There really is no need to delve into why gloves have become a necessity in this day and age.

From hospitals to tattoo shops, a massive amount of workspaces require workers to adopt professional gloves to avoid contact with germs that can make them or others sick, or to protect them from dangerous chemicals that can cause skin irritation.

When you think of protection from potential dangers in certain professions, however, one rarely conjures up an image of hair styling at a barbershop or salon.

The reality is that there are a number of hazards associated with barbers and salons, and barbers are often at high risk of being exposed to chemicals and other hazards in their environment.

Hazards at Barbershops

Chemical Hazards

Hairdressers and barbers are exposed to dangerous chemicals on a daily basis in their workplaces. A survey based on U.S. census data found that 1.06 million Americans used hair coloring products 14 times and more in 2020, and you can bet a majority of those sessions took place in hair salons.

Barbers and hairdressers are often involved in hair coloring, bleaching, straightening, and perming (or permanently curling) processes, sometimes repeating these cosmetic demands multiple times in one day.

This means they are in consistent contact with harmful solvents such as peroxide, straightening creams and bleaching agents, shampoos, hair sprays and conditioners, all of which could cause chemical burns to the skin. This is because these products contain one or two of these chemicals: ammonia, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, phenylenediamine and formaldehyde all of which are known to cause skin irritations and burns.

While a quick and thorough wash of the surfaces the chemicals touched could eliminate the chances of a serious burn, it does not eliminate the risks entirely and leaves room for human error.

Wounds, Cuts, and Burns

Hairdressing salons and barbershops fulfill a variety of demands from their customers, besides those involving chemicals. A barber's tools are generally precarious, especially to those new to the profession, but also to those who have become skilled at utilizing them.

Many of their instruments, for example, rely on heat and extremely high temperatures, such as curling irons, straighteners, styling wands, and blow dryers. Misuse of these tools by beginners, or even simple accidents and mistakes made by professionals, could wound up causing them serious burns.

Even a simple haircut requiring no heat leaves room for injury. Haircutting scissors, clippers, razors and shears are designed with blades that are sharp enough to perform clean cuts on hair, which means they can also potentially cut through the barber's skin. Nicks, cuts, or more serious and deeper punctures are common accidents in a barbershop and salon, putting the hairdresser and barber at risk for bacteria or blood-borne diseases, seeing as their skin barrier is vulnerable and broken down.

Here's the good news: all of these dangerous scenarios can be prevented with the proper pair of disposable hair cutting gloves. Finding the right barber gloves will allow you to perform the art of styling and transforming hair without worry! Let's break down how you could choose the proper hairdressing gloves for you.

Choosing the Best Haircutting Gloves for You

Reassuringly, there are only three major materials gloves are made out of, so your options are limited to nitrile, latex, or vinyl gloves. The differences between them are simple: nitrile gloves are the strongest material compared to the others, and nitrile gloves have recently become the most popular choice for workers who need durable protection. These are often used in mechanical work spaces, dental clinics, and many more.

While latex gloves are known for their stretchiness and tactile properties, which is why they are often preferred by healthcare workers, a rise in latex allergies and contact dermatitis has caused them to become less appealing in most workspaces.

Still, latex gloves are a cost-effective, comfortable, and dexterous option if latex allergies were not an issue.

Finally, vinyl gloves are the cheapest but are also made up of the thinnest material compared to latex and nitrile gloves, and typically have lesser puncture resistance. Their primary benefits are their cost-effectiveness but also the fact that they can be slipped on quickly and easily.

So, which gloves are right for you? From healthcare professionals to beauticians and tattoo artists, many stand by nitrile gloves as the most preferred choice by far. Made for puncture resistance, to be flexible, sweat-resistant and most importantly, hypoallergenic.

Nitrile gloves also have incredible touch sensitivity and dexterity, which is crucial for barbers who are constantly touching clients' hair and reaching for tools.

Shop the Best Barber Gloves

There's no doubt about it, disposable nitrile gloves are not only useful for protection, but they also impress your clients and make them feel safer in your salon or barbershop when they arrive for a fresh cut.

We offer a range of high-quality nitrile gloves that come in a variety of colors and sizes.

The gloves promise manual dexterity to cut hair as precisely as needed, as well as chemical protection so that you can color and transform your clients' hair safely and comfortably.

Shop WellBefore's hairdressing and barber shop gloves today, so that you can focus on what you love to do: giving your customers a perfect new hairdo.