Beauty Professionals

in georgia deserve beauty, not barriers

There’s no denying that beauty professionals deserve more flexible training options that cater to their specific needs, and shouldn’t be forced into costly, traditional cosmetology programs—especially those who have already mastered specific and in-demand skillsets like makeup application or blow-outs.

Some states allow narrow services that don’t involve chemicals or cutting to be provided without first graduating from a lengthy, traditional program.  This has allowed beauty artists to design their own careers, forgo debt, seek the specific training they need, and start earning sooner—and has allowed salon owners to grow their businesses faster.

would this flexibility help you?

georgia requires muas to spend 1,000 hours in a traditional, costly cosmetology program. the state is tied for having the steepest requirements nationwide.
Blow-dry hair stylists who don’t cut or use chemicals have to spend 1,140 hours in school.
that’s not fair.

Would getting rid of these hours requirements help you or your salon?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW?
PLEASE SIGN UP HERE AND WE WILL REACH OUT WITH MORE INFORMATION!

We are Beauty, Not Barriers, a nonprofit initiative working to make it less costly to work in the beauty industry.

did you know:

13 STATES EXEMPT MUAS FROM COSMETOLOGY LICENSING. 6 states exempt blow-dry styling.

  • None of these services involve chemicals or cutting.
  • This has saved beauty professionals money and time and allowed them to focus on seeking tailored training and building their careers based on their talent, passion, and reputation, and not on a state-issued certificate.
  • In states that don’t require a license, clients are protected by existing consumer protection laws.
  • Georgia already allows those working at makeup counters selling products to apply full makeup to any member of the public without a license. What changes when makeup is applied outside of a mall? Why should talented individuals be prohibited from expanding past retail sales?
  • Cosmetology schools lobby to keep state hour requirements in place and high, because they profit off of every hour you spend in school – and sometimes, twice, when they charge customers for services that students are required to provide for free.

It’s not fair that beauty professionals face steeper and more costly licensing requirements than so many other fields.

Education

Chefs prepare food that is ingested by customers and aren’t required to get a license or go to school. They take a short, simple sanitation course, and the restaurant is subject to inspections. It’s up to the chef whether they want to go to culinary school.  

Time

In Georgia, EMTs – who administer life-saving aid – have to get 150 hours of training to get a license to work. Compare that to 1,000 hours for makeup and at least 1,140 hours to blow-dry style hair. That’s not fair.

Regulations

Personal trainers aren’t required to have a license. Tattooing is riskier and more invasive than what makeup artists do, but Georgia does not require a license from the state.

it’s 2023: It doesn’t make sense to require beauty artists to spend so much time in traditional, costly cosmetology programs, when there are so many other, more affordable training options – especially when it comes to narrow services that don’t involve chemicals or cutting.
While aspiring beauty professionals are in school—spending money and not making money—those in other occupations are learning on the job or practicing their crafts while earning a living from day one. That’s not fair to beauty professionals.
We believe that beauty professionals deserve better.

learn More

Beauty, Not Barriers is an initiative of the Institute for Justice, a non-profit organization that works alongside beauty professionals and other workers nationwide to change laws that make it hard to earn a living.  So often, state laws require way too much to work in an occupation—like expensive and excessive training, which profits the schools at the expense of students going into debt.  

  • There are better and far more affordable alternatives to these kinds of laws, that allow training to be tailored to the students’ needs.
  • The alternatives would make it easier for existing and aspiring beauty professionals alike to work in the industry.  
  • We support beauty, opportunity, entrepreneurship, professionalism, and safety.  We are against barriers. 
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