Giving the Gift of Safe Beauty

Chicago – As a last minute holiday present, a gift certificate for a day at the spa is an easy purchase and often warmly welcomed.  Spa treatments have become a significant part of prepping for holiday parties or tropical vacations, and are an increasingly popular gift for loved ones and family members.   But before clicking the ‘buy’ button on the spa’s website, it’s important to check whether the salon or spa is licensed by the State of Illinois. 

“Before purchasing a gift certificate or booking a day at the spa, consumers need to research the facility and check IDFPR.com to make sure the spa is licensed,” said Brent Adams, Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.  “Unfortunately, the growth in the beauty industry has also resulted in a growing number of unlicensed businesses and staff, which can contribute to infections or other injuries.”

“Cosmetologists Chicago, Cosmetologists Illinois and the American Association of Esthetics all wholly support Illinois law requiring that salon and spa services be performed on Illinois's consumers by appropriately licensed salon and spa professionals at properly registered salon and spa service venues,” said Paul Dykstra, CEO, Cosmetologists Chicago.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has focused on ensuring that visitors to Illinois day spas and salons have positive experiences.  Working with local governments, IDFPR enforcement staff visited 446 day spas and salons this year.  It found that of the salons visited, 273 businesses – or 61% – were not in compliance with state and local licensing rules. After the unannounced inspections, more than half of those businesses obtained the necessary licenses.

IDFPR has partnered with local governments to enforce state licensing laws.  The Village of Niles, for instance, will not issue a business license to a spa or salon that isn’t licensed by the State.  In Belleville and Park Ridge, city officials also check for state licenses when performing their inspections of local spas and salons.