Dubai salons instructed to maintain high safety levels

Dubai: Take care when looking for a cheap haircut, as it may end up costing you more than your health.

Authorities have taken stringent measures and shut down 28 hairdressers and barber shops from January to October as they committed serious violations.

The fines for committing health violations in salons ranges from Dh2,000 to Dh20,000.

Some of the violations included the absence of proper hygiene, which can lead to dangerous consequences, in addition to using unhealthy herbs, oils and unauthorised products, poor hygiene and staff working without proper documentation. Some men’s salons were fined for not complying with prescribed hair disposal methods in addition to unhygienic practices of hand washing, drying and sanitising the equipment.

Redha Salman, director of public health and safety department at Dubai Municipality, yesterday said that they are focusing on salons to maintain the high level of standard in the emirate and reduce the public’s health risk.

“A team of municipality inspectors carried out 2,371 visits since January to 1,412 ladies salons, as well as 4,321 visits to 1,554 men’s salons in Dubai. During this period, 794 fines were imposed on ladies’ salons for violations and another 842 were imposed on men’s,” he said.

He also pointed out that shop owners or the management of salons are required to know, adhere and implement all the requirements set out by Dubai Municipality and, in turn, inform their employees.

Carrying out illegal activities in salons is unfortunately another practice that takes place in Dubai salons, as it was previously reported that Dubai Police also carry out inspections.

One such practice that caught the attention of authorities was illegally injecting clients with Botox, which can start from Dh4,000.

Last year, six people were arrested for offering Botox injections in an apartment at Al Muraqqabat, and as many as 147 Botox syringes were found in the suspects’ possession.