A Threat to Threading?

Threading, Source: Flickr

Eight practitioners of threading, a grooming technique to shape the eyebrows, have filed a lawsuit in a Travis County court against the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The group of threaders and business owners say that the department has been enforcing a regulation since April requiring that they have a cosmetology license and that their businesses be licensed as well.

The plaintiffs say that they have been fined and required to take cosmetology training that can cost as much as $22,000 and doesn't address threading.

According to attorney Wesley Hottot of the Institute for Justice Texas Chapter, the fines and cost of training could kill the industry in Texas. Threading has been practiced in the Middle East and Asia for hundreds of years.

However, TDLR spokeswoman Susan Stanford says that threading is a hair-removal process that should be regulated, and says the state is concerned with the sanitary aspects of threading.

Ash Patel, eyebrow threading entrepreneur, Source: Institute for Justice

Austin entrepreneur Ash Patel, who wishes to open as many as 50 new salons across the state, says the process is painless and doesn't involve any chemicals, dyes or sharp objects.

He also says he grew up in India and was excited about the prospect of opening a new business in Texas.

"I am only asking for a fair chance to pursue my American Dream," he said.