POST 8 — LICENSE vs. CERTIFICATION

Why Building Illegally Could Cost You Everything—Including Your Future in Lashes

Let’s get straight to it.

There’s a growing trend in this industry where new lash techs are rushing to get a certificate and start taking clients—without understanding the law.

That’s not just a mistake.

It’s a character issue.

If you’re applying lash extensions illegally, you’re showing clients that you’re willing to cut corners.
You're risking their eyes—and your reputation—for a shortcut.

And believe me: the consequences are real.

A Certificate Is NOT a Legal Right to Work

Let’s clear this up once and for all:

• A certificate means you completed a course.
• A license (or, in some states, a different form of state approval) is your legal permission to perform lash services for pay.

If you skip the legal path and go straight to applying lashes on clients—you are working illegally. Period.

It doesn’t matter how good you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re just “practicing.” If you’re accepting money, you are stepping into fraud—and opening yourself up to fines, legal action, and a lifetime ban from licensure in some states.

Step One: Know Your State Laws

Before you sign up for a course, order supplies, or book your first client—pause.

Your first step is to learn the laws in your state.
Every state is different. Some require:

• A full cosmetology or esthetics license

• A specialty eyelash license

• Or, in states like Arizona, a specific 30-hour program approved by the Board of Cosmetology

Don’t guess. Don’t assume. Go straight to your state’s Board website and find out exactly what is required.

And if you’re planning to move to another state?
You’ll need to contact that state before you make any career moves.

Some states have reciprocity, which means they allow you to transfer your license across state lines.
Arizona’s lash program does not qualify for reciprocity, so if you’re planning to move—know the consequences ahead of time.

Real Talk: Was It Easy for Me to Become Legal?

No. Not even close.

I did it the legal way—even when it was inconvenient—because I saw what most people didn’t:

When the laws change, only those who respected the law from the beginning get to keep what they built.

While others were chasing quick money, I was working a job I didn’t love to pay for beauty school. It delayed my lash career by almost two years. But I followed the rules. I got licensed. I got ready.

My cousin was enrolled at John Paul Mitchell beauty school in 2010 when she discovered lash extensions. She started making $500 per full set and $150 per fill—and decided to quit school just two months before graduation. Why? Because the money looked fast, easy, and too good to pass up.

But when California began regulating lash extensions under the Department of Cosmetology, her entire business came crashing down overnight.

Had she finished school and passed her state boards, she would have held a cosmetology license—something that could have protected her and kept her legal. But she didn’t. She had no license and no way forward.

Meanwhile, I didn’t lose a single client.
I didn’t lose a dollar of income.
Why? Because I did it right—even when it wasn’t convenient.

She chased a disco ball.
I built a foundation.
Only one of us still has a career.

 

If You're Operating Illegally, Here's What You're Really Risking:

State Board Shutdowns

If you’re working in a private suite, salon, or even from home without legal credentials, the State Board can walk in and shut you down on the spot.

Loss of Access to Real Professional Products

Top-tier adhesives and supplies require proof of legal status to purchase. If a company doesn’t ask for your license, their products are likely from Alibaba or AliExpress—cheap, generic, and unpredictable. 

No Insurance Coverage

No license = no liability insurance.
And if you lie to an insurer? That’s insurance fraud. They can cancel your claim, drop your coverage, and even prosecute you.

No Lease Eligibility

You cannot lease space in a licensed salon or private suite without showing proof of licensure. And yes—State Board does random walk-throughs to check.

The Smart Path for Lash Technicians

1. Learn the law in your state

2. Complete the legal steps to become licensed

3. Then—and only then—take certificate courses to grow your skills

Don’t put the cart before the horse.
Don’t perform services illegally and risk your future before you even get started.