, fine. You’re an artist, like, this is what you do, you know what you’re doing.”

Armstrong’s initial tattoo, and what the artist did after she wanted a touch up after it faded (TikTok/ @marieaarm)

Then came the moment of truth, and I can’t lie, when I saw the finished redone banana I burst out laughing. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but it doesn’t exactly look like the fruit.

“I look at it, and I am trying to not cry. Like, I know that these are stupid, silly, little, goofy tattoos and maybe to you, like, it doesn’t matter how the f–k they look, but I actually care,” Armstrong said of the finished product.

Now, Armstrong hopes that it fades like it had previously done but in the meantime her social media followers will likely rip into her for having an almost-banana on her finger.

The first person to ever receive a cow heart transplant while awake has described the experience as being ‘like Star Wars‘.

Retired paramedic and Territorial Army veteran John Smallwood had previously undergone an operation on his heart.

However, when his heart failed, the 74-year-old was told traditional surgery was no longer an option.

Upon much deliberation, John eventually agreed to take part in a pioneering heart valve replacement surgery.

Warren Manger

Nine years ago, John had open heart surgery to mend a leaky mitral valve, The Mirror reports.

However, in 2019, not only his mitral valves but also his aortic valves began leaking.

John was left in a weak condition, often feeling ‘out of breath [from] just talking on the phone,’ to running out of ‘battery’ on short walks.

John was left fearing ‘how long [he] had left,’ worrying who would then take care of his disabled wife Carol.

Leader of the operation, coronary and structural interventional cardiologist Nishant Gangil, reflected how John appeared to have ‘lost hope and accepted his fate’.

While traditional surgery ‘wasn’t an option,’ Gangil told the 74-year-old about a ‘novel treatment’ which would see valves implanted ‘through the groin’. However, he warned the process was ‘more difficult’ than aortic valve replacement operations which have been taking place since 2007.

Alamy

The 74-year-old needed two new valves and so a specially bred cow’s heart was prepared for the transplant.

John underwent a two-hour long operation at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire.

However, because of his heart failure, he was required to stay awake rather than have the operation under general anaesthetic.

If he moved even a fraction, he was at risk of dying.

“We had to use a special needle to create a hole in his heart and deliver the second valve through that. Only a handful of these cases have been done worldwide. And we were going to do it under local anaesthetic, while John was still awake,” Gangil explained.

Alamy

Despite initially being ‘a bit twitchy’ about the surgery, upon discussing it with his family, John agreed to have it last September.

Gangil explained the 74-year-old was talked through the operation at every stage so he didn’t ‘get anxious’ about how long it was taking.

John reflected how shocked he was to see ’15 or so [doctors] outside [the theatre] and another five of six with the team inside’.

However, Gangil noted how ‘very brave’ and cooperative John was. “[John’s] mental strength helped him to come through something that was quite unique,” the surgeon reflected.

John said: “It was like something out of Star Wars. I feel incredibly lucky to have had this operation.”

Warren Manger

Gangil noted how ‘ecstatic’ all the doctors are with the results, with John having been able to ‘walk up and down the ward a few times’ just hours after the operation.

John concluded: “I can’t believe how much better I feel now. It’s like I’ve been reborn. I can do everything I couldn’t do before – look after my wife, change the bed, go out for walks, do the shopping. I haven’t felt this good since my late 30s.

“It is a great step forward, like the first heart transplant. Hopefully it will open the door for others like me who are deemed too risky for open heart surgery or a general anaesthetic.”