Barber hygiene standards: what the guidance says

The hairdressers and barbers fact sheet sets out these points on equipment:

• All equipment, including combs, brushes, clippers and scissors, must be cleaned between uses and kept clean and dry.
• Manual clippers with non-detachable blades should not be used, because they cannot be easily cleaned.
• Detachable clipper blades must be cleaned before being reused.
• Equipment is cleaned with warm water and detergent, and should not be soaked in disinfectant unless the manufacturer's instructions say so.
• Clean towels or linen must be used for each new client.
• Equipment exposed to blood, or that penetrates the skin, must be sterilised before it is reused.

The NSW Health fact sheet also says sterile single-use razors should be used for shaving. At Clipper Culture, a fresh disposable blade goes into the straight razor for every shave.

Clipper Culture is a private, home-based studio in Glen Alpine. It sees one client at a time, with timed appointments and space between bookings, so there is no waiting room and no queue. The space is shown on the studio page.

Between clients, clippers, blades and guards are brushed, sprayed with disinfectant and oiled. Neck strips and towels are fresh for each client.

If you cut at home, the same principle applies to your own kit: blades and guards collect hair and skin debris, and they work better and last longer when they are kept clean. Two Journal guides cover the practical side: cleaning clipper attachments, and whether clipper blades can be sharpened once they start to pull.