September 21, 1999

Cosmetology examiners seeks to keep

public safe from unlawful activities

DES MOINES, Iowa -- As more people pay for face-lifts and removal of fat, Iowa cosmetology schools are closely observed by the cosmetology examiners, since their job is to protect the public from unlawful establishments.

"I think they do an excellent job of teaching the arts and sciences of cosmetology, as well as sanitation, chemicals and Iowa law," said David Creighton Sr., public member of the state Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.

According to Chapter 157.1 of the Iowa code, cosmetology is "arranging, dressing, curling, waving, shampooing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring, or similar works, upon the hair of any person; or upon a wig or hairpiece when done in conjunction with haircutting or hair styling by any means."

The code also said cosmetology is "massaging, cleansing, stimulating, exercising, beautifying or similar techniques upon the scalp, face, neck, arms, hands or upper part of the body of any person with the hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances or with the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams, or other preparations; manicuring the nails of any person, electrology, esthetics and nail technology."

In Calmar, Iowa, there is one public cosmetology school, and 26 private ones are located in the rest of the state. La 'James College, a private cosmetology school, has five locations in Iowa.

Kim Francksen, La' James regional college administrator in Des Moines, said even though public and private schools are basically the same, there are differences. Francksen said a public school is not selling its education, whereas a private school must stand on its own and build its reputation. Private schools "are busier with the public," she said. "[The students] get much more hands-on training."

Francksen said regulations and licensing involve a lot of people and paperwork. First, all schools must obey Chapter 157 of the Iowa Code, which the Iowa Department of Education looks at with regards to the schools' curriculum. Next, two regulatory agencies evaluate the schools for license renewal.

The state Department of Health inspects the sanitation and education; in the meantime, La' James submits its curriculum to the state for approval. After this, the Department of Education has the option of accrediting the school each year.

Francksen said the national Cosmetology Accreditation Education Careers Association consists of a salon owner, a school owner, an outside person and two government people doing on-site visits every three years. At that time, the board looks at files, talks to past graduates and studies the percentage of job placement. Francksen said La' James has a 100 percent job placement rate, which means each student has two to three job offers after he or she graduates.

The cosmetology world is merging with other fields. "We really see a merger of two different things," Francksen said. "I see the field is growing dramatically," she said.

More students are in high school compared with 10 years ago, and the health field is merging with cosmetology. As a result of merging with the health field, there are more massage therapists, licensed estheticians, wellness programs in large hospitals and dermatologists.

Francksen said the merger with the health field is big on the West and East coasts. "Iowa is headed for that direction," she said.

Creighton said he joined as a public member of the cosmetology board, because he feels a certain amount of duty and public pride towards the public. "I'm fascinated by the profession," he said. "I want to make sure that we ... don't [let government] overregulate but at the same time don't lose the safety of the public."

Francksen said La 'James offered her a job that could not be turned down. "I've always loved to do hair, and I knew from the beginning of time, I guess ... and I love to meet people, to work with people and it gives me the opportunity to be with people that are making a career for themselves and to be able to work with the public with their haircuts," she said. "So it's very exciting to work with the public and customer service."

To be a licensed professional, Francksen said she needed a license in cosmetology, an instructional license through Iowa, enrollment in an instructional training program and written state exam results. It takes a year to become a professional, and every two years cosmetologists are required to renew their licenses.

Francksen said the best advice is to take training seriously. "Make the most of your training because we give you a great foundation," she said. "We also teach the non-technical like customer service and how to build a clientele and so forth."

With the rising costs, cosmetology is not really necessary in society. "In real society you hope that who you are is more important than [what] you look [like]," Creighton said. "Probably the biggest risk that I see is too great of expectation of results," he said. "[I] learn[ed] a long time ago in this world, there are certain things you can't change, you just better learn to accept it . Choices have consequences and the responsibilities of those choices rest with you and me."