Eyebrow threaders are heading to a Texas appeals court Wednesday over licensing rules that they say violate their constitutional rights.
Eyebrow threading, an ancient hair removal technique, is becoming a popular alternative to waxing and plucking. The technique uses a piece of twisted cotton thread to remove unwanted hair.
Texas law requires threaders to obtain a cosmetology license, saying it's necessary in the name of public safety.
Nazreen Boodhwani, who has 18 years of experience, opened Bollywood Stylz in Uptown Dallas just more than a year ago.
"I've been threading since I was 12 years old," she said. "You watch your family do it, and that's how you learn."
She said she spent $15,000 and several hundred hours getting her cosmetology license even though none of the coursework had anything to do with threading.
"They are hair, nails, waxing, facials and that's about it," she said.
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Eight eyebrow threaders from across Texas will be in court Wednesday to challenge the state law, claiming it prevents an existing industry from honest competition.
"There are a lot of people who know threading, but I can't hire them because they don't have a license," Boodhwani said.
She won't be at the 1:30 hearing in Austin. She said she will be at her Dallas salon, working to pay off her cosmetology license.
"At $10 per client, you know how long it takes to reach that $15,000 goal? It will take me awhile," Boodhwani said.
Calls to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation were not returned Tuesday night.
