According to the Bureauof Labor Statistics, barbers, hairdressers, and cosmetologists are required
by ALL states to be licensed (with the exception of shampooers). Interested
workers of this field should satisfy all licensing requirements set by their
state board which includes graduating from a state approved school and taking
up continuing education programs from time to time (2 years in most states) if they pass the examination
after graduation (includes written or practical exam – both in some states).
Workers in this industry provide hair styling and
other beauty related services but they also must have the knowledge on the
science of everything that they do. A lot of people can cut and color their own
hair but not a lot of people have the ability to analyze the hair (texture,
flexibility, porosity, etc.) and determine what kind of chemicals will be right
to use for the hair – chemicals that will help the hair and not harm it. Everyone’s
health is different so the requirement for certain services is different (hair,
makeup, etc.). Cosmetologist’s needs to know all of the chemicals involved in
the service and they should have the capabilities to analyze the condition of
their client’s hair or skin health to be able to provide the right services.
They do not just provide suggestions for certain
chemicals because of personal experience; they also study the cause and effect
of certain chemicals (not just the product but its components) and they also
study the client. They are not doctors alright but they should know their
limitations or the things they can work on. For example, they are required by
law to not work with clients (or refer them to the right professional) with
nail diseases that are infectious.
Being able to cut or color hair is just one aspect
of this industry and there are a lot more things that they should be skilled at
or knowledgeable at that’s why they are required to have a license. Without
proper license (salon needs a license, and workers need a license) you risk
yourself of being penalized and even closed down. Recently, a salon owner has
been reported by TheMilford Daily News to have been ordered to shut down her salon for a certain
amount time, pay penalties and surrender her license. It was said that they
failed to properly sterilize their tools and provide proper supervision on the
use of wax.
Mistakes like those may seem to be small matters but
an unsterile tool can cause infection and it may spread not just from the
client to the professional but to other clients as well. That is just one of
the things regulatory boards would want to happen.
Remember not to take your license for granted and
always make sure that you follow all procedures specially when renewing your
cosmetology license as the required continuing education programs can help you
be updated with the industry and be in line with your state requirements and
help you avoid penalties and specially closures.
No comments:
Post a Comment