It has been said that life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges…until you find the perfect hairdresser. I think…scratch that. I KNOW this is true! Though I no longer wear elaborate, laborious hair styles, I still find it pertinent to find a hair stylist with just the right mix of professionalism, skill, and personality. My hair has been known to require a little extra something something when trying to curl it after a silk press. On the contrary, a shampoo and go style is actually not more than that: shampoo it and go! I guess that is why I just do that myself, and I opt to go to a salon for haircuts and lavish styling.
So what was with the lengthy, debatable topic of this blog? Well, just this morning, I received an email from the PBA, Professional Beauty Association. This organization keeps stylists aware of any legislature that may be detrimental to them. Currently, most states require at least 1500 hours of training, a written exam, and a practical exam in order to be granted a cosmetology license. Also, with consumer health in mind, most states also require licensed cosmetologists to take several hours of continuing education in the area of sanitation prior to license renewal. But across the country, legislation has been proposed to deregulate this industry.
Deregulation would mean that there would no longer be a governing body to ensure that minimum education requirements are met, no requirement for their to be any education to work as a cosmetology, nail tech, or esthetician. This would mean that no sanitation practices would be required in salons! This means that people with absolutely no experience will have the ability to work in any salon he or she wants without any governing body determining qualification for the position.
Whew! now I am finally addressing the title. Unlike other services, contracting someone to beautify your coifs is such a personal experience; the outcome is visible to the world, and depending on the service,can produce semi-permanent results. So, with that in mind, would YOU feel comfortable allowing a “stylist” with no credentials doing your hair? If yes, then what non-negotiable requirements do you set when seeking someone to provide tender loving care to your precious tendrils?
As a professional cosmetologist who has been licensed for 23 years this month, I find it quite offensive, unfair, and down-right wrong! Even if I was to disregard adverse effects of color and other chemical services gone awry, the threat to public health not being heeded is simply preposterous. There are so many communicable diseases that could easily be passed from patron to patron through an untrained ‘stylist’. With no one to require implements be sanitized, blood borne pathogens could run rampant in salons. Who wants that? Lets be honest; people who would only get in the field to make the quickest buck possible with no commitment of time in education, would likely take as many short cuts as possible to ensure the bottom line yields optimal profit margins.
So, in summary, states all of the county (click here to find out the most recent legislative news) are proposing to do away with cosmetology licensing. No training, no regard for public health, and no more distinction between qualified stylists and anyone with a blow dryer and shears. What other personal services would YOU entrust with your body, your health? Could you, with full confidence, visit a salon and give complete autonomy to the stylist working on your hair, knowing he or she did not have to take one minute of training, and could be oblivious to measures that prevent the spread of communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens? This is something to really think about.
If you find that your state has (or will) proposed deregulation for cosmetology, I encourage you to communicate with the congressmen representing your area. Let the states know that you want to feel comfortable about all of your cosmetology services without a threat of catching any of a plethora of diseases; you tell them that your health and safety are more important than saving a few bucks from the budget.
I want to know your thoughts on this very real possibility. Please comment below and share this blog with all your friends, colleagues, and relatives who have ever (or will ever) gotten any salon services. Until later, I wish you peace, love, and hair grease! Well, not really grease, but…it rhymes!
The M. Yvonne Blog 