August 2009
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Haircuts, coloring, weaving, braiding, manicures or pedicures: these are a few of the cosmetology or barbering services you offer clients. But, being a leader in your industry you are always on the lookout for a new procedure that enables your business to stand above the rest, to earn you the respect of your customers.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) encourages you to be an industry leader but at the same time also cautions you to make sure the new procedure you consider adding to your menu is in compliance with Texas laws and rules that regulate your industry.
Beware of procedures or machines that have a medical component. Be sure to check with a TDLR compliance inspector or program specialist before undertaking the expense to add a procedure. Remember: if in doubt, check it out. You should check out the procedure in your Law and Rule handbook and/or with a TDLR representative to make certain the process is allowed under your cosmetology or barbering license.
Think twice about adding a procedure if sanitation issues are in question. Your clients’ health and safety is always a concern for you but TDLR is concerned about both your clients’ and your health and safety. Again, a good resource for checking on sanitation requirements is your TDLR Law and Rule handbook or a TDLR inspector or program specialist.
Expanding your services is exciting and it keeps the industry and your business growing. A growing business soon blossoms into customer loyalty and respect. Maintaining that loyalty and respect means you need to do your homework and have the knowledge and skills that will keep your clientele healthy. If you have a question please email barber questions to CS.Barbers@license.state.tx.us and cosmetology questions to CS.Cometologists@license.state.tx.us.
High blood pressure, referred to as hypertension (HTN) by members of the medical community, is more common and more severe in African-Americans than in any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. According to the medical references, Hypertension and “Archives of Internal Medicine,” forty percent of African-American adults have high blood pressure and two-thirds of these adults are either not receiving treatment or are not receiving proper treatment for the condition.
In 2007 Dr. Ronald G. Victor, former Chief of the Hypertension Division at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, conducted a study in three Dallas County barber shops. The study involved barbers taking the blood pressure of African-American men who were regular customers of the shop. Texas barber shops have always been cultural establishments that attract large numbers of African-American men; therefore, the shops offered the study maximum contact with men who history shows don’t have regular contact with a healthcare system.
Barber shops are a gathering center in the African-American community: political discussions, local gossip, sport opinions are often topics of conversation. Now a new topic is being introduced into the shop culture, one that you might not want to think or talk about but being a silent killer needs to be brought into the open. In an effort to make sure their customers knew their blood pressure reading six barbers recorded 8,953 blood pressure checks during 11,066 haircuts!
James Smith, owner of Lancaster Kiest Barber Shop in Dallas, participated in the study and states, “I discovered my blood pressure was high, while I was being trained to measure blood pressure in the barber shop. My doctor always told me it wasn’t too high in his office! Now I know that it always has been high.”
The study points out that the patronage barber shops receive deserves a special note. The fact that most customers visit the same barber shop twice monthly enabled researchers to have frequent interactions with the study participants.
Smith is now a supporter of the program and hopes to see it established in Texas barber shops one day; having customers walk away with a good hair cut and a pink slip telling the person’s blood pressure in hand is a community service he is excited to see in barber shops across the state.
Blood pressure checks isn’t a service that falls under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) guidelines but the health and safety of barber shop customers and of the barbers themselves is. TDLR encourages all Texans to practice preventive healthcare and if you don’t know your blood pressure reading please find it out. Ask your pharmacist, doctor or health clinic where you can obtain a free blood pressure check. After all, TDLR just celebrated its one hundred year anniversary and we want to see you celebrate your one hundred year birthday too.
Operators - 105,383
Manicurists - 32,096
Facial specialists - 13,073
Weavers - 180
Braiders - 720
Shampoo specialists - 156
Wig specialists - 20
Shampoo apprentices - 11,585
Operator instructors - 4,023
Manicure instructors - 48
Facial instructors - 87
Wig instructors - 3
Students - 19,336
Schools - 384
Salons - 20,789
Manicure salons - 1,292
Facial salons - 575
Facial/manicure salons - 3,834
Hair braiding/weaving salons - 148
Wig salons - 36
Independent contractors- 40,731
Dual shop/salon - 596*
Barbers - 13,014
Barber manicurists - 393
Barber technicians - 19
Barber hair braiding specialist - 62
Barber hair weaving specialist - 1
Barber shops - 5,120
Barber manicure shops - 114
Barber hair braiding shops - 3
Barber hair weaving shops - 3
Dual shop/salon - 596*
Barber instructors - 153
Students - 1,968
Schools - 6
Class A Barber booth rentals - 3,805
Barber manicure booth rentals - 73
Barber technician booth rental - 1
Barber hair braiding booth rentals - 5
Barber hair weaving booth rentals - 1
Texas Barber & Cosmetology News
(512) 463-6599 or 1-800-803-9202
www.license.state.tx.us
COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM
P.O. Box 12088 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.cosmetologists@license.state.tx.us
Cosmetology Advisory Board:
Clive Lamb, Presiding Officer
Kerin Haney, Vice Presiding Officer
Diane Salazar
Glenda Jemison
Allison Leigh Kincy
BARBER PROGRAM
P.O. Box 13489 Austin, Texas 78711
cs.barbers@license.state.tx.us
Barber Advisory Board:
Linda G. Connor, Presiding Officer
Dean Hudson, Jr, Vice Presiding Officer
Ronald Brown,
Joseph B. Grondin,
Vacancy
Commissioners:
Frank Denton, Chair
LuAnn Roberts Morgan, Vice Chair
Mike Arismendez,
Lewis Benavides,
Lilian Norman-Keeney,
Fred N. Moses,
Deborah Yurco,
William Kuntz, Exec. Director
