About Us

Welcome to Cosmetologists United! Our friends call us COWU. Born out of necessity, we are a dedicated group of individuals committed to improving the lives of personal service providers here in Washington. While the organization was formed to combat an injustice towards hairstylists, we realized early on that we didn’t want to only help hairstylists, but all those who work in a similar capacity that could essentially be targeted in the same fashion. We represent hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists, and tattoo artists whether they are owners, independent, or employed.

HAVE QUESTIONS? Email teamcowu@gmail.com

At COWU we aim to unite, empower, protect and uplift the personal services industry. Our industry faces many known challenges, and more recently we have had to combat challenges we never expected. We have been here during these uncertain times to support not only our association members, but the entire industry here in WA State.

Current Board (click on Name to Learn More) as of Sept 16, 2024 Annual Meeting

Our History

Cosmetologists United was born in 2019 out of a grassroots movement aimed at crushing harmful legislation that was being aimed at booth renters. An unprecedented number of hairstylists and their supporters overtook Olympia to testify against a bill that would ban booth rental in our state. Samantha Knowles founded our Public Facebook Group, Cosmetologists of Washington United to bring stylists together to Advocate for ourselves during the Booth Rental Ban crisis. This was a huge wakeup call for many of us in the industry.

Later that year our founding team filed Articles of Incorporation with the State so that we could officially become a nonprofit organization, and be able to make a real impact on our industry. Our founding leaders were:

  • Samantha Knowles
  • D’Arcy Harrison
  • Raeana Rader
  • Megan White
  • Michelle Sterling

We became official just in time, because in 2020 our industry was rocked yet again due to Covid.

Our Main Objectives:

  • Encouraging advocacy, keeping our members informed of harmful legislation, and providing direction on political matters effecting our industry.
  • Provide a space to connect and unite with fellow Personal Services providers and businesses.
  • To provide resources, education, and guidance. 

Mission:

Cosmetologists United aims to empower, support and advocate for PERSONAL SERVICES business and providers in WA STATE which includes: cosmetologists, barbers, nail techs, massage therapists, permanent makeup artists, tattoo artists, estheticians, hair designers, as well as students, schools and instructors in those fields.

Values:

  • Respectful and Open Discussions
  • Non-Partisan & Non-Discriminatory
  • Advocating for Industry
  • Supporting Fellow Personal Service Operators and Businesses
  • Unity

THANK YOU TO Former Board President and Fb Page Creator: Samantha Knowles we appreciate your service to our industry!  Samantha has stepped away from leadership and we thank her for her service.