NEW JERSEY THINKING ABOUT OUTLAWING GENITAL WAXING; THINGS LOOKING TO GET HAIRY

In New Jersey a proposal has been put before the state’s Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling that would ban genital waxing in the Garden State.

In an interview with Philly.com Cherry Hill salon owner Linda Orsuto said that women would “go ballistic” if the proposal passed. She said that some women would resort to waxing themselves, visiting unlicensed salons or traveling to other states, including Pennsylvania, in a quest to remain bare down there.

New Jersey statutes allow waxing of the face, neck, arms, legs and abdomen, but officials say that genital waxing has always been illegal, although not spelled out.

Regardless, almost every salon in South Jersey, from Atlantic City casinos to suburban strip malls, has been breaking the law for years by ridding women, and some men, of their pubic hair for $50 to $60 a session. 

Jeff Lamm, a spokesman for New Jersey’s Division of Consumer Affairs, said that the proposal would specifically ban genital waxing, and was prompted by complaints to the board from two women who were injured and hospitalized. One of them sued. Lamm said that the state only investigates infractions if consumers complain.

Dr. Eric Bernstein, a Philadelphia dermatologist, said that genital waxing could irritate or tear the skin and result in infections.

“But you can get an infection from almost anything,” he added. “The state is probably just looking out for the residents’ best interest, but they’ll have to enforce it.”

The Board of Cosmetology next meets on April 14.