There’s this barber shop in Philadelphia named 2B Groomed. Decked out in rich chrome and cherry, it’s recognized as one of America’s finest establishments for men’s grooming. Customers there gladly pony up $60 for a straight-razor shave, $35 for a haircut, and $55 for a facial massage with oils and hot towels. The shoe shine is complimentary, but don’t forget a generous tip. It’s standard protocol.

It’s a prime example of superior service commanding a superior price. 2B Groomed has all the business it can handle, and its services are priced accordingly. There’s a certain percentage of one-time customers, mostly wedding parties whose groomsmen must look their best on that special day. But there’s also a bedrock of stalwart regulars who willingly pay whatever price is necessary to look and feel dapper daily.

For those who can afford such luxury, details like state licensing mandates hardly seem a concern.

But the reality is that very few barbers charge $95 for a haircut and a shave, and few customers care to pay that much. Nonetheless, the public deserves some assurance of minimum standards for quality, safety and hygiene.

Gov. Tom Wolf believes barbers can provide that assurance without licensing. On Thursday, Wolf proposed ending a state requirement to license barbers and 12 other types of professionals in Pennsylvania.

Wolf says the licensing regulations are a barrier to employment. He’s right in this respect. Barber colleges in Pennsylvania have a rigorous curriculum that is overseen by licensed barbers. To become licensed, a student must attend 1,250 hours of instruction, either in a barber school or under direct instruction of a licensed barber in a shop. After completing the 1,250 hours of instruction, the student applies to take the licensure examination. Passing the exam qualifies the student to obtain a license, which must be renewed every two years.

Indeed, there is much for a barber to know — everything from the proper way to strop a straight razor and sterilize scissors, to fitting a hairpiece and recognizing the difference between dandruff and psoriasis treatments.

The state license formally certifies completion of the requirements, leading to a proficiency in the profession. But it’s the training and study — not the license — that make the professional.

If the barbers can certify themselves without state licensure, then we agree with the governor that a state license for barbers is not necessary.

But the license is as much about who cannot practice the trade as much as who can. Take away the licensing requirement, and anyone who can grasp a pair of scissors or clippers can open a shop.

This prospect seems untenable. We don’t see the relaxation of licensure giving rise to many rivals of 2B Groomed’s caliber of service; rather, we envision a lot of bad haircuts atop the grim faces of Pennsylvanians.

Neither will the elimination of state licenses help produce a crop of accomplished auctioneers, campground membership salespeople or natural hair braiders, among the other professionals whose licenses Wolf is proposing to eliminate.

Wolf says his proposal will increase jobs. It seems peculiar that the governor suggests the change now, with statewide unemployment at 4.7 percent — the lowest in more than a decade — and not at the beginning of his first campaign four years ago when the jobless rate hovered at 6 percent?