Thirty-nine offences and 42 warnings have been issued to beauty parlours and hair salons in Mussaffah over poor hygiene.

Abu Dhabi Municipality said on Saturday that the offences and warnings were handed out following 541 inspection visits, during which inspectors recorded violations such as the use of non-sterilised equipment and cosmetics.

Other illegal activities found during inspections included receiving children as customers and offering them hair-cutting or other services, which the municipality described as a “flagrant and express violation of the law” and conditions governing services for children.

Some parlours were using expired or fake substances, had dirty floors, or displayed “careless attention to hair washers, improper placing of cosmetics and little attention to cleaning”, the municipality said.

The violations were recorded during a two-month campaign that started in June, and is part of municipality efforts to educate the public about health and safety standards that beauty parlours and salons should follow. Inspection visits were carried out in the morning and evening.

The municipality has also organised workshops and lectures for salon staff to highlight how diseases can spread because of poor hygiene practices at salons, and the proper way to handle cosmetics and tools.