Don't thread on me: license laws out.

• Author: Root, Damon
• Position: Citings - Eyebrow threaders - Brief article

IN JUNE, the Texas Supreme Court issued a victory for economic liberty by striking down a state licensing law that required eyebrow threaders to complete 750 hours of costly and unnecessary cosmetology training before they could receive the governments permission to charge customers for the harmless act of removing unwanted eyebrow hairs with a loop of cotton thread.

"The requirement of 750 hours of training to become licensed is not just unreasonable or harsh," the court held in Patel v. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. It is "so burdensome as to be oppressive."

No kidding. As the Texas high court pointed out, "persons licensed to apply eyelash extensions--a specialty involving the use of...