Cosmetology

I just finished reading a discussion posted back on Oct. 9th 2009 regarding Hair & Nail salons. I have been a cosmetologist for 24 yrs. who is in treatment for Hep C. I do not mean to offend anyone, but would really like to hear from others on this subject.
First each state has different regulations. I have worked in the state of OH & FL throughout my career, since my diagnosis last March, I quit. I have recently discovered other hair stylists in the industry with Hepatitis, as we use the same equipment on ourselves & each other. State board safety & sanitation regulations are NOT always practiced or followed, no matter how closely a state may attempt to regulate the industry.
Across the board, we all know and or heard of people that have absolutely no clue as to how they contracted the virus, people with no background of anything that the medical community can come up with.
I am searching for any studies/research ect... and am coming up with nothing conclusive. I do know that I have been so fearful of my giving this to my family that I take every precaution I can possibly think of. Within the industry of cosmetology hair clippers keep haunting me. Mens haircuts normally require a "lining" this is metal to skin, many men can tell you of a rash along their necks at some point in their life, a commonly used product is "clippercide" it's an alcohol & a oil based lubricant. All metal implements are SUPPOSED to be sterilized with alcohol after EACH use, sorry folks this is not done especially in "franchised" salons where the high volume of customers is the only way to make a pay check. The higher end salons do have more time & do practice better sanitation. But I will guarantee that any pair of clippers when taken apart are filled with hair, oil, & God only knows what else. We do take our equipment apart on a regular basis in order to keep it in a good working clean condition, but impossible to do between every client.
Additionally, you will not meet a stylist that has not cut themselves. Our hand become so dry, cracking & bleeding especially in the northern states during the winter, that it is a chronic problem the longer a stylist has been in the industry. Myself, I have never thought I really had too much of a problem with the chronic drying & cracking, until my diagnosis, then I noticed every little cut, scratch, torn cuticle ect... My having Hep C or you having it. I give you a simple shampoo with a cut or dry torn cuticle, and maybe you have a scratch, dry scalp, pimple and you all know how we scrub your scalp with our hands. Need I say anymore?
I can go on all day with numerous case scenarios that either I could give it to you or you could give it to me without even knowing it within the industry. Trust that, in general, stylist do not know & would honestly change the way they do things if they did.
Any and all feedback regard your opinions, knowledge, suggestions ect... would be greatly appreciated.

[IAmTheWalrus]

It is really good and responsible for you to notice and take care of scratches, etc. but realistically, unless you are drawing blood from your customers while working on them, there's not a significant change of spreading the infection to them IMO. It is not like you are using your combs or scissors to administer IV hair dye or to give "curly hair" gene therapy.

If you are drawing blood from your customers, forget what I said and find another profession! ;-)