Local Eyebrow Threading Businesses File Lawsuit Against State Requirement

Two local eyebrow threading businesses are filing a lawsuit against the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering saying they are being treated unfairly.

A small eyebrow threading business in Oklahoma City was ordered to close its doors after not having its employees get an esthetician license.

For Shazia Ittiq, her business inside Penn Square Mall opened seven years ago as threading facial hair became a popular phenomenon. Ittiq never thought she would possibly have to shut down due to her employees not having a cosmetology license.

“If I send those girls to school for threading. They will spend thousands of dollars and spend a lot of time and somewhere from six months to a year and a half. They would learn everything but threading,” said Shazia Ittiq, the Brows & More Owner

She joins one other business owner in the lawsuit saying this requirement is unconstitutional under Oklahoma law.

“We are challenging a requirement that Oklahoma has that all threaders must hold an esthetician license,” Marie Miller, the Institute for Justice Attorney

For this licensing, a person must complete over 500 hours of study, pass certain exams and pay for the license.

She says the required training has nothing to do with their technique, safety, and business.

“So, either I hire someone who knows what they are doing and not hurt my customers. Or I hire someone who has a license and does not know what they are doing. And potentially break someone’s skin,” said Ittiq. 

News 9 reached out to the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering for a statement but have not heard back.