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Barbers, beauticians get snippy over striped poles

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Mar 14, 2012 at 8:37 am

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Those red, white and blue poles that are a hallowed symbol for barbershops are causing some static in the hair business.

Minnesota, Michigan and North Carolina are the latest states that might reserve barber poles for barbers. At least 10 states now have such laws. In some places, the proposals or laws carry fines for offenders.

Barbers say the laws are needed to keep beauty parlors, salons and other establishments from passing themselves off as barbershops. And they're suspicious of chain shops popping up that bear the barber name and logo without having licensed barbers on site.

Cosmetologists argue haircuts are haircuts and say the protective efforts are silly.