‘Horrific’ risks in current unregulated beauty industry

A woman who had her eyes glued shut after a botched eyelash extension is calling for regulations to ensure only qualified beauticians can operate in salons.

Auckland mother, Sarah Tyson, was left with severed eyelashes and bleeding eyelids after she received a disastrous lash treatment from a mall salon.

Mrs Tyson said she was concerned the botch-up could harm her vision, but the beautician seemed unaware of the damage she had done.

“You assume that these people know what they’re doing, but I was left in agony and there’s nothing there to protect customers and their safety,” she said.

Mrs Tyson's eyelashes had to be cut to remove the glue. Photo: Supplied

The experience has left Mrs Tyson angry that anyone can operate in a salon without training or qualifications.

The beauty industry in New Zealand is currently unregulated, meaning beauticians require no formal training to work in salons.

“What do they have beauty school for if anybody can go into a salon and get a job?” Mrs Tyson said.

Qualified eyelash technician, Annah Stevenson, said around 20 per cent of her bookings are to fix the lashes of clients who have been treated by unqualified technicians.

Miss Stevenson, who owns Annah Sophia Cosmetic Artist salon, said customers are often unaware there are no formal qualifications required to conduct the procedures.

“Because there are no regulations or structure in the industry, there’s more people doing it who shouldn’t be doing it, rather than people who are educated,” she said.

Miss Stevenson said there needs to be regulations put in place to ensure only qualified professionals can operate.

“It’s damaging for the rest of us who do our absolute best to ensure we are doing safe and professional work. You can’t just watch a YouTube tutorial and then know what you’re doing,” she said.

Samantha Wilson, a tutor at Elite International School of Beauty & Spa Therapy, who are the largest provider of beauty therapy training in New Zealand, said people don’t realise that salons do not have to employ trained professionals.

“People just assume that when you walk into a salon that the people doing the treatments are trained and qualified,” she said.

Mrs Wilson said salons that operate without qualified beauticians tarnish the industry’s reputation.

‘I’ve seen some horrific things done by unqualified people, and the public should be aware that the risks can be considerable,” she said.

The New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty Therapists is the largest beauty regulatory group in New Zealand, but they are an ‘opt-in’ organisation and salons are not required to register with them.

President Judy West said the organisation have recently released posters that encourage clients to ensure procedures are only conducted by trained professionals.

The ‘Are you in Safe Hands?’ posters are distributed through salons registered with the association, and emphasise the danger that untrained practitioners can pose.

“The public has got to become aware that they should only be trusting qualified beauticians, rather than relying on the cheapest,” Mrs West said.