I think this one is a good decision from health and safety point of view. Now people should go for some authorized persons/centers for specialized services.

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Published in Gulf Times

BARBER shops will not be allowed to offer body massages in Qatar as part of changes being currently introduced.

Ma’an al-Ani, food safety consultant at the General Department for Municipal Health Administration Affairs at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, told Gulf Times that barber shops were meant for cutting hair and other beauty treatments, but not body massages.

Giving body massages was the job of a chiropractor and such establishments had to get a separate licence, he explained. However, minor rubdowns of the neck and shoulder that usually accompany a haircut should be fine, he added. But, tapping on the head with the hand was a no-no. Most importantly, barbers will not be allowed to remove warts or similar growths from the skin. It is the job of a qualified dermatologist and should be done only in a hospital.

Every salon should have an emergency kit. “If you call us we will tell you how to handle a cut”. However, it there is any “major bleeding” it should be immediately notified to the Emergency Medical Service. The department has finalised all the rules and standards for men’s and women’s salons and these are currently being implemented. Most of the salons currently do not follow the regulations, the official said. The main complaint was dirty implements and unclean linens. There were complaints of skin problems like scab, spread from person to person through scissors and razors.

The outlets should have enough combs that they could be disinfected properly. Just washing was not good enough. “We will show them how to clean their stuff properly”. The department would also tell them what chemicals are allowed to be used. Besides, no substance would be permitted to be rubbed into the skin. A wet towel is totally out because they usually carry bacteria and cause infections. They should be properly dried every time and thoroughly washed at the end of the day.

Similarly, wigs too should be cleaned as we clean our hair, he said. Salons would be given sufficient time to comply with the new rules but once the deadline is over, there would be no leniency, al-Ani cautioned.