February - Stylist and Salon Newspapers

How to Avoid Complaints
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.)
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
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• 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.
Complaints Received
July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009
175
126
Find Licensing FAQ Answers Online!
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593
1
Contractual
Fraud
Health and Safety
Incompetence/Negligence
Non-Jurisdictional
Personal Conduct
Unlicensed Activity
Other
Do you have a licensing question? Find answers to frequently
asked questions online at www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
Accomplishments Listed in Last Four Years
By Jerry Tyler, President California State Board of Barbering
and Cosmetology
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
Annual Election of Officers
• 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.
14 | FEBRUARY 2010 | CALIFORNIA STYLIST & SALON