Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1339654
N ot a m e m b e r ? J o i n at a s so c iate d h a i rp rofe s sio n a ls .c o m 35 How do we protect employees from unethical owners, students from predatory schools, businesses from unfair competition, and ourselves from unsafe products? The more questions we ask and the more research we do, the more confident we can be in our advocacy. T he most consequential impacts on our businesses derive from the actions of state governments. Yet, the general lack of knowledge among beauty licensees and salon owners about how government functions has become glaringly obvious—and an increasing liability. When state legislatures convene for their next sessions, our industry will not receive much consideration aside from the expected and routine introduction of deregulation bills. In the past, these proposals may not have gained much traction, but to ignore them—or any proposals related to the beauty industry—would be foolish. As the coronavirus pandemic sharpens focus on what matters most, existing laws and regulations— particularly those concerning health and safety—deserve scrutiny. Changes will be warranted. But instead of allowing the pandemic to be used as justification to undermine our interests, beauty professionals should advocate for legislation to address issues that have long plagued our industry. Tackling the issues of unlicensed activity, labor exploitation, worker safety, incompetent service providers, and tax evasion demands leadership that's been largely lacking. When we wait for government to take appropriate and enforceable action, we're bound to be disappointed and frustrated. Witness the complaints in social media, which often reveal ignorance and apathy. We have ourselves to blame for not being informed and engaged. We neither collaborate with legislators nor hold them accountable. Until we participate in the political process beyond merely voting, we will continue to struggle against misinformation and misguided policies. Legislators, regulators, and the entire beauty industry would benefit from increased involvement from individuals representing different roles: licensees, salon owners, manufacturers, distributors, school owners, instructors/educators, etc. BE INFORMED My role as a licensed manicurist and owner of an employee-based salon influences my perspective, but I make every effort to understand the issues from multiple and often competing perspectives before expressing an opinion. We don't need more opinions to attract attention; we need more informed opinions to advance our interests. For any beauty-related issue, I first consider how to reconcile the state's responsibility to protect consumers with a stylist's efforts to succeed in this industry. Furthermore, how do we protect employees from unethical owners, students from predatory schools, businesses from unfair competition, and ourselves from unsafe products? The more questions we ask and the more research we do, the more confident we can be in our advocacy. As beauty industry advocates, we should position ourselves to propose viable solutions to our problems and recognize our own weaknesses before others weaponize them. More important, we need to lead by example to demonstrate that our solutions have feasibility and merit. MAKING CHANGE Before any further discussion about problems and solutions, allow me to share my observations about how beauty professionals have responded to this recent and significant adversity. While our work has implications for client health, we're not health- care workers. We're not essential as defined by the rest of society and our government. Any attempt to pursue such a designation would be futile. Contrary to what some believe, our beauty school education and licensure in no way qualify us as health experts. To argue otherwise makes us look unprofessional when we should defer to public health officials, doctors, and scientists for expert guidance. If we want changes, our ability to comply and adapt (in that order) will give us an advantage when we seek consensus with legislators and regulators. As much as some would like our issues addressed at the federal level, the reality confines our efforts to state governments. The circumstances and laws may vary considerably from state to state, so