Charles Sternberg, Assistant Editor02.24.21
The Professional Beauty Association (PBA), the national trade organization representing manufacturers, distributors, salon and spa business owners, and licensed beauty professionals, is strongly opposing House Bill 2325 which would deregulate licensing for hair, skin and nail services in West Virginia. PBA alleges that this bill has been fast tracked without a thorough understanding of what this means for both the professional beauty industry and consumers.
House Bill 2325 was substituted on February 22 to prevent the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from regulating the use, application, or administration, by unlicensed persons whether for compensation or not of hair, nail, skin, and other beauty products that are commonly available as retail, consumer products.
Salons throughout the United States were shut down due to Covid and many are still only open with a reduced capacity due to health and safety. According to PBA, HB 2325 disregards these measures. West Virginia’s phase two reopening plan placed a standard of protocols to re-open and operate safely. As part of the WV reopening plan the following is stated:
“It is acknowledged that all services within the [beauty] industry carry some risk in this viral environment due to the nature of the services provided and the inability to maintain social distancing. With that said, licensed or certified professionals have been trained to mitigate these risks significantly through the use of proper infection control standards required by the state regulatory licensing rules and regulations.”
Small businesses in the professional beauty industry are looking for support, especially as they continue to try to recover from the impact of Covid-19. Licensed beauty professionals’ education and training are more important now than ever as their mandated education allows them to provide a safe salon environment and safe services to clients.
Instead of supporting the recovery of small beauty businesses, 73% of which are owned by women, House Bill 2325 will ignore training and education that keeps clients safe by allowing anyone that can purchase a beauty product to provide beauty services for compensation. PBA argues that the mandatory training and education that is required in all fifty states for licensed beauty professionals is in place to protect clients from the spread of bacteria and diseases.
PBA is urging beauty professionals take action and send a notice to their legislator.
House Bill 2325 was substituted on February 22 to prevent the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists from regulating the use, application, or administration, by unlicensed persons whether for compensation or not of hair, nail, skin, and other beauty products that are commonly available as retail, consumer products.
Salons throughout the United States were shut down due to Covid and many are still only open with a reduced capacity due to health and safety. According to PBA, HB 2325 disregards these measures. West Virginia’s phase two reopening plan placed a standard of protocols to re-open and operate safely. As part of the WV reopening plan the following is stated:
“It is acknowledged that all services within the [beauty] industry carry some risk in this viral environment due to the nature of the services provided and the inability to maintain social distancing. With that said, licensed or certified professionals have been trained to mitigate these risks significantly through the use of proper infection control standards required by the state regulatory licensing rules and regulations.”
Small businesses in the professional beauty industry are looking for support, especially as they continue to try to recover from the impact of Covid-19. Licensed beauty professionals’ education and training are more important now than ever as their mandated education allows them to provide a safe salon environment and safe services to clients.
Instead of supporting the recovery of small beauty businesses, 73% of which are owned by women, House Bill 2325 will ignore training and education that keeps clients safe by allowing anyone that can purchase a beauty product to provide beauty services for compensation. PBA argues that the mandatory training and education that is required in all fifty states for licensed beauty professionals is in place to protect clients from the spread of bacteria and diseases.
PBA is urging beauty professionals take action and send a notice to their legislator.
