ABSTRACT
Introduction: Hairdressers are exposed to hazardous chemicals in haircare products, which can cause adverse respiratory, skin, and reproductive effects. The incidence of these effects can be reduced with good occupational health and safety (OHS) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Objective: The objective of the study was to assess Johannesburg hairdressers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards occupational health and safety. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-three hairdressers were recruited into this crosssectional study. They were categorised into employees/wage earners (earning a salary or wage, n = 151), or business owners (self-employed, n = 232). Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Frequency tables were generated and chi-square tests were used to test differences between KAP amongst business owners and wage earners. Results: Most of the study participant were female (n = 237, 61.9%). A higher proportion of business owners than wage earners knew that hairdressing was hazardous to their health, in general (n = 44, 29.1% and n = 120, 51.7%, respectively), and with regard to specific health risks such as asthma, cancer, and skin diseases. However, more of the wage earners than the business owners had good attitudes towards the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, (n = 143, 94.7% and n = 210, 90.5%, respectively). Overall, wage earners practised better OHS than business owners, e.g. 67.5% (n = 102) and 55.2% (n = 128) reported that they wore gloves, respectively. Conclusion: Wage earners had poorer OHS knowledge than those who owned or operated hairdressing salons. Both had good attitudes towards OHS, but self-employed hairdressers had poorer OHS practices. Training, including workshops and seminars, is needed to improve KAP regarding OHS amongst all hairdressers, regardless of their employment status.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Skin Diseases , Hazardous Substances , Beauty and Aesthetics Centers , Hair , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeABSTRACT
El desafío de formular productos cosméticos capilares que den respuesta a la exigencia de verificación de la funcionalidad, realizada tanto por los organismos reguladores como por el consumidor actual, hace imperativa la necesidad de desarrollar metodologías dirigidas a la evaluación del desempeño de este tipo de productos, especialmente in vitro. Como un aporte en este sentido, en esta investigación se presenta un método de análisis por microscopía electrónica de barrido (sem), para la evaluación de los cambios de aspecto y composición atómica de la superficie de fibras capilares vírgenes, decoloradas y tinturadas, luego de aplicar sobre ellas champú y acondicionador formulados con activos restauradores de la cutícula. Los resultados obtenidos permiten la diferenciación de forma rápida y objetiva, del desempeño cosmético de los productos evaluados, lo que representa una ventaja respecto al método de evaluación sensorial tradicionalmente utilizado como apoyo al diseño de productos cosméticos capilares.
The challenge to formulate cosmetic hair products according to the demand of functionality verification by both regulators and consumers makes imperative the development of methodologies for their performance assessment, particularly in vitro. As a contribution to this issue, the current research shows a scanning electron microscopy (sem) methodology for the appearance evaluation and the investigation of the atomic composition of virgin, discolored and dyed tresses hair cuticle after applying shampoo and conditioner, which have been formulated with repair actives. The results allow the rapid and sustainable differentiation between the cosmetic performances of the products evaluated. This is an advantage of sem with regard to the sensory evaluation of the treated tresses, technique commonly used in the cosmetic hair products design.