A debate over a no child policy at a beauty salon has left even the beauty association struggling to establish who is in the right.

A Christchurch mother is livid after being asked to leave Simply Beauty, because she had her four-month-old baby.

The woman was waiting for her mother at the time.

But the store's defending its no child policy, saying it's a health and safety issue.

Association of Registered Beauty Professionals President Kim Ryan says it's a bit of a grey area.

She says she understands where the mother is coming from, as it's not common for salons to have that kind of policy.

"If they're working with hot wax in a confined space and they drop hot wax on that baby, the mum's not going to be too happy."

Ryan she says any accident involving a child would come at the expense of the business.