Should State Regulate Iconic Barber Poles?
State senator says he hopes law could help the pole to continue to be a symbol of traditional, fully licensed barbers, rather than any place that offers haircutting services.
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The iconic rotating red, white and blue pole found outside traditional barber shops is now at the center of new legislation.
State Sen. John Gleason, D-Flushing, is pushing for legislation that will allow Michigan to join 10 other states that regulate the display of barber poles for only licensed barbers, according to The Detroit News. The lawmaker said he would like the pole to continue to be a symbol of traditional, fully licensed barbers, rather than any place that offers haircutting services.
The bill was introduced in November, according to michiganvotes.org, and would prohibit establishments like hair salons from using the barber pole unless there was an accredited barber offering services there.
Barber skills, licensing
Barbers must complete 2,000 hours of coursework at a licensed barber college and pass an examination approved by the board and the department, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Cosmetologists in Michigan are required to complete 1,500 hours with different requirements.
RELATED: Red's Barber Shop Has Been a Mainstay in New Baltimore for More Than 80 Years.
Against regulation
Not everyone weighing in on the idea of making a distinction between barbers and cosmetologist feels that the government should regulate it, though.
State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, proposed Michigan remove its licensing procedures for barbers back in March, The Detroit News reported.
"I just think this is one of many areas that (people) just don't need the government's … permission to have a job," he told The News. "I'm just saying you can be a barber without having to pay the government some kind of a fee and have them overseeing how you cut hair."
Check out the directory listing for barbers in New Baltimore and Chesterfield Township.
John Hetzler
8:24 pm on Monday, April 30, 2012
What do you think?
Bev
6:40 pm on Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Barber Poles should only be used in connection with Barber Shops. The Barber Pole stands for something that started way back when Barbers were not only hair cutters but they would pull teeth before dentists were available and take out bullets if a doctor wasn't available in the old west. The colors of the pole stand for blood, bandages and veins. Barbers also learn much more about the human body along with cutting hair then Cosmetologists. Both my sons are barbers and their dad was a barber. I am a licensed Cosmetologist and Instructor. I also went to barber school to extend my haircutting expertise. Getting back to the barber pole, it has stood for more then just cutting hair for the barber, a lot more, and should only be on a fully licensed Barber Shop. Yes, the state should mandate it so that only licensed Barber Shops have the barber pole. The Cosmetologist who started all this (who lives in another state) wasn’t very smart not to check into the history of the barber pole! It is crazy that this has gone this far so that State Senator John Gleason has to take it to the legislature to make sure the barber pole stays with licensed Barber Shops and not just any place that cuts hair. We should not touch what has been a symbol for hundreds of years.
The next time you go to Chicago check out the History Museum the Egyptians were the first barbers and it is extremely interesting.