SALT LAKE CITY — On Wednesday, Utah’s Capitol was packed with students and beauty professionals wearing black clothing. The first reason for the “blackout” is that head-to-toe black clothing is the typical uniform in the beauty industry. The second reason: They’re concerned.

The Utah Beauty Schools Owners Association organized the rally, calling on Utah beauty professionals to dress in their smart work attire to protest what they called “devastating changes” proposed by lawmakers.

The proposal, originally presented in February, aims to completely abolish licenses for beauticians, hairdressers and master beauticians, and instead introduce smaller licenses for services currently covered by these licenses, such as microneedling, eyelash extensions and eyebrow treatments.

With the change, technicians in each micro area would be required to have 100 hours of training, a small amount compared to the current requirement for a full license, which is 1,200 hours, according to Lauren Dimalanta, a student at the Avalon Institute studying to be an esthetician.

Dimalanta said the changes would affect her, in part, because she has already completed a large number of hours in the program.

“What they don’t realize is how much basic knowledge we learn. From disease education to how contaminants spread to how to properly clean tools and supplies,” Dimalanta said. “One hundred hours is not enough to say someone is certified in the field.”

Additionally, there are concerns about financial assistance through Title IV funding, which requires students in vocational programs to complete at least 600 hours over a period of at least 15 weeks, according to the Utah Beauty Schools Owners Association.

“With lower Title IV funding, students will have to look for alternative sources of funding, such as private loans, which typically have less favorable terms than federal loans. This would increase the financial burden on students and potentially discourage them from enrolling in the program,” the association said.

Literally hundreds of cosmetology students and professionals gathered at the Utah State Capitol this afternoon…

This is just a room full of overflow – the Trade Committee is discussing the change of certificates and licenses within the industry#UTLEG #KSLTV@KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/kEcEJqJSNk

— Dan Spindle KSL (@DanSpindleKSL) 21 August 2024

In addition to the health risks, which include chemical burns and other potentially painful problems for customers, Dimalanta is concerned about the threat to business owners in the industry.

“By doing this, you are taking away our business. As an esthetician, we cannot work with reputable skin care companies that offer ‘medical grade’ products that you can only get at your local esthetician’s office,” she said. “With mini-certifications, you would be shutting down self-made businesses… a full license allows estheticians to work in dermatology offices, in plastic surgery offices, alongside oncology doctors and, of course, in spas and salons.”

Dimalanta noted that many students who begin training in this field are often very young and even recent high school graduates.

Utah’s Business and Labor Committee was scheduled to hear a presentation from the Office of Professional Licensure Review on Wednesday and then vote on whether or not to pass the proposal into law.

Beauticians protest against draft law on licensing