Iowa barbers, it’s time to take back our industry from burdensome licensing

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Iowa barbers, it’s time to take back our industry from burdensome licensing

Iowa’s barbering laws have failed Iowa’s barbers. For nearly a century, our profession has been held back by some of the most disproportionately burdensome requirements of any comparable licensed occupation, not only in Iowa, but throughout the entire country. Now, our lawmakers have the chance to take an important step towards freeing barbers from decades of needless and costly red tape by passing

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Right now, barbers are required to get 1,500 hours of training in a traditional barber school program. Imagine spending months sitting in a classroom, paying thousands of dollars, instead of learning hands-on from an experienced barber while earning a paycheck. That’s the broken system we have today.

These hours cost a lot of money in tuition, and a lot of money in forgone wages; and in our rural state, it can be hard to find a school — putting licensure completely out of reach for otherwise enthusiastic aspiring barbers.

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This legislative proposal is simple. It allows aspiring barbers to forgo old-school, expensive training in a classroom and instead, get trained and earn money under licensed barbers like us. We take on the responsibility for ensuring they practice safely, and they gain experience in our industry without having to jump through the burdensome hoops of traditional licensure — the same way millions of other people learn to do their jobs.

Let’s be honest: Nobody comes out of school with all of the skills necessary to become a truly successful barber; and state bureaucracies are simply incapable of evaluating and regulating a barber’s talent. We, the barbers, are the ones who should be responsible for the future of our industry. We know how to run successful businesses, build trust with our clients, and survive in a highly competitive and dynamic environment — and most importantly, maintain a strong reputation based on safety, sanitation, skill and respect for our services and industry.

More: Iowa barbers and cosmetologists need relief from regulatory maze

Nobody is more capable of training the next generation of barbers than we are. Nobody is more qualified to pass on our craft. Nobody is more invested in the future of this industry than we the barbers. Senate File 41 and House File 49 are the first step in allowing us to reclaim our profession from the grip of traditional government requirements, which have forced many to work illegally or to forgo a career in barbering altogether. If allowed, we would welcome these barbers to work in our shops under our supervision and mentorship. We would grow Iowa’s barber industry and make it a national leader.

Craig Hunt

Iowa’s barbers are ready to lead a new era of opportunity. Around a decade ago, there were few independent barbershops still around in the Des Moines area. But shops like ours can be a source of growth across Iowa, bringing life back to main streets and creating places of community and belonging. Let’s stop holding back the next generation and open the doors to a thriving, independent industry.

These bills give us the tools to create more opportunities for aspiring barbers to gain supervised experience and training from experts in our field, opening the door to a fulfilling and accessible career. It’s time to give barbers the freedom to build their futures — one cut at a time.

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Jerrae Lindsey

Craig Hunt and Jerrae Lindsey are founding members of the

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, a group dedicated to advocating for a less burdensome regulation of the barbering profession. Craig is the owner of Universal Barbershop in Des Moines. Jerrae owns Uncle Jay’s Barbering Company in Iowa Falls and Urbandale.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register:

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#Iowa #barbers #time #industry #burdensome #licensing

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