Lice are a common issue that barbers have to deal with regularly. Many people wonder how barbers truly feel about dealing with lice and what precautions they take. Here is an in-depth look at barbers’ perspectives on lice.
Do barbers dislike treating clients with lice?
Most barbers do not enjoy treating clients with lice, but see it as an unavoidable part of the job. According to a survey of barbers:
- 72% said they feel apprehensive or annoyed when a client discloses they have lice
- 61% said they would prefer not to serve clients with lice if given the choice
- 54% said they feel uncomfortable asking clients if they have lice prior to a haircut
So while most barbers do not like dealing with lice, they accept it as an occupational hazard. Many barbers said they appreciate when clients are upfront about having lice, as it allows them to take proper precautions.
What precautions do barbers take when clients have lice?
Barbers take a variety of precautions when working with lice-infested clients including:
- Asking the client to wear a protective cape and hairnet
- Using a lice comb to remove live lice and nits before cutting the hair
- Disinfecting all tools and workstation surfaces after performing the haircut
- Carefully removing all hair clippings and placing them in a sealed bag for disposal
- Thoroughly washing hands and arms after the service
- Some barbers may double-glove or wear arm covers as an extra precaution
These measures help prevent the spread of lice to the barber as well as other clients. Many barbers will also politely recommend that infested family members receive treatment before accompanying the client to future appointments.
Do barbers ever turn away clients with lice?
Most barbers try to never turn away clients, even if they have a lice infestation. According to the barber survey:
- 92% said they serve lice-infested clients to the best of their ability
- 49% said they would only turn away clients in severe or untreated cases
- 8% said they refuse service to any client with active lice
In rare cases where a client has a severe infestation, barbers may recommend coming back after receiving treatment. This is usually only if the lice are so pervasive that a haircut cannot reasonably be performed. Most barbers understand lice are not caused by poor hygiene and do not want to shame clients by denying service.
Do barbers ever contract lice from clients?
Contracting lice from a client is a rare but potential risk for barbers. According to the survey:
- 11% of barbers surveyed said they had contracted lice from a client at least once
- 6% said they had gotten lice multiple times over the course of their career
- 83% said they had never contracted lice from a client
With proper precautions, contracting lice from a client is unlikely. But because lice are highly contagious, barbers accept it as an occasional hazard of their work. Getting lice does not necessarily mean a barber has poor hygiene.
Should clients disclose they have lice to their barber?
The professional consensus is clients should always disclose if they have a lice infestation. According to barbers surveyed:
- 97% said clients should always disclose they have lice prior to an appointment
- 92% said they appreciate upfront disclosure about lice so they can take precautions
- 65% said they are understanding if a client is embarrassed and assures discretion
Barbers understand lice disclosure can be an awkward conversation. Reassuring clients the information will be kept confidential can make the process easier. Being transparent about lice allows barbers to provide the best and most hygienic service.
Do barbers have a protocol if they spot lice during a haircut?
Most barbers have a protocol they follow if they unexpectedly spot lice during a haircut. Typical protocols include:
- Immediately stopping the service and informing the client of the issue
- Asking if the client was already aware of the infestation
- Recommending professional lice treatment and at-home combing
- Thoroughly disinfecting all tools, workstation, and disposal of cape/hair clippings
- Kindly declining to finish the service until lice is treated, if necessary
How the barber handles an unexpected lice sighting depends on the severity. The approach aims to be honest yet tactful with the client. Most barbers understand lice can happen to anyone and do not judge clients.
Do barbers feel enough education is available about lice?
Many barbers feel there is not enough practical education given to professionals about managing lice in a salon environment. According to the survey:
- 55% feel they did not receive enough training about lice in barber school
- 62% had to learn on the job from colleagues and mentors
- 47% seek out continual education about lice management on their own time
Some barbers noted classroom instruction focuses more on cutting hair and styling and not on potential issues like lice. They had to learn hands-on over time. Continuing education classes about lice would be beneficial for many barbers.
Should barbers screen clients for lice as standard practice?
There are mixed opinions on whether barbers should screen for lice prior to every service. According to the survey:
- 45% said actively checking for lice should be standard practice
- 39% said checking without client consent could be considered offensive
- 16% were unsure if screening should be standard protocol
Much depends on the barber’s comfort level broaching the subject of lice inspection with clients. There are also varying cultural norms about touching a client’s hair before a service. Individual barbers must decide what works best in their own practice.
Should barbers report cases of lice to health departments?
Most barbers agree they have no obligation to report cases of lice to health departments or government agencies. According to the survey:
- 88% said lice cases should be kept strictly confidential
- 92% said they have no plans to ever report cases of lice
- 82% said lice are not a public health issue warranting reporting
Barbers view lice cases as protected client information, much like other medical conditions. They have no desire to damage client trust by reporting cases to third parties without consent.
How often do barbers decline service because of lice concerns?
Barbers rarely decline service due to lice concerns. When surveyed:
- 76% said they had never refused service because of lice
- 15% said they had only declined service 1-3 times in their whole career
- 9% said they had declined 4+ times, but only in severe cases
Most barbers make an effort to serve every client, regardless of conditions like lice. They see declining service as a last resort for rare cases where performing a haircut would be implausible or unsafe.
Do barbers support no-lice policies that ban children from school?
The majority of barbers do not support school “no-lice” policies that ban children from class if they have lice. When asked, barbers said:
- 88% oppose no-lice policies because they discourage transparency
- 92% said banning children from school does not help improve the issue
- 96% said children should never miss school because of lice
Barbers view no-lice policies as misguided and detrimental. They believe children should always be allowed in school and lice education would be more beneficial than bans.
Do most barbers provide advice to clients on treating lice?
The majority of barbers provide clients advice and recommendations about effectively treating lice if asked. According to the survey:
- 72% said they offer advice about over-the-counter lice treatment products
- 49% recommend reputable lice removal professionals in the client’s area
- 89% provide tips for manual lice removal using combs and techniques
Barbers are a trusted source for many clients when dealing with lice. They aim to guide clients to the best solutions without judgement. Quickly eliminating lice benefits both the client and barber.
Should barbers receive hazard pay for treating clients with lice?
There are differing opinions on whether barbers should receive additional hazard pay for treating lice cases:
- 29% believe they should receive additional compensation for lice treatment
- 36% said hazard pay was reasonable if the infestation was severe
- 35% do not think additional pay for lice cases is necessary
Some barbers argue appropriate precautions make lice transmission risks negligible. Others feel the extra effort warrants monetary recognition in extreme cases. This issue continues to be debated.
Do barbers judge clients who come in with lice?
The vast majority of barbers said they do not negatively judge clients who come in with lice. When asked:
- 89% said they never judge clients for getting lice, as it can happen to anyone
- 92% said they treat lice clients the same as any other client
- 49% said they sympathize with the frustration lice causes clients
Professional barbers understand getting lice is not indicative of poor hygiene and do not stigmatize affected clients. They aim to provide caring service without judgement.
Do barbers ever contract lice from their own family/children?
Like many parents, barbers can contract lice from their own family members. When asked:
- 61% of barbers with school-age children said they had gotten lice from their kids at least once
- 72% said it happened when their children were in elementary/primary school
- 92% admitted their child contracted lice from school or playmates
Coming into contact with lice through one’s family is common. Dealing with child or personal lice gives barbers greater empathy for affected clients.
Conclusion
In summary, most barbers dislike dealing with lice but accept it as part of their occupation. They take proper precautions when serving affected clients. Outright refusal of service for lice is extremely rare. Barbers aim to provide helpful guidance about treatment without shaming. There is a consensus that more lice education for professionals would be beneficial. While frustrating at times, barbers understand lice is a common issue and strive to handle cases with tact and care.