Evening star., 1929-09-05
Association Informs Health
Officer D. c. Women Are
Being "Kidded."
LETTER TO DR.. FOWLER
CHARGES INFERIOR WORK
Say Large Number of Shops Should
Not Be Permitted to
Operate.

A large percentage of the 100000
Washington women who annually visit
beauty" shops in this city are be-
ing "kidded" by inferior work and poor
cosmetics, if not actually injured, DR..
William P. Fowler, District health Of
f1cer, was informed today by the Wash
ington Hairdressers and Cosmetologists'
Association, which in a letter asked
that the Public Health Department
lend its aid in Cleaning house" in the
local beauty culture field
"A recent report from an ofiicial
New York investigation the letter
said. Showed that there are a very
large number Of cosmetics being sold
to women that are injurious to health.
We believe that there is an even greater
number of questionable cosmetics be-
ing sold in Washington because of the
existing inadequacy of public regulation
on the subject.
400 Shops Listed.
Further, a perusaI of the telephone
book discloSes q listing of some 400
so-called beauty shops. However, we
are convinced after Investigation that
a large number of them are not legiti-
mate, are kidding the public In one
way or another and should not be per-
sincere legitimate shops, and to en-
danger the skin, hair and health of
beauty
This is not criticism of our Public
Health Department, for we believe II
unaware Of some of the rapidly Develop
ing conditions, and we further believe
IL unable to do much about it anyway
under existing ordinances. We simply
wlsn 70 can the matter to your atten-
Ilon ana ask your cooperation and
advice"
According to Carey E. Quinn. secre.
tary and general counsel of the asso-
FORMS
Tne most common, he said. is to ad-
Vertlze expensive and sometimes i'm.
possible treatments and cures at Alb.
Surdiy low rates. In many shops. &C.
cordlng to Mr.. Quinn, inexperienced op-
esstIves eL are employed, and damage to
tne patrons sometimes result.
In another phase of this kidding +"
ne said, the patrons are lin" on the
Joke, and the police are the victims
IN TINS classification, he explained come
Gne Speakeasies and disorderiy houses
Wnlcn operate as beauty shops.
Ranks Fourth in Industry
Pointing out that the beautv sbor
although a relatively recent deyeIop,
ment, now ranks as the fourth indus
Try In the latest industrial census. the
letter said that all women TODAY are
actually or potentially beauty shon
patrons. To meet this demand, it was
Salo, there has been developed the
nlghly trained beauty specialist, whose
knowledge must cover the sciences of
me1lcme, biology and chemistry, as
IN
dressing.'
In addition to the legitimate beauty
specialist there have sprung up a num-.
per OF quacks and charlatans. Seeking
10 exploit woman's active pursuit Of
beautifcation, the letter stated. and.
since health and beauty are insepar-
anle, we are herein seeking a new set
OF ordinances for the modern beauty
Shop as the first step in our Campaign
to procure fundamental and adeoIste
public standards for the protection of
the estimate 100000 Washington wom-
en- served each year in the beauty
salons of the city"
Law viii Be Studied.
Dr. Fowler said the matter would be
laid before meeting of the commission
on hcensure. to be held within the
next few days.
The physician said there is a rossi-
DlIity that improperly operated beauty
shops may come within the scope of
the law governing the practice of heal
ing arts. If blemish on The skin. or
even dandruff, Is treated, it is prob
able that this would be true, he said.
The law on the question will be
studied and If DR.. Fowler finds that
beauty shops do come under this act
ne will insist that they be licensed ac-
cordingly.
A bill regulating such shops was in.
eroduced in Congress last February, but
aled In committee. 1t was regarded by
neaith authorities as too vague IN its
provisions.