A group of threaders is suing the state over licensing requirements.
Under Texas law, threading is considered a cosmetology procedure and must be performed by a licensed cosmetologist or a licensed facialist.
But eight threaders say they shouldn't need licensing because eyebrow threading is a painless, ancient procedure. The Institute for Justice filed a lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the threaders against the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, saying the licensing requirement is a "violation of the constitutional right to earn an honest living."
Ash Patel, a threader, said in a news release that he doesn't understand why the state wants to regulate threading.
"We use tightly-wound cotton thread to remove unwanted eyebrow hair -- and that's it," he said.
Cosmetology training can take weeks and cost thousands of dollars.
"That's a very good idea," said Krisha Lamichhane, the owner of Everest Eyebrow Threading Salon in Irving.
One of his threaders, a state-licensed cosmetologist who supports the state's licensing requirement, said she has been threading for two years.
"People love the threading," she said. "It came from India and Nepal. If we have a technique and knowledge for the threading, (the) better."
Customers at the salon said they wouldn't trust anyone who's not licensed.
"Anybody that's working on the skin has be licensed in my opinion," Debbie Nguyen said.
Joyce Aiyeojenku also said threaders should be licensed.
"It proves that they're more professional than anyone who isn't licensed," she said. "They've gone through training, and it helps them prove to the customers that they know what they're doing."
