[JEBLA] Eyebrow Qualifications to Become Open Badges, Officially Announced at 3rd Anniversary Ceremony in April 2026

The Japan Eyebrow License Association (JEBLA) will introduce Open Badges for qualification and certification starting April 2026. This initiative was announced at a commemorative ceremony held on March 27, 2026.

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened interest in eye and overall facial appearance, leading to increased attention on eyebrow services and treatments. Hot Pepper Beauty Academy's research indicates a demand for "eyebrow salons" among Gen Z women, and that "eyebrow shaping/cutting" has an "interest" level about 10 points higher than its "usage" rate, suggesting a growing market for brow-related services. Furthermore, the utilization rate of "eyebrow cutting" among men aged 15-19 in hair salons has been rising since 2020, reaching 21.6% during the pandemic. In this context, eyebrows are gaining attention not only in women's beauty but also as a pioneering element driving the expansion of men's beauty.

■ Background

~Expanding Market and the Challenge of "Invisible Skills"~

The eyebrow market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with an increase in specialized salons and technicians. However, challenges such as variations in skill levels and knowledge, and the lack of transparency in qualification credibility have become apparent. Additionally, in the field of cosmetic tattooing, discrepancies in understanding desired designs and outcomes have led to disputes regarding treatment eligibility and insufficient explanations, making it difficult for consumers to assess the expertise of technicians and the scope of services offered. Furthermore, concerning face waxing, the Consumer Affairs Agency's accident information database includes cases of skin peeling after facial waxing and diagnoses of skin peeling and redness the day after treatment, underscoring the importance of safety and appropriate techniques and explanation systems. While traditional qualifications can demonstrate the "fact of acquisition," they have made it difficult to concretely prove skills such as:

• What knowledge and skills have been acquired?

• What level of skill and understanding has been reached?

JEBLA, in response to this background, has been working to improve the skills of beauticians and hairdressers through qualification certification, establishing safety standards with the aim of fostering the healthy development of the eyebrow industry and standardizing basic knowledge and techniques. JEBLA's mission is to promote safe and secure techniques tailored to Japanese skin and bone structure, along with logical design education that does not rely solely on intuition.

The Open Badges that JEBLA is introducing this time will include not only the qualification and certification names but also