Hair braider sues Utah, says law requiring cosmetology license is irrelevant to her craft

[alp227]

Source: Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — A part-time hair braider sued Utah on Tuesday, claiming the state’s requirements to obtain a cosmetology license are irrelevant to her job and an unconstitutional infringement on her right to earn a living.

Jestina Clayton learned how to braid hair as a 5-year-old in her West African home country of Sierra Leone. Now living outside Salt Lake City, the 28-year-old said she braids hair as a side business to support her two children while her husband finishes school.

Last year, Clayton discovered her business was illegal without a license. Utah law requires anyone working with hair, including hair braiders, to take about 2,000 hours of coursework in order to obtain a cosmetology license. Industry representatives say tuition for such classes could cost between $9,000 and $19,000 nationwide.

Clayton, who makes up to $4,800 on a good year, said that even if she could afford the classes, the courses in Utah do not specifically address hair braiding.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/hair_braider_sues_utah_says_law_requiring_cosmetology_license_is_irrelevant_to_her_craft/2011/04/26/AFXiCxrE_story.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. Regressive Party Big government

All they want to do is put everyone in a box so they can control them
because they have so much trouble controlling their own satanic urges

[Drale]

2. Well if she did take those classes,

she would learn more then just how to braid hair and she would probably make more money. Just playing the devils advocate.

[JI7]

4. that should be her choice, not a requirement where she has to pay thousands of dollars

for something she doesn't need to do the job she is currently doing.

and i bet she probably does a better job than people who just learned through those "classes".

many of those schools should be illegal anyways.

[damntexdem]

6. Yeah, she might learn how to set up a sham cosmetology school ...

and scam many others out of their money to "learn" things irrelevant to what they already know how to do.

[JI7]

3. was that pushed by some private for profit "schools" , most of those should be illegal

this is stupid.

[rocktivity]

5. I believe they tried to pull this in Los Angles, too

Braiding hair doesn't involve a knowledge of chemicals. Otherwise, ANYONE who braided their hair would need a cosmetology license. If Utah needs tax revenue that badly, they should Ombama to un-extend the Bush tax cuts.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Cobalt Violet]

7. it involves sanitation codes

Like it on not hairdressing is a profession that requires a license in all states.

[Mugweed]

8. soon to not be in Florida

This is one of the aspects of the deregulation bill soon to be passed, that not just covers braiding but all cosmetology. It almost included the abandonment of the Professional Geologist and Professional Surveyor. Rick Scott is a criminal scum...just my opinion.

[Cobalt Violet]

9. That's not a good thing.

Any idea what corporation wanted licensing removed from cosmetology?

[Dappleganger]

14. N/M, found it on my own.

It does appear that the barber/cosmetology deregulation was stripped out of the bill as of April, but body/hair wrapping and braiding are still in there.

What a shock will people get when they move to any other of the 49 states and discover they won't have a way to make a living because they didn't do the classroom time to get their license!

[jberryhill]

10. One might think that a shorter course in appropriate hygenic practice would be sufficient /nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. I am with you on that

[Odin2005]

12. Corporatist BS pretending to be "regulation".

[CBGLuthier]

13. My mother is a licensed cosmetologist.

Has been for about thirty years. Owns her own shop.

There is a lot more to the licensing requirements other than just handling chemicals. You have to learn basic sanitation and how not to spread disease.

One of the advantages of living in a modern county instead of a third world shithole is that practices like this are regulated.

As one poster said, she could learn more skills and make more money if she were properly trained.

Now she is just a health risk.

[Dappleganger]

15. +10000

IMO it's just like nail technicians who need to be licensed (requires training). Anytime someone works with skin and multiple customers with a risk of transmitting diseases, fungus, lice, etc. there should be required training.

I feel for the woman but if she'd been cutting hair or doing nails she'd still be out of compliance. Laws are there to protect the public.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. agreed