Safer Salons Partnership

Want to participate? Contact us!

Contact us if you are interested in participating. Once applications open, we will notify you. We plan to launch a pilot program in 2025. Please wait to purchase any new products until your application is approved.

The Safer Salons Partnership is a financial reimbursement program for small businesses in Washington to receive reimbursement for the purchase of third-party certified, safer hair products.

The following small businesses in Washington are eligible to apply:

Hair stylists and salon owners.
Barbers and barber shop owners.
Cosmetology schools.

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What’s the purpose of the program?

This program is intended to:

Reduce the costs associated with switching to third-party certified, safer hair products.
Reduce exposure to some toxic chemicals in selected hair products.
Help the public find stylists, barbers and salons that are knowledgeable about safer hair products.

Participating businesses also have the option to receive recognition on our website by displaying your business’s name and address on this webpage.

The program will prioritize funding for:

Women-owned businesses.
Minority-owned businesses.

How does the program work?

We plan to launch a 6-month pilot program in 2025. Once applications are open, we will post a link on this webpage. If you’re interested in participating, please contact us and we will notify you when applications open.

Participating businesses will receive up to $5,000 reimbursement for:

Purchasing eligible, third-party certified safer products.
Providing services to clients using eligible, third-party certified safer products, such as a shampoo or styling service.

What happens if your business is selected to participate?

If your business is chosen to participate, we will then provide you with:

A list of eligible products you can purchase.
A form (voucher) to fill out that details your purchases and services. This voucher is what you will turn in for reimbursement.
Promotional materials you can display at your business to advertise your participation in the program.
The option to list your business on the Safer Salons Partnership map (which will be posted on our website).
Educational materials on safer products.

After we receive your voucher, we will then reimburse you for eligible products and services up to a specified amount.

Frequently asked questions

In 2023, Washington Legislature passed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (TFCA) (Chapter 70A.560 RCW) to improve cosmetic and personal care product safety and protect Washington’s residents and environment from toxic chemicals.

As of Jan. 1, 2025, TFCA restricts nine toxic chemicals and chemical classes from cosmetic products made, distributed, or sold in Washington.

To comply with TFCA, cosmetologists can:

Contact your distributor to confirm the products you’re buying don’t have chemicals restricted by the law.
Remember the sell-through period. Products you had in stock as of Jan. 1, 2025, can be sold through the end of 2025.
Check product ingredients list for restricted chemicals.

To learn more, see:

Cosmetologists experience a higher risk of exposure to toxic chemicals due to their work environment, and women of color are especially vulnerable to these chemical exposures due to factors such as:

Occupation (beauty industry workers are predominantly women of color and immigrants).
Cultural and religious differences.
Beauty standards that promote European features.

Studies have shown that women have higher levels of harmful chemicals found in cosmetics detected in their bodies than men, and black women have higher levels than white women. Those in the beauty industry often face health hazards at work due to exposure to harmful chemicals in professional cosmetic products and insufficient workplace safety standards.

In accordance with the HEAL Act, we will prioritize technical and financial assistance to communities facing disproportionate impacts from environmental harms or where there is the potential to reduce exposure inequity.

Contact information

Need help? Contact our Toxic-Free Cosmetics Team
ToxicFreeCosmetics@ecy.wa.gov

Want to stay informed?
Subscribe to the TFCA Act email list