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SB274 INTRODUCED
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SB274
84S69FF-1
By Senators Weaver, Coleman, Figures, Coleman-Madison
RFD: Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
First Read: 10-Feb-26
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84S69FF-1 01/29/2026 EGC (L)EGC 2026-436
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First Read: 10-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, makeup services are
considered a practice of esthetics and subject to the
licensing and training requirements of the Alabama
Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
This bill would remove makeup services from the
definition of esthetics.
This bill would exempt makeup application
services from regulation by the Alabama Board of
Cosmetology and Barbering.
This bill would also define blow-dry styling and
exempt those services from regulation by the Alabama
Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and
Barbering; to amend Sections 34-7B-1 and 34-7B-13, Code of
Alabama 1975; to define "blow-dry styling" and "makeup
application"; to remove makeup services from the definition of
esthetics; to exempt blow-dry styling and makeup application
from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and
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from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and
Barbering; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to
update the existing code language to current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 34-7B-1 and 34-7B-13, Code of
Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§34-7B-1
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
(1) APPRENTICE. Any person engaged in learning the
practices defined in this article including, but not limited
to, assisting in the performance of any acts of barbering or
cosmetology on the general public under the constant and
direct supervision of a person who has held a valid current
license issued by the board for at least five years, in a shop
licensed by the board.
(2) BARBERING. The occupation of shaving or trimming
the beard ,; cutting or dressing the hair ,; giving facial or
scalp massages ,; giving facial or scalp treatment with oils or
creams or other preparations made for that purpose, either by
hand or by means of mechanical appliances ,; singeing and
shampooing the hair ,; dyeing the hair ,; or permanently waving
or straightening the hair of any living or deceased person for
compensation, as performed by a Class 2 barber.
(3) BLOW-DRY STYLING. The practice of cleansing,
conditioning, drying, arranging, curling, straightening, or
styling the hair using only mechanical devices, brushes,
combs, hair sprays, and topical agents, including balms, oils,
and serums. The term does not include cutting, coloring,
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and serums. The term does not include cutting, coloring,
bleaching, relaxing, permanent waving, or the use of chemical
treatments to alter the structure of the hair.
(4) BOARD. The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and
Barbering.
(4)(5) CLASS 1 BARBER. A person who only does the
following in his or her ordinary course of business: Arranges,
cleans, cuts, or singes the hair of any person or massages,
cleans, stimulates, exercises, or does similar work on the
scalp, face, or neck of any person with the hands, or with
mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliance, or by the use
of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or
creams. Any one or a combination of the following practices,
when done upon the human body above the seventh cervical
vertebra for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of
disease or physical or mental ailments ,; and when done for
payment, directly or indirectly or without payment for the
public generally: Shaving or trimming the beard or trimming
the hair.
(5)(6) CLASS 2 BARBER. Any person, other than a student
or apprentice, who performs barbering on the general public
for compensation, and who shall satisfy the qualifications and
licensure requirements provided in this chapter for a Class 2
barber. For the purposes of this chapter, the term barber,
standing alone, shall be deemed a reference to a Class 2
barber.
(6)(7) COSMETOLOGIST. Any person, other than a student
or apprentice, who performs cosmetology on the general public
for compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
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for compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
article for a cosmetologist.
(7)(8) COSMETOLOGY. Any of the practices generally
recognized as beauty culture, hairdressing, or any other
designation engaged in by any person who performs such on the
general public for compensation including, but not limited to,
cleansing, singeing, cutting, arranging, dressing, curling,
braiding, waxing, bleaching, weaving, coloring the hair by
hand or mechanical apparatus ,; the use of creams, lotions, or
cosmetic preparations, with or without massage, on the scalp,
face, arms, legs, feet, or hands ,; esthetics practices ,; nail
technology ,; manicure ,; pedicure ,; or desairology.
(8)(9) ESTHETICIAN. Any person, other than a student or
apprentice, who performs esthetics on the general public for
compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
article for an esthetician.
(9)(11) ESTHETICS. The practice of performing acts of
skin care including, but not limited to, facials, body waxing,
makeup, and general esthetics procedures on the general public
for compensation.
(10)(12) ESTHETICS/MANICURE. A combination of the
practices of esthetics and manicure.
(11)(10) ESTHETICIAN/MANICURIST. Any person, other than
a student or apprentice, who performs a combination of the
practices of esthetics and manicure on the general public for
compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
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qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
article for an esthetician/manicurist.
(12)(13) INSTRUCTOR. A licensee who teaches in a
licensed or registered school of barbering or any branch of
cosmetology and completes any applicable requirements for
continuing education.
(13)(14) LICENSE. A document issued by the board which
entitles the holder to practice the profession listed on the
document.
(14)(15) LICENSEE. Any person holding a license issued
pursuant to this article.
(16) MAKEUP APPLICATION. The practice of applying
cosmetics to enhance the appearance of the face or skin,
including powder, foundation, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner,
mascara, and lipstick. The term includes the application of
makeup using an airbrush.
(15)(17) MANICURE. The practice of beautifying or
grooming the fingernails, toenails, adding nail tips,
extensions, gels, or massaging the hands, forearms, feet, or
lower legs of the general public for compensation.
(16)(19) MANICURIST. Any person, other than a student
or apprentice, who performs the practice of manicure on the
general public for compensation, and who shall
satisfy satisfies the qualifications and licensure requirements
provided in this article for a manicurist.
(17)(18) MANICURE/WAXING. A combination of the
practices of manicure and waxing.
(18)(20) MANICURIST/WAXER. Any person, other than a
student or apprentice, who performs a combination of the
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student or apprentice, who performs a combination of the
practices of manicure and waxing on the general public for
compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
article for a manicurist/waxer.
(19)(21) NATURAL HAIR STYLING. The practice of
cleansing, weaving or interweaving, extending, locking,
braiding, or arranging the hair without cutting, coloring,
permanent waving, relaxing, removing, or chemical treatments.
(20)(22) NATURAL HAIRSTYLIST. Any person, other than a
student, who performs natural hair styling on the general
public for compensation, and who shall satisfy satisfies the
qualifications and licensure requirements provided in this
article for a natural hairstylist.
(21)(23) SCHOOL. An establishment licensed or
registered by the board to teach any or all of the practices
of barbering or cosmetology.
(22)(24) SHAMPOO ASSISTANT. Any person who is licensed
to perform only the practices of shampooing, cleansing, or
applying and cleansing temporary weekly color rinses to the
hair of the general public for compensation, and who shall
satisfy satisfies the qualifications and licensure requirements
provided in this article for a shampoo assistant.
(23)(25) SHOP. Any place where barbering or cosmetology
is practiced including, but not limited to, a mobile salon.
Only a properly licensed person, who is not an apprentice or a
student, may operate a shop.
(24)(26) STUDENT. Any person who is engaged in learning
any practice regulated by this article in a school licensed or
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any practice regulated by this article in a school licensed or
registered pursuant to this article, and who, as part of the
learning process, performs or assists in any practice
regulated by this article under the immediate supervision of
an instructor who is licensed pursuant to this article.
(25)(28) THREADING. The practice of eyebrow removal
with the use of a loop made of cotton or any other material.
(26)(27) THREADER. Any person engaged in the practice
of threading on the general public for compensation, and who
shall satisfy satisfies the qualifications and licensure
requirements provided in this article for a threader."
"§34-7B-13
This chapter does not apply to any of the following
persons, activities, or services:
(1) Service in the case of emergency or domestic
upheaval, without compensation.
(2) Licensed medical professionals operating within the
scope of their normal practice.
(3) Personnel of the United States armed services Armed
Services performing their ordinary duties.
(4) Any public trade school or other public school or
school program under the purview of the State Board of
Education or a local board of education.
(5) Any person who only occasionally dresses hair and
receives for no compensation therefor , or does any other act or
thing mentioned in this chapter, without holding himself or
herself out to the public as a provider of any practices
defined in this chapter for compensation.
(6) Departments in retail establishments where
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(6) Departments in retail establishments where
cosmetics are demonstrated and offered for sale but where no
other acts of cosmetology or barbering are performed.
(7) The licensees of any county or municipal barber
board or commission in existence on August 1, 2013, unless
such board or commission elects, by resolution adopted by the
governing body of the county or municipality, to come under
the provisions of this chapter.
(8) Any person who practices as a Class 1 barber.
(9) Any person who provides makeup application services
for compensation at any location if the person provides no
other barbering, cosmetology, or esthetics services.
(10) Any person who provides only blow-dry styling
services for compensation at any location if the person
provides no other barbering, cosmetology, or esthetics
services. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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