Kristie Robertson expressed her surprise upon discovering the absence of regulations governing personal-care services in Prince Edward Island. While the province’s Hairdressers Act oversees hairdressing services, activities like skin care, nail care, and hair removal remain unregulated under the current legislation, allowing service providers to operate without licenses or credentials. Robertson emphasized the need for comprehensive regulation across all beauty and personal care services to ensure uniformity and consumer protection.
The province recently initiated a public feedback process to evaluate the adequacy of the existing regulations concerning cosmetology services in Prince Edward Island. They have launched an online survey open for responses until November 19 to gather insights from Islanders on potential updates or the establishment of a new regulatory framework that aligns with the contemporary landscape of cosmetology services in the region.
Sherri Runighan, the executive director of the P.E.I. Hairdressers Association, highlighted the association’s longstanding advocacy for the regulation of cosmetology services and proposed the creation of a unified entity, Cosmetology of Prince Edward Island, to oversee all beauty and personal-care services comprehensively. Runighan emphasized the importance of ensuring public safety through regular inspections and adherence to quality standards within service providers.
Stephanie Gallant, an experienced esthetics teacher in P.E.I., underscored the risks of inadequate education and sanitization practices in services like waxing, skin care, and nail treatments, which could lead to cross-contamination. Gallant emphasized the significance of industry regulation in enhancing service quality and customer satisfaction.
Despite acknowledging the challenges of expanding regulations to cover a broader spectrum of service providers, Runighan pointed out the necessity of allocating resources and manpower to enforce compliance effectively. She stressed the importance of establishing minimum standards to instill confidence and safety among consumers seeking beauty and personal care services.
Additionally, the Department of Health and Wellness in P.E.I. announced its initiative to develop regulations focusing on infection control measures for personal services, aiming to mitigate health risks associated with various procedures such as hairdressing, esthetics, nail care, piercing, tattooing, and body modification. The department highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance inspection protocols and public consultations on proposed regulations, with a targeted full implementation timeline by early 2026.
