Right now in Texas, eight eyebrow threaders are suing the state over a law requiring them to go to cosmetology school and become licensed to practice their trade. While that might not seem like an absurd request, the threaders argue that they shouldn't need to do so. Some have been working as threaders for decades, and they don't want to pay thousands of dollars for cosmetology courses that don't teach threading techniques.
On the flip side, "unlicensed esthetician" isn't exactly the kind of phrase that builds consumer confidence. If an experienced threader were able to have a business without a license, then so could someone who has no experience. And although state law doesn't mention threading specifically, it basically says that if you're getting paid to beautify, you need a license.
What do you think? Do these threaders have a case?
Dries Van Noten
The ideal situation would be for the cosmetology school to offer a one week threading certification apart from the general cosmetology license.
1I don't think it's necessary. I've been going to get my brows threaded since high school. I don't think they were certified since it was like a family business. They had their teenage daughters doing it too. But they always did a great job.
2Unless they are doing other services like bleaching and waxing, they shouldn't need a cosmetology license. I agree with the suggestion for certification.
3I agree with the first comment. I think it would be wise for beauty schools to break their curriculum down into smaller segments that allow people to specialize. It is true that the school won't teach them about threading, but the state will be satisfied that they have a basic knowledge of skin care and sanitization.
4Maybe they can have some kind of exemption for threaders that are established or maybe like onlysourcherry mentioned a one week course.
5I think threaders are all really experienced. And if they didn't have a license, it's not like they can do much wrong except make your eyebrows ugly.
6I think the ones threadind for years should be grandfathered in but for someone to start ,they shoud at least have a certification
7Okay that's ridiculous. I can see a certification helping with consumer confidence, but to actually mandate a certification or license is a gross abuse of government power...
It's THREADING! What a waste of time and money!
8i dont think so. licensing is necessary for specializing in procedures that include chemicals and using razors or shears, in order to make sure the person doesn't hurt the public. you can't hurt someone with thread. this is so plainly just a way for the state to make more money off of em (applying for cosmetology tests sometimes cost $200 per attempt). assholes
9As a licensed esthetician in Texas I say yes, they should at least have a certification of some sort that shows they know the proper procedures for blood spills & what not. A license is required for waxing, sugaring and threading should be no different.
10Dear God. What kind of threading have you done/gotten that results in blood spills?
Unlike waxing, threading doesn't rip off a layer of skin.
Requiring them to get a license is ridiculous. I'll take a known threader with no certificate over a fully certified beautician that JUST learned how to do it, anyday.
Certificates don't really mean you know exactly what you're doing, just that you can fake it enough to convince the person testing you that you do.
11Not at all...
12Just another way of making services more expensive for the consumer. Why should a beautician using a technique that is not even taught in those cosmetic schools be required to have a license from them is beyond comprehension. Simply no logic.
13And no - threading does not result in blood spills any more than you are likely to get a blood spill while trying on a perfume at the mall.
It seems mean to force them to take these long courses. The first commenter is right, a one week course and that's it. Otherwise what's the point? What damage can they really do with a piece of thread. Seems like the city is trying to make money off of the certification costs.
14Blood spills from threading? Surely you jest.
15As a friend once said, one day one is going to need a license for brushing ones teeth.
16Isn't a license supposed to help the person performing the service?
17What if someone seriously got hurt, and tried to sue?
I think that anyone practicing something in the cosmotology field should have a degree, I don't want an advertising agency to have designers without degrees...why should this be a double standard?
More than likely...at least here...someone who would do the 'threading' would also do other things.
18If the cosmetology board were to walk in and see someone performing said service without a license...the shop would be fined and possibly even have their services suspended.
Being an Aesthetician, Threading artist, and master threading teacher, certification for threading is absolutely necessary. If your working on the skin there are important factors that come into play for everybody... sanitation, What to expect from different skin types, type of thread, shaping, how to treat before and after. There are too many people out there not doing threading correctly turning many people away from it, but when taught correctly it is an amazing technique. To be able to perform beauty services proper training is very important and needs to be required.
19I always thought that, in basic terms at least, you needed a license to be applying or treating someone's skin. If you were going to be in contact with someone's skin you would need one. If that's the case, then this should be included.
20There was a similar case some time ago...not sure which state. But women who did braiding for African Americans were required to be licensed as beauticians, even though no beauty courses taugh that skill. Not sure what happened....
I live in Texas and my threader is the mom of a friend, I pop over to her house to get it done. I don't care that she's not certified; she does a beautiful job.
21its a cultural thing... i mean I doubt cosmetic schools have this method as common place just yet. I mean all the threaders Ive gone to were in ethnic enclaves
22The first and only time I had my brows threaded, the woman knicked my skin in several places. It felt like a carpet burn and looked like someone had scraped a cheese grater on my face. The spots she cut became red and inflamed, and it took weeks before the skin was healed. I couldn't wear any eye makeup and had to go to a dermatologist to make sure the problem wasn't more serious. One year later, I still have dark skin where scars formed from the cuts.
The point is, a threader can mess up a person's face. Even if it's not something as serious as, say, a laser burn, it can damage the skin and create a horrible experience for clients like me. I happen to live in Texas, so I'm all in favor of this law.
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