Shrewsbury hairdresser brands new EU rules for hairdressers as ‘bonkers’
New EU rules which could ban hairdressers from wearing high heels, jewellery and even watches have been branded as ‘bonkers’ by a Shropshire businessman.
Gavin Pulham, who owns several salons in the county, including Toni & Guy in Castle Street, Shrewsbury, said that the proposals formed part of the bureaucracy strangling thousands of small businesses.
The planned EU rules mean that hairdressers would have to don ‘suitable clothes’ and face a strict limit on the number of haircuts they can do each day.
And to prevent them suffering ‘emotional collapses’, bosses would be ordered to meticulously plan their working day so staff can have regular chats with each other.
“This kind of stupidity has to stop,” said Gavin, who has been in the hairdressing sector for over 20 years.
“We are working hard to create employment in our salons and these ridiculous rules could cost jobs. Hairdressers are creative, artistic people who enjoy looking good and take a pride in their appearance – to ban them from wearing jewellery and high heels is bonkers,” Gavin said.
UK government ministers have vowed to fight “tooth, nail and comb” against the scheme, which the National Hairdressing Federation estimates would cost them £3million.
The directives have been drawn up by EU Coiffure and UNI Europa Hair & Beauty - two organisations representing employers and workers across the union.
Brussels bureaucrats can reject them but in the past similar schemes have been nodded through.
