A new study by Cape Town University shows that getting a clean shave haircut may expose people to serious blood-borne infections such as Hepatitis B.

The study confirmed that there is contamination of barber hair clippers with blood and blood borne viruses.

Hepatitis B was detected with enough DNA copies to pose a risk of transmission.

HIV was not detected in the small study but it should also be a consideration.

Dr. Zandile Spendane of the university said, "A history of haircut-associated bleeding as a result of a clean shave haircut was an unexpected finding. The potential transmission of blood-borne viruses such as Hepatitis B and HIV is most concerning."

The study titled Blood and Virus Detection on Barber Clippers investigated the chances of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B from barber hair clippers.

50 barber shops in Cape Town were studied. One clipper from each barber was collected immediately after being used to shave a client kipara

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What was studied.

The methods used to clean the clippers were recorded.

The studies were published in the South African Medical Journal.

Clients did not disclose their HIV or Hepatitis B statuses.

78% of the clients requested a clean shave haircut.

42% of the clippers collected tested positive for Hepatitis B.

All the barbers cleaned their clippers after every cut but their methods of cleaning varied.

More time and space is needed to conduct more thorough investigations. A larger sample size, type of disinfectants used will need to be studied further in any follow up research.

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