A January 2021 executive order requires Utah executive agencies to identify occupational regulations that are no longer necessary or can be reined in to reduce barriers to entry. One regulation that should be on the table is cosmetology licensing. This policy brief draws on a national study to explore the experiences of people pursuing cosmetology careers in Utah. Key findings include:
- State-mandated cosmetology school is expensive and time-consuming.
- Utah cosmetology programs do a poor job of graduating students on time—or even at all.
- Cosmetology school rarely pays off in terms of earnings.
- Our data suggest Utah’s licensing requirements are the reason cosmetology school takes so long.
Together, these findings suggest cosmetology licensing fails aspiring beauty workers in the Beehive State; instead, licensing primarily serves to transfer wealth from students and taxpayers to cosmetology schools. Utah policymakers should take a hard look at whether licensing is the proper way to regulate cosmetology.
Related Cases
Cosmetology | Economic Liberty
Oklahoma Eyelashes
Brandy Davis is a licensed eyelash extension specialist who is being blocked from doing her job by the Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology and Licensing. She's suing in state court to challenge the board's licensing requirements.
Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing
Oklahoma Threading
Oklahoma requires eyebrow threaders to spend 600 hours learning skills that have nothing to do with eyebrow threading. This useless regulation prevents people from earning an honest living, which is why two eyebrow threaders have…
Cosmetology | Economic Liberty | Fresh Start | Occupational Licensing
Pennsylvania Fresh Start
A Pennsylvania law prevented Amanda and Courtney from earning an honest living because of unrelated criminal records. After IJ stepped in to defend their rights, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled this law was unconstitutional.