Here’s a Jobs Fix That Both Democrats and Republicans Like

There’s a dubious and ridiculous form of regulation holding back the U.S. economy, some would-be reformers say, and it’s lurking in your local hair salon.

Occupational licenses have proliferated in recent years. Back in the 1950s, fewer than 5% of jobs required a license; but today, economists say, that figure is closer to 25%. And we’re not talking about licenses that are unambiguously necessary to protect public health and safety, like those for medical doctors and nurses, or commercial airline pilots. Rather, these are licenses for jobs ranging from auctioneers and make-up artists, to hair-braiders and even fortune tellers.

Economists, including some of former President Obama’s top advisors, have argued over the years that these regulations are often inconsistent from state to state, and create an unnecessary burden on jobseekers. President Trump's administration, which has been broadcasting its commitment to job creation, clearly agrees.

In a speech Thursday, the new acting chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission, Maureen Ohlhausen, announced the launching of a task force to tackle the issue. The "Economic Liberty Task Force" will start by launching a web site devoted to the topic. “I challenge anyone to explain why the state has a legitimate interest in protecting the public from rogue interior designers carpet-bombing living rooms with ugly throw pillows,” Ohlhausen said.

Her speech didn't offer many specifics about how exactly the FTC will crack down on overburdensome licensing requirements, but Ohlhausen did say the agency seeks "to partner with stakeholders, including state elected leaders and other officials, to eliminate and narrow overbroad" restrictions that do little in achieving health and safety goals.

The move comes as Republican governors in Nebraska, Arizona, Missouri, and Wisconsin are also seeking to remove licensing restrictions. In his State of the State address last month, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens pointed to a Missouri law that requires hair braiders to undergo 1,500 hours of training for a license. “That’s 30 hours per week of training for almost a full year…to braid hair,” he said. “We need to end frivolous regulations like these so that our people can start their own businesses and create jobs.”

Licensing requirements vary widely from state to state, according to research presented to the Senate last year by President Obama’s former top economic advisor, Jason Furman. In Iowa, Washington and Nevada, over 30% of the workforce carries a license.

It takes three years of training to become a licensed security guard in Michigan, but only 11 days in other states. Cosmetologists are required to train for 16 months before they can get a license in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, while New York and Massachusetts require less than 8 months, Furman said.

So why do these requirements exist in the first place? Advocates of the regulations argue that they add a needed layer of consumer protection, and that they can boost an overall agenda of vocational training for workers who don't quality to go to college. But critics note that licensing regulations are often pushed by industry groups as a way for incumbents to protect themselves from new competitors.
These restrictions are also worrisome because they hold back worker productivity and the job market in several key ways.

First, the more stringent requirements reduce mobility of workers from state to state. Military spouses, who frequently have to move across state lines, are often impacted. So too are immigrants, who may be unnecessarily prevented from applying their past work experience to similar jobs in the U.S.

More importantly, overly burdensome training requirements often impose expensive upfront costs that low-income workers, in particular, can struggle to shoulder. As a result, these people can become excluded from the job market or perpetually stuck in low-wage jobs.

How to Make Your Hair Soft: 5 Natural Ways

Dry, frizzy hair can be one of your worst nightmares. We know how hard it can be to battle brittle hair or even think about stepping out on a bad hair day but not anymore.

Regular hair-drying, pollution or over exposure to the sun, these are just some of the reasons that can make your hair dry. Besides this, some people may have naturally dry hair. The first step to bring back your hair’s shine and moisture
is to identify the cause and then work to repair the damage.The hair gets moisture from the roots. Therefore, avoid doing anything that makes your scalp dry especially during winters.

The good thing is that you don’t always have to depend on expensive salon treatments. Fortunately, there are few natural ways to bring your locks back to life. Here are some great ingredients you will find right in your kitchen and how to use them as suggested by Ragini Mehra, Founder, Beauty Source.

1. Egg and Yogurt Mask
If you have dull and lifeless hair in winters then yogurt and egg white is the perfect solution for you. Eggs can be a great source of protein for your hair
while soothing yogurt can help reverse hair damage caused by product build up and air pollution.

2. Coconut Milk, Avocado and Jojoba Oil Hair Mask
Coconut milk is rich in protein, very high in fats, making it great for moisturizing and strengthening. Avocado is rich in fatty acids making it very moisturizing for your hair. Jojoba oil promotes hair growth. Mix the three for shiny tresses.


3. Milk and Honey
Use a half to a full cup of milk (at room temperature) and add either one or 2 big tablespoons of honey. Allow it about an hour to work and then rinse it off using my regular shampoo. This wonderful pack won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy but give it wonderful shine and softness instead.

4. Papaya Mask
Dandruff is a common problem in winters because of a dry scalp. Papaya prevents balding as helps boost hair growth by strengthening the roots as well as controls dandruff. Mix together 1 skinned papaya with 1/2 cup of plain yogurt. Let it sit for 45 minutes before you rinse it out.

5. Apple cider Vinegar, Honey and Almond Oil
Apple cider vinegar acts as a great conditioner. Mix two tablespoons of honey with one tablespoon of almond oil and one tablespoon apple cider vinega
r. Rub this mix all over your tresses gently focusing on the dry, damaged bit and ends. Leave it on for at least half an hour and then rinse off.

Oiling your hair regularly is a secret that all girls with great hair know. Massage oil into your hair, section by section starting from the scalp to the ends and then pack in a warm towel for 15-20 minutes. Oil locks in extra moisturizer, hydrates hair in the cold weather and gives you soft and shiny locks. Natural oils are such as coconut, olive, castor and almond oil are great for restoring shine and moisture to the hair.

Here's Why Everyone's Talking About Australian Top Model Duckie Thot's Instagram Post About Natural Hair

South Sudanese model Duckie Thot, who was formerly a contestant on Australia's Next Top Model, recently wrote a candid Instagram post about what it's like to deal with her natural hair in the fashion industry. Her honesty has since garnered the post over 17,000 likes and 1,600 comments, because it confronts the fashion industry's lack of diversity.

In the post, Duckie told the story of how the Australian brand Dinosaur Designs asked her to wear her natural hair for a shoot. She was apprehensive about it at first. "I've never really had a good experience with my natural hair and modeling in Australia before," Duckie wrote. "I remember on top model on one of the episodes I had to cornrow my own hair. I was extremely upset and embarrassed that they 'didn't know how' to cornrow my natural hair when at the end of the day that's their job."

She then explained that the Top Model experience made her emotional. She was afraid of being eliminated from the show simply because the hairstylists didn't know how to work with her afro-textured tresses.

Last weekend, Winner Harlow — Canadian model, former America's Next Top Model contestant, and Lemonade fixture — showed off her short natural curls in an Instagram post. Winnie reportedly shared on Snapchat that she was worried about her hair. But she also decided it was OK to drag Duckie down by posting one of Duckie's Dinosaur Designs campaign shots (more of which you can see below) and captioning it with, "LMFAO! WHAT ARE THOOOOOSEEEEE cauliflower ass head."

Duckie clapped back in the classiest way ever. "It's not fun being bullied for something you can't control and to have a top model woman of color who I thought encouraged acceptance and self love call me out for rocking my natural hair, isn't cool at all," she wrote in her post.

"I know what it feels like to be forced to do a lot of things with your hair that you’re uncomfortable with. As a black woman in the industry and as a black woman period, it’s hard to deal with your hair," she said. "Not a lot of people know how to deal with your hair. So please understand, from deep in my heart, I apologize if I hurt anyone’s feelings. I am human, I do crack jokes with my friends and family.”

Duckie's Instagram post doesn't even cover the half of what she's faced in the fashion industry. In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Thot opened up even more about feeling inferior during her time on Australia's Next Top Model because of the deep color of her skin and the texture of her hair.

According to Duckie, the problem stems from society's Eurocentric standard of beauty. "Being a black woman, we haven't really been taught how to take care of our natural hair — we've only been taught how to hide it," Thot told Teen Vogue. "I think hair companies, the media, hairstylists, and the industry itself are to blame. They haven't made the same efforts to ensure black women are looked after in their most natural form. ... I think [the industry] should really take ownership and start to invest into us."

Unfortunately, the problem isn't only with natural hair. Top models like Nykhor Paul and Victoria's Secret model Leomie Anderson have called out professional makeup artists for not carrying a wide range of foundation shades that cater to women with darker skin tones.

Duckie added to that point, telling Teen Vogue, "Like when the makeup artist pulls out their palette and they've got 20 different shades of foundation for a white girl, but only have four 'darker' shades," she said. "Then, I'm awkwardly sitting there thinking 'none of that matches my skin whatsoever.' It's those type of situations that [black models] are put in and not catered to. ... By constantly challenging and pushing at [these discrepancies] I hope we will eventually make a difference."

Through it all, Duckie has learned the most important thing is self-love. "Since I started modeling, I've been molded by absolutely everybody in every corner," she said to Teen Vogue. "People have always told me what to do, what I should look like, what hair I should have — all these sorts of things. And, I listened to these comments for a very long time."

It's those very experiences that have kept her grounded in the belief that she is a representation for girls who look like her. "When I started listening to my own voice, that's when things really started picking up for me," she explained to Teen Vogue. "That for me has been the biggest change in my whole career — listening to myself, what I feel, and what I know. Until you find your own groove, you're going to be confused. I definitely recommend finding yourself before you dive into something. Really being sure of what you represent and being confident in that. Know that you're a voice for hundreds or thousands of girls out there."