How safe are Barbershops?

While it is acknowledged that the majority of HIV infections occur through sexual liaisons, there is a significant number that might have got the virus through other means like unsafe use of razor blades and shaving machines. Taking a walk to one of the barber shops in cape town it came to my surprise that they only used methylated spirit to clean their blades and put it straight away onto a new customers hair, in most cases where people get a bald shave their are 50% chances of getting a

 cut or the blade getting in touch with blood. In Sea point, barbers might have lost a substantial number of clients who fear contracting the virus through unsterilized shaving machines. "One day, I was waiting in a queue at one of these makeshift barber shops when I noticed that one client had sores all over his head. I immediately went away and bought my own shaving equipment. Up to this day, I shave at home, There are fears that a majority of people visiting barber shops do not check if the shaving equipment is sterilised.

"I never bother to check even though it is a reality that you can contract HIV through unsafe use of blades, “Patrick, a Gugulethu resident said. He is not alone in this predicament

In Russia, public shaving was once banned as there were fears that hygiene standards at most barber shops were inadequate, hence there is a high risk of spreading HIV via dirty blades and machines.

Questions have been raised as to the effectiveness of using methylated spirit for sterilisation. Research shows that 70 percent of industrial methylated spirit and ethanol are ineffective against dried HIV. Some barber shops in South Africa do not sterilise shaving machines even with methylated spirit. "We know we should sterilise the equipment. But in our case, the owner of the salon has not bought new equipment since the machine we have broke down. We have no option but to use methylated spirit and honestly I can't tell you how safe it is," said one barber, speaking on condition of anonymity

Augustus, a local  said it is imperative that barbers sterilise their equipment. He admitted that he never inquires about the sterilisation of shaving machines before having a hair cut. "I have never asked if they sterilise, but what I know is that the majority of the barber shops do not sterilise their equipment," Augustus said.

He said a good option is to buy shaving equipment and shave at home, but regrettably, some people do not know how to use the shavers.

"Even if the shaving equipment is sold in shops, some of us do not know how to use it. It is crucial that people are sensitised about the possibility of contracting HIV at salons. This is an issue of national concern," Augustus said