Shanghai Daily news

The city is trying to put an end to streetside barbers offering cheap haircuts, due to fears that unsanitary conditions could spread diseases such as hepatitis and AIDS, the Shanghai Hair and Beauty Trade Association revealed yesterday.
The barbers are banned by new regulations on the hairdressing and beauty industry, because they don't have regular business places and they lack sufficient capital.
"Those barbers can't meet the sanitary standards and most of them are old people who don't have enough money to compensate their customers if an injury happens," said an official surnamed Wang from the association.
"Actually the rule was issued at the beginning of this year," Wang said. "But every city and province needs some time to carry it out."
Currently, many elderly barbers still cut hair along small streets or under bridges, particularly in the city's suburbs.
"I have worked here for 14 years," said Yu Zaiqing, a 75-year-old barber who trims and shaves his clients under the Jiangning Bridge on Jiangning Road, Putuo District.
"All of my clients are men and most of them are seniors," Yu said. "I charge them 3 yuan (36 US cents) for a haircut and 1 yuan more for a shave, which is much cheaper than in a hair salon."
Yu says he can earn 300 yuan to 500 yuan a month, and says most of his clients are frequent visitors, who appreciated his skill.
Yu's straight razor, which he says is about 100 years old, may be one of the sanitary hazards officials are worried about.
"You needn't disinfect it," Yu said, adding that he never disinfects any of his equipment when working.
Cao xiaoping, a 51-year-old who always lets Yu cut his hair, said he has never feared sanitary problems when getting a cut.
"It is cheap and very comfortable," Cao said. "And I've never been infected."
Yu said none of his clients have ever questioned him about sanitary problems. "If they don't trust me, they won't visit me."
Industry standards, however, state that combs, razors, and towels should be disinfected after every use.
Zhang wei, a doctor specializing in skin diseases, said streetside barbers are definitely insanitary.
"It is very likely they will cause bacterial infection," Zhang warned.
"If the previous customers had some skin or blood diseases, the next one is at risk," he said.
The most common diseases spread by barbers are tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp, and hepatitis.