This information is a reprint from the Professional Beauty Associations - I Am Licensed Campaign
The following explains how the regulation of the professional beauty
industry protects the consumer and how licensed professionals are accountable
for your health and safety.
Q: What kinds of beauty professionals have
licenses?
A: Hair stylists, colorists, barbers, estheticians and nail technicians are
licensed professionals.
Q: Did you know a cosmetology license
encompasses more than just hair?
A: Throughout their education, licensed professionals study skin and scalp
care, anatomy, biology, chemistry, and science-based infection control.
Q: Why is it important that your licensed
beauty professional be properly educated and licensed?
A: Licensed professionals are trained to utilize chemicals and tools safely
to avoid injuries and the spread of infectious diseases such as: burns, hair
damage and loss, ring worm, folliculitis, lice, cuts, ingrown toenail and
fungal infections, chemical burns, scarring, staph infections, nail separation,
permanent nail disfigurement, skin pigmentation damage, strep throat, skin
injuries due to waxing, infections after waxing, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C,
HIV, and athlete’s foot.
Q: Why does your state legislature regulate the
professional beauty industry?
A: Your state legislature creates laws to protect consumers and for the
betterment of all residents of your state. Regulating the professional beauty
industry provides consumer protection and consumer safety. Your state
legislature has established and granted authority to your state board of
barbering and cosmetology to regulate the professional beauty industry.
Q: What does legislation do?
A: The purpose of legislation is consumer health and safety. Legislation and
regulations establish educational requirements to ensure knowledge and
competency, which are verified by testing. Accountability is established
through licensing which is governed by state boards.
Q: Do you know the steps that your licensed
beauty professional takes to ensure your safety?
A: Beauty professionals first must complete hundreds of hours of schooling
where they learn about proper safety and sanitation procedures, graduate from a
cosmetology program, and successfully pass their state board exam to become a
licensed professional.
Q: How is your licensed beauty professional
held accountable to uphold these safety standards?
A: Your state board of barbering and cosmetology has in place a consumer
complaint resolution process that includes sending inspectors to examine
establishments, conducting hearings to address consumer complaints, and
assessing appropriate fines and penalties.
Q: What are some common safety standards
practiced by licensed beauty professionals in salons and spas?
A: Proper sanitation procedures are necessary to minimize the threat of
viral and bacterial infections, such as influenzas, warts, severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS), herpes simplex virus/human papillomavirus
(HSV/HPV), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), ringworm and
folliculitis. Laundry, combs and brushes, pedicure tubs, neck strips, capes,
head rests and sinks for shampooing, clips, sheers/scissors, tweezers, cuticle
clippers, work station including countertop and chair, nail clippers, and
barber clippers are all required to be sanitized.
Q: How do professionals comply with state and
federal standards put forth by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA)?
A: With the advancement of services, tools, equipment and products, licensed
professionals need to keep up with these changes in order to continue offering
the highest level of consumer safety standards. Continuing Education programs
provide licensed professionals with the information and skills required to
uphold these standards. Continuing education ensures that the workforce is
current on the latest health and safety standards.
Q: What could happen if a state removed all
regulations for licensed beauty professionals?
A: Standards for safety and sanitation would no longer exist. There would be
no inspectors to examine salons, no schooling required, no exam, no license,
and no consumer complaint resolution process. Without accountability, services
provided to you would be at your own risk!
