Daniel recently contracted ringworm out of the blue, but he was really confused. He usually pays close attention to hygiene and washes his hair regularly, but how did he still get ringworm? In a chance meeting with friends, he and his best friend David talked about their respective encounters and realised that each other had suffered the same storm. After some discussion, he discovered what they had in common - they had just gotten a haircut.
The barber blamed the surge in cases on the “high street” barbershops, which are like untouched diamonds in the rough but can hide a myriad of hygiene hazards on the inside. These barbershops are known for their popular faded hairstyles, where the sides of the customer's hair are shaved as flat as a knife, and the top is left long and unruly. However, it's hairstyles like these that have become a breeding ground for the spread of ringworm. Despite its name, ringworm is not infested by worms but is cunningly spread through skin-to-skin contact. Hairdressers liken the virus to a ghost lurking in the shadows, silently passing the “kiss of death” from person to person through an unsterilised comb or towel.
Faced with such a threat, how can you tell if the barbershop you frequent is trustworthy? It's like searching for clues in a scavenger hunt; you need to scrutinise the barber's every move. First of all, you need to look out for whether the barber has washed or sterilised their hands before giving you a haircut. This is like a “magic wand” in their hands, and if it's not sanitised, the “magic” they do on your scalp could turn into a disaster. Even if the hairdresser is wearing gloves, you can't be too careful. Loose hairs are like the ubiquitous little devils that sneak up on the gloves and transfer to your scalp without you even realising it. So, when choosing a barber store, you should not only focus on whether the hairstyle is stylish or not but also whether the hygiene is up to the mark.
Walking into a salon where there is a lack of visible cleaning products is like stepping into an unlit corner, suggesting that grooming tools like combs and clippers may be like unwashed batons between customers, silently transferring unknown risks. They may be in some unknown corner, quietly waiting for the next “lucky” receiver. Sterilising the scissors is like wearing an invisible protective suit, an indispensable line of defence in the salon. You should be able to see the barbers picking up the aerosol disinfectant and wielding it like a warrior wielding a holy water sprayer to ward off all evil from the scissors, or they may gently dip the blades into the disinfectant solution as if they were giving them a holy baptism. Such scenes are reassuring.
Choosing a new blade for each client and cleaning the barber's chair (especially the headrest) are two other crucial “guardians”. The headrest on the barber's chair is like a throne for the client's head, and it should be cared for and cleaned with care. If the barber is quick to replace the blades after use and wipes down the chair like a treasure, then the client can be confident that their scalp is in good hands. In addition, the use of plastic disposable headrest covers is like putting a thin layer of protection on the headrest, which prevents infections from escaping like a cunning thief.
Hairdressers should always adhere to the golden rule of 'one blade per person', which means that every client should have their blade, no matter how sharp it is.
Immediately after a haircut, your scalp is like a warrior on a little adventure, and using an anti-dandruff shampoo is like putting on a layer of armour to help protect it from unwanted visitors like ringworm. Experts suggest that sometimes, whether or not the presence of a fungal infection has been confirmed, the whole family can treat it like a regular scalp health maintenance ritual, using a medicated antifungal shampoo twice a week for four weeks. This practice will not only help us prevent ringworm infestations but will also give the whole family an overall boost in scalp health.
