Bill to End Indiana Beautician Licensing Requirements Outrages Citizens

On Monday morning, the Indiana General Assembly will meet to determine, among other things, whether or not Indiana beauticians should be required to have a professional license in order to legally operate in the state of Indiana. This could have serious financial consequences for a state already struggling to create any forward financial movement. More than that, it could have a drastic impact on those who have already paid for and are seeking to obtain their license to practice in Indiana as well as those who are already licensed.

With the economy only showing signs of improvement through calculations based on the numbers of people on unemployment insurance, you can be sure that people are already cutting back on the amounts they spend on items not necessary to survival. That means licensed Indiana beauticians are already struggling. Common sense dictates that things will only get worse if licensed Indiana beauticians have to compete with the surely lower rates of unlicensed beauticians.

One Facebook poll suggests this may not be the case, since most people won't pay an unlicensed beautician to do their hair. Ninety-five percent of the voters would only get their hair cut by a licensed beautician, whether they knew them personally or not. Zero percent of the voters would go to an unlicensed beautician, whether they knew them or not and five percent of voters cut their own hair.

Below are some of the thoughts from patrons of hair salons.

* "It is a requirement in AZ as well. I think given the possible health risks (sharp tools and pedicure/manicure equip) licenses are a good thing." -- Rissa Watkins, Phoenix.

* "I think it's actually important for beauticians to be licensed, since incorrect hygiene can lead to the spread of bacteria, disease and pests (like lice). Licensing here means that you have a better chance of the practitioner understanding what safety measures are needed to minimize those things." -- Amy Pierce, Detroit.

* "Barbers and beauticians are VERY different. Here in Oklahoma, only a barber can use a straight edge - not beauticians or even nurses. Beauticians can't shave men with anything and nurses can only do it with a "regular" razor. A friend went to beauty college and then to barber school so she could "do it all." You should see how great my hair looks cut with a straight razor! She's a genius!" -- Emma Riley Sutton, Oklahoma City

One can only hope that if the law passes, stylists will receive higher pay for obtaining a license and salons will have to divulge whether or not they hire unlicensed beauticians. At any rate, salons who do hire unlicensed beauticians can expect a drop in income as retailers who only sell to licensed beauticians withdraw their accounts.