Beauty Services: 60% Skip Vetting in 2025

Only 38% of consumers consistently verify the credentials of their beauty service providers with a state board, according to a 2025 industry survey by the Professional Beauty Association. That statistic is a bit of a bombshell, showing a massive blind spot in how people protect themselves and just how important it is to vet who you’re letting near your face and body, especially when it comes to specialist licensing.

Over 60% of Consumers Skip State Board Checks

It’s genuinely alarming that over six in ten clients don’t check state board credentials. In my experience, this happens because people just assume that if a studio is open for business, it must be legit. That’s a flawed and dangerous assumption. State boards, like the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, have online databases for the public for this exact reason. They are there to protect you. If you don’t use them, you’re just trusting marketing materials or a friend’s recommendation, neither of which guarantees the person is safe or competent. A licensed pro has passed minimum requirements for education, training, and exams. An unlicensed one hasn’t. This goes way beyond just getting a bad haircut. We’re talking about basic hygiene, knowing how to handle chemicals safely, and following health rules designed to stop you from getting an infection or being injured. When I’m talking to new clients, the first thing I tell them is that a quick online search is their best line of defense.

15% of Complaints Involve Unlicensed Activity

Back in 2024, a report from the National Association of Boards of Cosmetology/Esthetics (NABCE) showed that around 15% of all consumer complaints sent to state boards were about unlicensed people performing services. That number represents real people who were harmed, either with their money or their health, by someone working illegally. What’s the takeaway? While most professionals are doing the right thing, there’s a significant group out there that isn’t, and they’re causing real problems. The fallout can be anything from a botched job that costs a fortune to fix to serious skin infections, chemical burns, or even the transmission of bloodborne pathogens when sterilization rules are ignored. The state boards are there to go after these complaints, but it’s always better to prevent the problem by checking someone out beforehand.

So many clients get fixated on the practitioner’s license (which is critical), but they completely forget about the facility license. In a state like Georgia, every single salon or spa needs its own current facility license from the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. This license means the building itself meets health, safety, and operational codes for things like ventilation and sanitation equipment. A 2023 audit by the Georgia Department of Public Health found that almost 8% of beauty shops in Fulton County had an expired license or no license at all. Think about that. Your technician might be perfectly licensed, but if they’re working in an illegal facility, you are absolutely still at risk. You have to check both. The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers has a public search tool right on their website to look up both people and places.

Specialist Certifications Do Not Replace State Licensure

Here’s where a lot of people get it wrong: they see a “certification” for something and assume the person is fully qualified and regulated. That’s mostly incorrect. Sure, advanced skills like microblading or specific hair extension methods have extra training courses that give you a certificate, but those almost never replace a state license. A 2025 survey from the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) found that 70% of new students thought getting a “certified specialist” paper was all they needed to start working. That’s a dangerous mistake. In Georgia, if you’re performing any service under the cosmetology, esthetics, or nail tech umbrella, you must have a state-issued license. A microblading artist could have a wall full of impressive-looking certificates, but if they don’t also have a current esthetician or cosmetology license from the state, they’re breaking the law. Those certifications show they have extra skills, but they are an add-on, not a replacement for the foundational license. Check the state license first. The extra certs are just a bonus.

Unlicensed Practice: A Serious Legal Liability

The legal trouble for practicing without a license is huge, and it can hit the facility owner just as hard as the individual practitioner. In Georgia, it can lead to massive fines, cease and desist orders, and for repeat offenders, even criminal charges. I’ve seen studio owners get slammed with crippling penalties for knowingly (or even just carelessly) letting an unlicensed person work in their space, which can include losing their own facility license. It’s a painful lesson to learn. For you as the client, this means if something goes wrong with an unlicensed tech, your options for getting help are incredibly slim. Insurance policies are written to exclude services from unlicensed individuals, so you’ll likely be left with no protection and a big bill. Just check. It’s that simple. You have to be vigilant when it comes to beauty services. Spending a few minutes to verify a license with the state board is a tiny bit of effort that gives you massive protection and ensures you’re getting a safe, legitimate service.