Recent Ringworm Cases Raise The Question: Is Hygiene A Growing Issue In Barber Shops?

Reports of ringworm infections linked to barbers have reignited debates about hygiene practices and industry regulation.

by MADDI | INDUSTRY NEWS

Mike Taylor, owner of Mike Taylor Education barbering academy in Poole, has denounced “cheap, dirty, unqualified barber shops” to BBC News after seeing “loads of cases” of young male clients catching ringworm after barber visits.

“I’d say 70 per cent to 80 per cent of clients coming in ask for skin fades. To get that effect you’ve got to use the foil clipper, but the problem is it takes in hair and it needs to be thoroughly cleaned,” he told the BBC, while one Bournemouth local and barber shop regular, Christian Reynolds, experienced the consequences of poor hygiene firsthand. “I felt annoyed because, after researching, I realised it was due to improper practice and not cleaning equipment properly,” Reynolds said to the BBC.

Taylor’s outburst has shone a spotlight on the responsibility of barbers maintaining hygiene levels. “The close proximity of clippers to the skin creates an ideal environment for fungal infections,” said Miles Wood-Smith, master barber and creative director of Murdock London. “Ensuring tools are sterilised and promoting good aftercare for clients is crucial.”

Gareth Penn

Gareth Penn, registrar at The Hair and Barber Council, pushes for stricter standards as part of its ongoing mandate for registration for hairdressing and barbering. Penn argues that the rise in infections also reflects broader industry challenges. As the number of barber shops increases – 663 more shops in 2023 according to the Local Data Company – price competition forces some establishments to cut costs, often at the expense of hygiene standards or proper training.

“The high street is depleting, it’s dying and then suddenly there’s 12 barber shops on the same street and they’re all trying to go a little bit cheaper than each other,” added Mike. “If the prices have to be knocked down then something else has to go and maybe it is all the time spent cleaning the equipment or the time spent getting the proper knowledge.” Increasing costs following the October Budget will also add pressure.

Charles Rose, 2023 Business Builder winner at the 2023 It List awards and founder of barber shop/grooming brand Crate Cheshire, called for a renewed focus on education. “Now that this issue is being spoken about more widely, I hope it will encourage barber shops to prioritise cleanliness and prevent further cases of ringworm,” he said.

With ringworm now being discussed more openly, there’s pressure on barbering to increase hygiene levels and training to safeguard clients. As Penn concludes, “Prevention is far easier than treatment, and it’s time we made consumer safety a priority.”