Hairdressers get heated about licensing but is that loyalty earned or conditioned? In this episode, I break down why cosmetology licensing looks more like financial gatekeeping than public protection.

We’ll cover the emotional sunk cost that keeps stylists defending it, the lack of evidence that licensing improves safety, and how the system disproportionately impacts women and marginalized workers.

If you’ve ever felt conflicted about the license you worked so hard for, this one’s for you.