Another Salon Is Using Your Work. Now What?

3 hours ago
3 min read

You see it on Instagram.

A stylist down the street is teaching a technique that looks exactly like yours.

Another salon is using a name that sounds confusingly close to your brand.

A competitor is selling a course that mirrors your system.

And your first thought is:

Can they even do that?

That was the energy inside our recent ANHC PRO Members-Only Ask Me Anything session with intellectual property attorney Latoicha Andino.

This wasn’t theory.

It was real professionals navigating real situations.

This Was a Members-Only Conversation

Because this was a closed session for ANHC PRO members, professionals felt comfortable sharing what’s actually happening:

“Someone is teaching my class without permission.”
“Another stylist is using my name.”
“I created multiple techniques. How do I protect them?”
“Do I need a copyright, trademark, trade secret — or all three?”

These are not hypothetical concerns.

They’re happening in salons, on YouTube, in courses, and inside product brands right now.

What We Learned

1️⃣ You May Already Have Rights — Even If You Didn’t File Yet

One of the biggest misconceptions?

“If I didn’t register it, I don’t own it.”

Not true.

Once you create original work — books, tutorials, written systems, educational material — you automatically hold common law copyright.

But registration strengthens your position dramatically if infringement occurs.

If you are creating:

Courses
Tutorials
Signature systems
Digital content
Technique breakdowns

You need to understand the difference between owning and enforcing.

2️⃣ A Technique Is Not the Same as Its Name

This was a powerful clarification.

You cannot trademark a hairstyle.

But you can:

Copyright the instructional system behind it
Trademark the name of the technique
License how others are allowed to use it

Those are three different protections.

And most beauty professionals are only thinking about one.

3️⃣ Trade Secrets Require Structure

Many salon owners have proprietary methods — faster retwists, internal processes, unique blends — but no formal protection.

A trade secret isn’t just “don’t tell anyone.”

It requires:

Identifying the protected process
Limiting access
Using agreements
Taking documented steps to maintain secrecy

Protection is intentional.

4️⃣ If You Have a Trademark, You Must Enforce It

This was one of the clearest warnings of the night.

If you have a registered trademark and you ignore misuse, you risk weakening your rights.

Trademark owners are responsible for policing their mark.

That means:

Monitoring competitors
Sending cease and desist letters
Acting consistently

Ownership requires vigilance.

For Professionals Just Getting Started

One closing question asked:

“What should someone do when they’re just coming out of cosmetology school?”

The answer was simple:

Secure your brand name early.

Research it. Protect it. File it properly.

Because priority belongs to whoever files and uses it first.

Watch the Full Replay (Members Only)

This session was exclusive to ANHC PRO members.

The full replay is now available inside the Rising Stars Club on the Business Blueprint page.

If you are:

Launching a product line
Creating courses
Teaching techniques
Scaling your salon
Building a proprietary system

If you’re not yet a member, this is the level of access and applied strategy happening inside our community.

If Another Salon Is Using Your Work

Don’t guess.

Don’t threaten publicly.

Don’t rely on Instagram comments.

Have a real conversation with someone who understands intellectual property in the beauty industry.

Contact:

Latoicha Andino

Email: latoicha@iplaw101firm.com

Phone: 404-734-9039

Website: http://iplaw101firm.com

Because this isn’t about ego.

It’s about ownership.

And ownership protects your revenue, your reputation, and your leverage.