Things must be getting desperate at the NY Times if they let that op/ed fly. The gentleman made some excellent points. Is it important for a barber or hairdresser to be able to prove their expertise and training? Absolutely. Should the government extort money and claim to offer the "right to practice"? Absolutely not. People need choices, the author of the Op/Ed reference points out that government intervention in service industries only limits choices for us less affluent.
While I can see your point, I must disagree as by doing away with licensing of barbers and hairdressers would open the door for any schmoe off the street to open up shop and cut hair.
The way it is now, there's a state board exam to be passed as part of the licensing process for barbers and hairdressers.
I know you addressed Howard and not me, Raymond, I'm sure he will answer you in his words. But if I may:
From the referenced Op/Ed:
"..... instead allow for certification. This lesser form of regulation provides a distinction in the eyes of a consumer but does not forbid others from offering the service." and "Also, all consumers do not demand the same level of quality."
A certification process (voluntary) is a way to show that you are not just "any schmoe off the street". To the second quote, I might walk into anywhere and get a haircut, because I don't have much hair to begin with and don't really care how it looks. You may be more discerning and wouldn't go to a non-certified barber. Yours and my independent choices. If Schmoe opens up shop and screws up some peoples' hair, then word will get out fast. There's so much social media opportunity these days, he won't have any customers, quickly. If it's a health issue (head lice comes to mind) then again he could post a health inspection certificate (voluntary) or not and that would cause a customer to either sit in the chair or not.
Sometimes even the licensed folks get it wrong. Many years ago I went to Edie Adams' Cut & Curl (yes, the singer and cigarette pitch woman once owned a chain of beauty parlors) and I had a Page Boy haircut and I asked the guy to trim my bangs. And trim them he did, wacking them off within an inch of my hairline. Then he said "You look a little girl!" But I was in my 20s and that wasn't the look I was aiming for...The bangs grew out of course, but I looked goofy for at least three months.
You need a license to drive, to prove your safe behind the wheel
You need a license for your dog, to prove you got him his shots
You need a license for your bike, to prove you know the safety rules
You need a license to be a skilled craftsman (plumber, electrician, contractor, HVAC) so you dont fook up someones home...
BUT
You just go ahead and have as many children as you like, because we dont need you to prove that you can/will take care of those.....and even if we did we're too nice as a society to tell you that if you have chronic medical issues, or poor life skills, you shouldnt breed. I mean its cool that you have a 7th grade reading level, and no income, just pop those babies out!
I don't think it is unreasonable for the state to require licensing of folks who wield sharp objects on other humans. I don't care about licensing based on the ability to give a quality haircut - the market will reward or punish the art of the cut. However, health basics such as sterilization of the tools and other safety issues are paramount.
Oh, and no limits on the number of licenses issued. A person qualifies, they get a license. No quotas or maximums.
I will continue to compensate anyone I feel like to cut my hair. I use reputation as my gauge and the self taught person I use has an excellent one. I would never ever think to tell anyone where they should get this service done so please allow me the same courtesy.
Barbers & hairstylists are
Barbers & hairstylists are already licensed in NY State.
License's have been required
License's have been required in NYS for over forty years that I know of
Things must be getting
Things must be getting desperate at the NY Times if they let that op/ed fly. The gentleman made some excellent points. Is it important for a barber or hairdresser to be able to prove their expertise and training? Absolutely. Should the government extort money and claim to offer the "right to practice"? Absolutely not. People need choices, the author of the Op/Ed reference points out that government intervention in service industries only limits choices for us less affluent.
Just because it's been done
Just because it's been done for x number of years doesn't mean it should be done.
Howard, While I can see your
Howard,
While I can see your point, I must disagree as by doing away with licensing of barbers and hairdressers would open the door for any schmoe off the street to open up shop and cut hair.
The way it is now, there's a state board exam to be passed as part of the licensing process for barbers and hairdressers.
I know you addressed Howard
I know you addressed Howard and not me, Raymond, I'm sure he will answer you in his words. But if I may:
From the referenced Op/Ed:
"..... instead allow for certification. This lesser form of regulation provides a distinction in the eyes of a consumer but does not forbid others from offering the service." and "Also, all consumers do not demand the same level of quality."
A certification process (voluntary) is a way to show that you are not just "any schmoe off the street". To the second quote, I might walk into anywhere and get a haircut, because I don't have much hair to begin with and don't really care how it looks. You may be more discerning and wouldn't go to a non-certified barber. Yours and my independent choices. If Schmoe opens up shop and screws up some peoples' hair, then word will get out fast. There's so much social media opportunity these days, he won't have any customers, quickly. If it's a health issue (head lice comes to mind) then again he could post a health inspection certificate (voluntary) or not and that would cause a customer to either sit in the chair or not.
Nobody should have to suffer
Nobody should have to suffer through a bad haircut.
Sometimes even the licensed
Sometimes even the licensed folks get it wrong. Many years ago I went to Edie Adams' Cut & Curl (yes, the singer and cigarette pitch woman once owned a chain of beauty parlors) and I had a Page Boy haircut and I asked the guy to trim my bangs. And trim them he did, wacking them off within an inch of my hairline. Then he said "You look a little girl!" But I was in my 20s and that wasn't the look I was aiming for...The bangs grew out of course, but I looked goofy for at least three months.
Riddle me this. You need a
Riddle me this.
You need a license to drive, to prove your safe behind the wheel
You need a license for your dog, to prove you got him his shots
You need a license for your bike, to prove you know the safety rules
You need a license to be a skilled craftsman (plumber, electrician, contractor, HVAC) so you dont fook up someones home...
BUT
You just go ahead and have as many children as you like, because we dont need you to prove that you can/will take care of those.....and even if we did we're too nice as a society to tell you that if you have chronic medical issues, or poor life skills, you shouldnt breed. I mean its cool that you have a 7th grade reading level, and no income, just pop those babies out!
I don't think it is
I don't think it is unreasonable for the state to require licensing of folks who wield sharp objects on other humans. I don't care about licensing based on the ability to give a quality haircut - the market will reward or punish the art of the cut. However, health basics such as sterilization of the tools and other safety issues are paramount.
Oh, and no limits on the number of licenses issued. A person qualifies, they get a license. No quotas or maximums.
I will continue to compensate
I will continue to compensate anyone I feel like to cut my hair. I use reputation as my gauge and the self taught person I use has an excellent one. I would never ever think to tell anyone where they should get this service done so please allow me the same courtesy.