Cosmetology Operator - Scope of Practice
What Services are Allowed?
A licensed Cosmetology Operator can perform or advertise the following services to the public in exchange for compensation:
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Beautifying treatments of a person’s face, neck, shoulders, or arms
1603.0011(a)(4)
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Body hair removal using depilatories, preparations or chemicals, tweezers, or other devices or appliances of any kind
1603.0011(a)(6)
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Cleansing treatments of a person’s face, neck, scalp, shoulders or arms
1603.0011(a)(3)
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Eyelash extensions using semipermanent, threadlike extensions composed of applying single fibers to a person’s eyelashes.
1603.0011(c)
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Facial treatments
1603.0011(a)(5)
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Hair services, including: arranging, beautifying, bleaching, bobbing, cleansing, clipping, coloring, cutting, dressing, dyeing, processing, shaping, singeing, straightening, styling, tinting, trimming, or waving
1603.011(a)(1)
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Massaging a person's scalp, neck, shoulders, arms, face, hands or feet, by hand or by using a device, apparatus or appliance, with or without any cosmetic preparation, antiseptic, lotion or cream.
1603.0011(a)(3) and 1603.0011(a)(8)
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Mustache or beard services, including: arranging, beautifying, coloring, processing, styling, trimming, or shaving using a safety razor. A “safety razor” is a razor that is fitted with a guard close to the cutting edge of the razor and is intended to prevent the razor from cutting too deeply and reduce the risk and incidence of accidental cuts.
1603.011(a)(2)
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Nail treatments including: cutting, trimming, polishing, tinting, coloring, cleansing, manicuring, pedicuring, or attaching false nails
1603.0011(a)(7)
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Shaving a person's face or neck with a safety razor
1603.011(a)(1)-(2)
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Weaving of hair to attach commercial hair to a person's hair or scalp
1603.0011(a)(9)
What Services are Not Allowed?
A Cosmetology Operator cannot perform or advertise the following services in exchange for compensation:
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Shaving with a straight razor, or a razor that is not a “safety razor.” A “safety razor” is a razor that is fitted with a guard close to the cutting edge of the razor and is intended to prevent the razor from cutting too deeply and reduce the risk and incidence of accidental cuts.
1603.0011(b)
Please also see the list of services regulated by other agencies.
Who Can Provide Services in Texas?
Only licensed individuals who hold a Texas license can perform the services listed above (1603.2101).
Cosmetology Operators may perform most barbering services, with the exception of straight-razor shaving. In the same way, a Class-A Barber license allows a person to perform most cosmetology services, with the exception of eyelash-extension services.
The following license types can perform some (but not all) of the services allowed by a Cosmetology Operator license:
Un-licensed individuals cannot represent themselves or their business using the words “cosmetologist”, “cosmetology”, “barber”, “barbering”, or any combination, variation, or abbreviation of these words (1603.2101).
Exemptions to Licensing Requirement
There are specific exemptions for:
- Persons licensed in Texas to practice medicine, dentistry, podiatry, chiropractic, or nursing and operating within the scope of their license
- Military medical officers performing official duties
- Inmates in the institutional division of the TDCJ system who perform barbering or cosmetology services
- A person who provides services in an emergency
- Persons who perform regular duties at a licensed nursing or convalescent custodial or personal care home to a patient residing in the home
- Individuals who provide “incidental cosmetic services” in preparation for television/film appearances or photographic services
See 1603.0013 for more details on exemptions.
