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In partnership with Sam Marshall
HIV, Inclusion & Professional Standards
Creating safer, more inclusive salon environments through education, evidence-based practice and modern industry standards.
The Conversation Many Of Us Never Had
I grew up in the 80s and vividly remember, at 14 years old, sitting in the cinema watching Philadelphia and being absolutely terrified of AIDS. Fear around HIV was heavily embedded into my generation. We were taught to be frightened, warned constantly about risk, and surrounded by messaging that made HIV feel like a death sentence.
A few years later, when I started beauty training, those fears continued. Safety around blood borne viruses was drilled into us, often with HIV and AIDS at the centre of the conversation. Then, strangely, the conversation seemed to stop. The world moved on, medicine advanced, but many of us were never properly educated on what those advancements actually meant. I was left with the fear and warnings, but without the updated understanding.
In 2020, while speaking a lot about salon safety and standards, I shared a post mentioning that HIV could survive in wax pots. The information had come from an article I had found online. Sam Marshall very politely educated me, and honestly, I was completely mind blown. I had no idea how much HIV treatment, science and understanding had progressed.
It felt like there had been this huge gap where an entire generation had been taught to fear HIV, but never taught about the incredible advancements in treatment, prevention and quality of life for people living with HIV.
A few years later, Sam invited me to support some work with George House Trust and their campaign around HIV awareness within the hair and beauty industry. What saddened me most was hearing the experiences of people living with HIV who had been questioned, treated differently or even refused treatment within salons.
Given how I grew up, I understand why some therapists, especially those trained many years ago, may still carry fear or uncertainty. But times have changed, science has changed, and as professionals we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and do better.
Sam has done incredible work helping challenge outdated beliefs and reduce stigma surrounding HIV within our industry, and I honestly do not think that work has received the recognition it deserves.
I have put this page together in the hope that it gives professionals more clarity, encourages more informed conversations, and helps ensure that no person living with HIV is ever made to feel uncomfortable, questioned unnecessarily, or turned away from a salon because of outdated fear or misinformation.
Meet Sam Marshall
Sam Marshall has become one of the leading voices helping challenge outdated beliefs around HIV within the hair and beauty industry. Through her work with George House Trust, she has helped create clear, evidence-based guidance designed specifically for salons and beauty professionals.
At a time when stigma and misinformation still exist within parts of the industry, Sam’s work focuses on bridging the gap between modern HIV science and the understanding many professionals were originally trained with.
Through education, awareness campaigns and industry guidance, she has helped salons better understand consultation practices, inclusion, confidentiality and universal precautions, while encouraging a more informed and compassionate approach towards people living with HIV.
The educational guidance and policy shared on this page form part of the wider work being done to help create safer, more inclusive salon environments and reduce outdated stigma within the industry.
HIV – None Of Our Business
By Sam Marshall
I remember wondering if I could catch HIV from a toilet seat when sharing a holiday house with a friend living with HIV in 2009. That was where my knowledge around HIV was back then. Those tombstone adverts from the 80s stayed in our minds. This was seen as a death sentence and something anyone could catch.
That could not be further from the truth, and I want to help educate our industry to better understand the facts, the law, and why HIV should not appear on salon consultation forms.
Let’s debunk the myths surrounding HIV and beauty treatments, so no one living with HIV ever feels shame, embarrassment or discrimination within our industry.
There are still many misconceptions surrounding HIV and beauty treatments, especially around services such as electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up, whether disclosure is necessary, how medication interacts with treatments, and whether healing is slower in someone living with HIV.
These are all valid questions, but not questions your clients need to answer.
What Is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, a virus that weakens the human immune system. The immune system is our natural defence against disease and ill health.
If left undiagnosed and untreated, HIV can damage the immune system and leave people vulnerable to other infections.
HIV is now a long-term manageable health condition, with medication effectively reducing the amount of the virus in the body to the point where it cannot be detected.
HIV treatment has made huge advances, with 97% of people living with HIV in the UK receiving treatment. The life expectancy of someone living with HIV is now comparable to someone without the condition.
Public perception and societal knowledge around HIV have not always kept pace with medical advancements and improved prognosis.
Universal Precautions Protect Everyone
Professional hygiene standards should already protect every client and therapist equally, regardless of known status.
Hand Hygiene Thorough hand washing before and after every treatment.
Gloves & PPE Using appropriate protective equipment where required.
Sharps Safety Safe handling and disposal of sharp instruments.
Sterilisation Procedures Correct cleaning and sterilisation of tools and equipment.
Cross-Contamination Prevention Maintaining strict hygiene procedures throughout treatments.
Safe Disposal Procedures Responsible disposal of contaminated materials and waste.
Blood Spill Protocols Understanding and following professional blood spill procedures.
Professional Cleaning Standards
Maintaining a clean, hygienic working environment at all times.
What Does U = U Mean?
Fear around HIV transmission continues to fuel stigma, which is why the message “U = U” is so important.
U = U stands for “Undetectable = Untransmittable.”
This means that when a person living with HIV is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load, HIV cannot be sexually transmitted. This is supported by extensive scientific research and evidence.
For many people, becoming undetectable can happen within weeks or months of starting treatment, allowing them to live long, healthy lives.
It is also important that people who are not undetectable are never treated differently or unfairly.
Do People Have AIDS?
Another common misconception is that AIDS can be passed on. This is not the case.
HIV, the virus which can lead to AIDS (Advanced HIV), can be passed between individuals, but AIDS is merely a term used to describe a collection of illnesses.
AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome and is not the same as HIV. It is unlikely that the term AIDS would be used these days, particularly in healthcare. Advanced or late-stage HIV is how this would be referred to.
Even if someone becomes extremely ill with HIV, as long as it is diagnosed and treated in time for the immune system to recover, the person can recover to some extent. Early diagnosis and treatment are key.
No one “has AIDS,” you cannot catch AIDS and there is no such thing as an AIDS test.
Modern Salon Standards
Creating safer, more inclusive salon environments starts with education, professionalism and universal standards.
Universal hygiene standards should protect every client equally
HIV is not transmitted through routine beauty treatments
People living with HIV are not legally required to disclose their status
HIV is protected under the Equality Act 2010
Modern HIV treatment allows people to live long, healthy lives
Consultation forms should focus on relevant treatment safety only
Universal precautions should already be standard practice
Inclusive salons are built through education, not fear
Do I Need To Have HIV On My Consultation Form?
There has never been a recorded HIV transmission from piercings, tattoos, or any other cosmetic beauty treatment. It is incredibly hard to contract HIV in general. It loves that warm body environment, so with things like needlestick injuries or blood splatters, it is almost impossible to contract it. It takes less than a minute for HIV to die outside the human body in a blood spill.
I spoke to standards-setting body Habia and they confirmed that the rules you should be following for clients living with HIV are our universal hygiene procedures.
If you ask about HIV on your consultation form, ask yourself these questions:
Why do you need to know it?
What will you do with that information?
How are you going to treat that person differently?
Are you basing your hygiene protocols on asking someone if they have a contagious blood disorder?
Think about these questions because if it doesn’t affect your practice then it doesn’t need to be on your form. Plus, of those who know they have HIV, 97% are on treatment and are virally suppressed, so there is no risk.
Most transmissions occur when people aren't aware of their status and have a higher viral load, but even then, that would not be a risk factor in a beauty setting when following universal precautions.
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Don’t People Living With HIV Heal Differently?
One of the most common misconceptions is that those living with HIV cannot have certain treatments because they heal slower than those who are not living with HIV.
Dr Stephen Higgins, consultant physician in the department of sexual health and HIV at North Manchester General Hospital, confirmed:
“People living with HIV heal the same way as anyone else, so there’s no reason at all to refuse someone cosmetic treatment because of their medication.”
Paul Fairweather from George House Trust also commented:
“My health is fine, my life expectancy is normal and, in fact, there’s been research showing that people living with HIV have a higher life expectancy than those who don’t because we have so many check-ups and get our health monitored.”
Creating Safer & More Inclusive Salon Environments
Consultation Form Guidance
Consultation forms should focus on information that is genuinely relevant to treatment safety, contraindications and client wellbeing. Asking specifically about HIV status is unnecessary and can contribute to fear, stigma and discomfort for clients.
A more inclusive approach is to use general health and healing questions that apply equally to everyone.
Universal Precautions
Professional hygiene standards should already protect every client and therapist equally, regardless of known status. Gloves, sterilisation, sharps procedures and cross-contamination protocols should form part of standard salon practice at all times, not only when a condition is disclosed.
This section works well because it shifts the page from:
education → practical implementation.
Can I Refuse To Treat A Client Living With HIV?
There is a joint statement from the British HIV Association, British Association of Sexual Health and HIV, National AIDS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust, and HIV Scotland regarding reports of discrimination against people with HIV from some providers of cosmetic treatments and tattooing.
“Refusing to tattoo or to provide a cosmetic or routine beauty treatment to a client based on their HIV status cannot be justified. To do so would constitute discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.”
“HIV and HIV treatment are not contraindications to tattooing, piercing or cosmetic procedures, so it is not necessary to collect information on HIV when assessing clients prior to these.”
You can refuse treatment because someone is unwell or has another contraindication, but you need a valid reason to refuse treatment for any client, and HIV is never the reason.
What If I Want To Know About Existing Conditions Or Medications?
We need to take a full medical history for certain treatments, but asking someone’s HIV status bears no relevance.
HIV medication does not interact with beauty treatments.
What I ask all my clients for advanced treatments is:
“How do you heal?”
This is inclusive and can be asked to everyone.
What Is The Law Around HIV Disclosure?
People living with HIV are not legally required to tell anyone about their status, whether that is a sexual partner, medical professional or beauty therapist.
Many people living with HIV are afraid to openly share their status because of fear around stigma, judgement and discrimination. Something as simple as a tick-box exercise on a consultation form can be extremely distressing.
Professionals should carefully consider why they are asking questions around HIV, what they would do differently with that information, and whether it is actually relevant to safe salon practice.
SAFE HANDS: HIV Inclusion Training For The Beauty Industry
The UK’s first HIV inclusion course created specifically for hair, beauty and barbering professionals.
Developed by George House Trust alongside industry educator Sam Marshall, SAFE HANDS was created to help beauty professionals better understand HIV, reduce stigma and build more inclusive salon environments.
- HIV facts, transmission and treatment
- HIV and the law
- Universal precautions and salon safety
- Consultation forms and confidentiality
- Inclusive communication and reducing stigma
- Best practice within hair, beauty and barbering environments
The training has received endorsement from Habia and the British HIV Association and was created in response to research showing many people living with HIV still experience discrimination within salons and beauty environments.
HIV Inclusion & Salon Policy
Clear guidance for salons, beauty therapists and barbering professionals looking to create safer, more inclusive environments for clients living with HIV.
This policy covers consultation forms, confidentiality, universal precautions, Equality Act guidance and professional responsibilities, helping businesses better understand modern HIV guidance within the hair and beauty industry.
Designed to support education, reduce stigma and encourage consistent professional standards across the industry.
Frequent Asked Questions
Can HIV be transmitted through beauty treatments?
There has never been a recorded HIV transmission through routine beauty treatments when correct hygiene and universal precautions are followed.
Do clients need to disclose their HIV status?
No. People living with HIV are not legally required to disclose their HIV status to salons or beauty professionals.
What does U = U mean?
U = U stands for “Undetectable = Untransmittable.” This means a person living with HIV who is on effective treatment and has an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit HIV.
Should HIV appear on salon consultation forms?
Current guidance suggests consultation forms should focus on information that is genuinely relevant to treatment safety. Universal hygiene precautions should already protect every client equally.
Is HIV protected under the Equality Act 2010?
Yes. HIV is recognised as a protected disability under the Equality Act 2010 from the point of diagnosis.
Can a salon refuse treatment because someone is living with HIV?
Refusing treatment solely because a person is living with HIV may constitute discrimination under UK law.
Do people living with HIV heal differently after treatments?
Modern evidence shows that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment generally heal the same way as anyone else.
Is HIV the same as AIDS?
No. HIV is the virus. AIDS is a term historically used to describe advanced HIV where the immune system has become severely weakened.
Why is HIV stigma still an issue within salons?
Many professionals were originally trained during a time when fear and misinformation around HIV were widespread. Education has not always kept pace with medical advancements.
What are universal precautions?
Universal precautions are the hygiene and safety standards professionals should follow for every client, regardless of known medical status.
Helpfull Links
George House Trust
Supporting people living with HIV through education, advocacy and community support. George House Trust has worked closely with the hair and beauty industry to improve understanding, reduce stigma and create more inclusive salon environments.
SAFE HANDS HIV Inclusion Course
The UK’s first HIV inclusion course created specifically for hair, beauty and barbering professionals. Developed to help salons better understand HIV, consultation practices, universal precautions and inclusive communication.
Terrence Higgins Trust
One of the UK’s leading HIV charities, providing trusted information, support services, testing guidance and national campaigns focused on improving awareness and reducing stigma around HIV.
British HIV Association (BHIVA)
Providing evidence-based medical guidance and professional standards around HIV care, treatment and education. BHIVA works to improve understanding and ensure accurate, up-to-date information is accessible.
Equality Act 2010 Guidance
Understanding discrimination law within salon environments, including the legal protections in place for people living with HIV under UK equality legislation.
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