When the coronavirus arrived in the U.S., grooming services like hair stylists and nail salons were forced to shut down. So too were purveyors of laser hair removal, among the most popular cosmetic treatments in America.
Unlike a cut, coloring or mani-pedi, however, using lasers for hair removal straddles the line between personal care and medical procedure. It also has a history of occasionally causing serious physical harm.
In New York City, laser hair removal locations seemed to be everywhere before COVID-19 struck, having grown more attractive to young people thanks to daily deal websites and ubiquitous advertising. What wasn’t usually publicized was that New York is the only state where licensing and even training isn’t necessarily required to operate light-emitting devices that can cause discoloration, burns or worse.
In 44 states, laser hair removal is considered a medical treatment requiring the supervision of a doctor, nurse or physician assistant (though the person operating the laser can in some cases be unlicensed). In five states, laser hair removal is subject to some other form of regulation. But in New York, it’s been the wild west. Now, thanks to a bill proposed this month in the state legislature in Albany, licensing and education requirements may be on the way.
Read more (including comments from AmSpa Legal Coordinator Patrick O'Brien) at Bloomberg >>