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February 2010
CALFORNIA
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 944226 • Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
Information: 1-800-952-5210 | www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Board) receives approximately 3,000 complaints annually. From July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, the Board had received 1,431 complaints. The majority of complaints are submitted by the public and refer to a variety of topics, ranging from unlicensed activity and unsanitary conditions to consumer harm and dissatisfaction with services. Here are some simple things you can do to avoid complaints being filed against you or your business.
• Only employ licensed workers
• Make sure the salon or shop has a valid establishment license issued by the Board
• Keep your work station in a sanitary condition
• Throw away used disposable tools (cotton pads, sponges, emery boards, etc.)
• Follow the Board’s health and safety laws and regulations
• Provide good customer service
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude
• Only perform services you know will achieve the desired result for the client
If a client complains to you, try to resolve the situation quickly and effectively. Be polite, respectful and courteous while asking the client what you can do to remedy the problem. If their request is fair and reasonable, accommodate the request. Making sure all your clients leave satisfied will ensure their repeated business and reflects positively on you and the salon or shop you work in.
For further information, contact the Board at www.barbercosmo.ca.gov or 1-800-952-5210.
During the last four years, I have had the privilege of serving the consumers and beauty/ barbering professionals in California as the president of the State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
With the completion of my four year term, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments our board has achieved and take time for some well deserved recognition of those who served with me along the way.
At the offset, I am happy to say the board and our industry is in a much better place than the way I found it when I entered my term. In 2004, we were on the verge of a senate mandated sunset in the wake of what, up to that point, had been a fragmented board that was non-responsive both to consumers and industry alike.
Imagine what it was like for a person who, after completing a 1600-hour, 10-month cosmetology course to be told they have a nine-month wait to receive an exam date to start their career as a licensee.
Four years later, we have moved to become not only the largest board of its type in the U.S. with close to a half million licensees, but also one of the most industry-relevant, accessible and professionally oversight institutions in California and the U.S.
Here are some of the meaningful reforms our board has achieved in the last four years:
• Out-of-state cosmetology license reciprocity with all 50 states
• Institution of the NIC national written exam
• Reform of the Cosmetology Externship program
• All stipulated elements of the legislature as to their last three Sunset Reviews were addressed, accomplished or in action plan
• Master strategic plan, revised mission/vision statements, measurable goals and time lines
• New protocols for the sanitation/disinfection of foot spas
• Major industry and consumer outreach through industry participation by the board through publications and shows
• Major curriculum reform for all the five license categories
• Increase in health and safety requirements for consumer protection
• Reform of the citation/inspection process to assure fair due process
• Adoption of board rules and protocols for board members
• Reduction of wait times for exam from six-nine months to six-eight weeks
• Increased enforcement to address unlicensed and illegal activity
• Positive apprenticeship program reform
• Strategic cooperation with state departments and agencies as well as the legislature and administration
• Industry task forces and advisory groups to advise the board on pertinent issues and challenges
• Open board meetings inviting both industry and consumer participation to assure broad based input for the decision making process of our board
I need to acknowledge my fellow board members without whose passion, perseverance, tenacity and commitment to their appointments has been nothing short of amazing. To our industry members who walk the fine line between consumer protection and furthering the interests of our industry, as a licensee I have never been so proud to serve with fellow professionals. To our non-industry members never has our industry had an embracing accepting collective who balance oversight with insight as you have and our industry shall be always grateful for the balance you bring to our board.
No greater appreciation can go to our executive officer, Kristy Underwood and staff. It’s easy for a board to dream of great things but it takes an awesome executive leader to make the dream list come true consistently despite the current challenges facing state government agencies.
Lastly, I would like to thank my fellow industry share takers in California who allowed me to serve my industry that has so richly blessed my professional and personal life for the last 35 years. I have always faithfully tried to fulfill the promise I made to leave my term in office with the state of my industry better than the way I found it.
I hope all will agree that while there is still much left to achieve the present positive state, our industry can enjoy due to a responsive and forward thinking board will lay a firm foundation to secure a consumer and industry friendly beauty and barbering profession we can all be proud of in California.
Editor’s Note: The annual election of officers for the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology took place at the recent board meeting on January 24 and 25, 2010. As of press time, board officers were not elected yet, but we should have updated information in the March issue of California Stylist.
For more information on upcoming Board meetings visit www.barbercosmo.ca.gov.
CALFORNIA
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 944226 • Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
Information: 1-800-952-5210
www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
Staff Members:
Kristy Underwood — Executive Officer
Denise Johnson — Deputy Executive Officer
Betty Ho — Staff Writer
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology does not endorse any article, product, advertisement, or service contained in this newspaper. If you have any questions or concerns about the contents of any article in this newspaper you believe may affect you as a licensee, you may write to: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, P.O. Box 944226, Sacramento, California, 94244-226
