An online tool launched by the Cosmetologist Association of New Brunswick is allowing residents to verify if their cosmetologist has an up-to-date license.
It is part of an education campaign by the association to ensure the public can access safe cosmetology services, which include hairstylists, aestheticians, nail technicians and make-up artists.
Gaye Cail, executive director of the Cosmetologist Association of New Brunswick, said many people are unaware cosmetology is regulated in the province.
“We want the public to be confident in whom they’re receiving their services from,” said Cail in a phone interview, noting that the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick became responsible for regulating beauty specialists after a legislative act passed in February 1998.
“There’s no protection for the public for attending a person who is unlicensed.”
The organization represents more than 8,000 registered members, 70 per cent of whom are self-employed and more than 80 per cent are women.
Cail said other professions have similar search tools and the association felt it was time to follow suit, so the public knows who can offer services with a valid license. She said clients who visit unregulated or unlicensed cosmetologists often risk their health and safety.
“Some of the incidences that have happened across Canada and other parts of the world are tools and safety equipment issues, chemical burns and any kind of unsafe practices for sanitation,” said Cail.
“Our members are well-trained and practice all sanitation rules and regulations and they also are required to pass a provincial exam, so that the association is making sure that that person going out offering any kind of Cosmetology service is qualified to work on the public.”
If residents believe a cosmetologist is unlicensed, Cail said they should contact the association.
“It could just be an oversight that their licenses is not valid for a month or something and we will work with the individual to make sure that they validate their license,” she said.
“If they’re an unlicensed person offering services, we reach out to the person and then try to work with them to get their license.”
New Brunswickers can verify a cosmetologist’s certification here.
