Sanford Streamlines ShampooingIt looks like aspiring shampoo applicators in South Carolina can finally let their hair down. Governor Mark Sanford signed legislation earlier this month to repeal that state’s law that requires 1,500 hours of training before a beautician can give customers a shampoo. “This is the kind of thing that deserves to be on Comedy Central,” Sanford said.

However, the economic impact is serious. Two South Carolina hair stylists said it will help them create jobs, put students to work while they study at beauty school, and shorten the wait for customers.

It is also illegal in Texas to perform a shampoo without a license, but the training requirement is a bit less onerous at 150 hours of coursework at a “beauty culture school.” Also, a shampoo applicator must have a high school diploma or pass an “ability to benefit” exam, a proxy for a high school degree for purposes of awarding federal student aid to students who wish to attend community college. However, legislation passed in 2003 allows any Texan to obtain a non-renewable “shampoo apprentice permit” for one year simply by submitting a form.

The most hours of training required for any cosmetology license in Texas is 1,500 hours for an operator – a manicurist must have 600 and a facialist 750.

While Texas’ regulatory regime is comparatively reasonable, it is not clear why 150 hours of training or a high school degree is needed for regular work as a shampooer. In some states, no cosmetology license is required, and there have been no reports of customer beheadings.

– Marc Levin