Barbershop Inspections in Alabama and Mississippi
The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering conducts barbershop inspections in Alabama. 1 As shown in Figure 4, the board’s inspection form—which is also used for hair salons, nail salons, and other beauty and personal care establishments—looks for more than 15 violations. 2 Some relate to licensing, but most deal with general sanitation practices like “Implements Properly Cleaned, Sanitized, Stored, and Used.” Each standard gets a weighted score, with sanitary violations generally receiving a greater weight than licensing-related violations. A low score results in reinspection, with repeated violations making disciplinary action, including a fine, more likely. 3 A failed inspection means at least one of the following: (1) The shop has unlicensed staff; (2) the shop is providing unlicensed services; (3) the shop is violating health and safety standards. 4
Figure 4. Sample Inspection/Citation Report for Salons and Barbershops in Alabama

Note. Referenced opposite side provides explanations of numbered items 1 through 17.
During the period for the barber comparison, the Mississippi Board of Barber Examiners was responsible for inspecting barbershops in Mississippi. 5 The board’s inspection form—the first page of which is shown in Figure 5—lists over 20 possible violations, including licensing-related violations and health and safety violations. 6 Similar to Alabama, inspections can be failed, and fines imposed, for either or both types of violations, with fines compounding for repeated violations. Violations categorized as “Class C” are considered most serious and those categorized as “Class A” least serious. 7 Inspections result in an overall grade of A, B, or C, where a grade of C is in effect a failed inspection. There are no explicit criteria for how the grade is to be calculated. However, per the inspection form, an A is defined as “Excellent – no violations” and a C is defined as “Bad, must be improved” and “Unsatisfactory or subject to closure,” so a B presumably means that violations were both minor and few (e.g., a single first-time violation for barbers not being “neatly dressed”). Inspections occur initially and then biennially, though they can occur on a case-by-case basis for several reasons, including no reason. 8
Figure 5. Blank Inspection Report for Barbershops in Mississippi (First Page Only)

Note. Second page covers additional violations.