Not a trend to dye for: 'Hair-straightening salons use dangerous chemicals'

Knesset Public Complaints Committee to ask Economics Minister Arye Deri to take measures.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Updated: JULY 23, 2015 05:29
A woman with long straight hair [Illustrative] (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
A woman with long straight hair [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Dangerous hair-straightening chemicals are used in an unknown number of hair salons without any supervision from the authorities, the Knesset Public Petitions Committee heard this week.
The committee said it would ask Economy Minister Arye Deri to require everyone working in the hair-straightening business to take a course on the subject before being allowed to open a hair salon.
The field should be regulated and hairdressers who have not been trained in straightening safety regulations should not be allowed to open an establishment because the public could be endangered, salon owners told the committee on Tuesday.
Michel Mercier, head of the Israel Hairdressing Association, said he had been told that because of the large number of ministries and offices involved, red tape prevents the field from being regulated, and anyone in the room could theoretically be allowed to open a hair salon and work there.
“This is not good. Order must be made so illegal chemicals are not used,” he said.
The environmental health official, Ze’ev Fisch, said it was not true that there are no criteria for opening a salon.
“They must meet all medical criteria. The local authorities work according to ministry guidelines and give out licenses and supervise,” he insisted.
Hagai Forges, deputy assistant to the Economy Ministry’s director-general, said that the Health and Interior ministries should be in charge of licensing such establishments.
As for courses for hairdressers, the Health Ministry should be responsible, he said.
Committee deputy chairwoman Sofa Landver said she ran the Immigration and Absorption Ministry for six years and “managed to get rid of the red tape. I don’t like what you say. Who will supervise? If you don’t work things out together, we will bring a bill to regulate it, even though I wouldn’t like to do this.
“Somebody has to take this matter into his hands. Professional training is required by the government or the Knesset.
“A person can’t get up in the morning and open a hair salon without a license,” she said.
The committee recommended the minister require such a course for opening a salon, said Landver, adding that “we will at the same time prepare a bill dealing with the matter.”