Introduction 

The development of occupational skin diseases is one of the most important health risks related to the exposure to chemical and physical risk in hairdressing. The prevention of occupational skin diseases is the overall aim in European countries. 

The representatives of the Social Dialogue “Hair and beauty” have already discussed the importance of a common health and safety standard in hairdressing in Europe. The University of Osnabrueck, Prof. Swen Malte John and Prof. Britta Wulfhorst, directed the EU financed project “SafeHair 1.0” in cooperation with Belgium (CSC Chimie), Denmark (Dansk Frisor and Kosmetiker Vorbund), Germany (Zentralverband des Deutschen Friseurhandwerks) and France (Federation Nationale de la Coiffure). 

The project SafeHair will support the implementation of occupational health and safety standards in hairdressing for the European Union (Declaration of Dresden). In addition SafeHair will give recommendation for the curriculum in vocational training of hairdressers. Furthermore, a questionnaire (EvaHair) was developed by the University of Osnabrueck to assess the state of the art of current health and safety standards in hairdressing and to evaluate the implementation process of new or modified health and safety standards.