Barbering and Cosmetology

Who Regulates What?

This page provides a general overview of barbering and cosmetology services, and services that are often mistaken as barbering and cosmetology services, with information on the agencies that regulate those services.

Individual license holders should see the scope of practice guides for services you can provide under your current license.

SERVICE	WHO REGULATES IT?
Beautifying treatments Includes application to a person’s face, neck, shoulders, or arms.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, or Esthetician license)
Body Contouring	Contact the Texas Medical Board. Contact DSHS for certain medical equipment.
Body Hair Removal Includes using depilatories, preparations or chemicals, tweezers, or other devices or appliances of any kind.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, or Esthetician license)
Body Wraps	Not regulated and do not require a license in Texas.
Botox	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Chemical Peeling	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Cleansing Treatments	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, or Esthetician license)
Cool Sculpting	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Dermaplaning or Dermablading Using a razor that is not a medical scalpel	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber license)
Dermaplaning or Dermablading Using a medical scalpel	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Eyebrow threading	Not regulated and does not require a license in Texas. Threading was de-regulated in 2017.
Eyelash Extensions Includes using semipermanent, threadlike extensions composed of applying single fibers to a person’s eyelashes.	TDLR (Requires a Cosmetology Operator, Esthetician, or Eyelash Extension Specialist)
Eyelash Strips	Not regulated and does not require a license in Texas.
Facial Beautifying or Cleansing Includes administering facial treatments.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, or Esthetician license)
Film and TV	You may provide “incidental cosmetic services” to an individual for the primary purpose of the filming of a television program or motion picture.
Hair and Mustache Services	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber or Cosmetology Operator license)
Hair Braiding, Natural	Not regulated and does not require a license, but the use of chemicals or adhesives would require you to hold a hair-extension license.
Hair Services Includes arranging, beautifying, coloring, processing, styling, trimming, or shaving a person's neck using a safety razor.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber or Cosmetology Operator license)
Hair Removal Removal of body hair using depilatories, preparations or chemicals, tweezers, or other devices or appliances of any kind.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, or Esthetician license)
Hair Weaving Includes attaching commercial hair to a person's hair or scalp.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, Hair Weaving Specialist, or Hair Weaving Specialist / Esthetician license)
Intradermal Cosmetics	Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services
IV Hydration	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Laser Hair Removal	TDLR (Requires a Laser Hair Removal license license)
Laser Procedures Beyond hair removal (e.g. Tattoo removal, etc.)	Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Medical Board
Lymphatic Drainage As a massage technique manipulation of soft tissue for the purpose of body massage	TDLR (Requires a Massage Therapy license license)
Lymphatic Drainage Beyond manipulation of soft tissue for the purpose of body massage (i.e., on open wounds or after surgery to help incision area drain)	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Manicures or Pedicures	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, Manicurist, or Manicurist/Esthetician license)
Massage	A Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator, Esthetician, or Manicurist/Esthetician license holder may massage a person's scalp, neck, shoulders, arms, face, hands or feet. A Manicurist license allows a practitioner to massage, cleanse, treat, or beautify a person's hands or feet. All other massage services require a massage therapist license.
Microblading	Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Medical Board
Microneedling	Contact the Texas Medical Board
Mustache or Beard Services Includes arranging, beautifying, coloring, processing, styling, trimming, or shaving using a safety razor.	TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber or Cosmetology Operator license)
Nursing Homes, Providing Services in	Licensed nursing homes are exempt from requiring an establishment license when offering cosmetic services provided by volunteers and regular employees.
Makeup Application	Not regulated and does not require a license in Texas
Permanent Makeup	Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services
Photographic Services	You may provide “incidental cosmetic services” to an individual for the primary purpose of photography (at a permanent establishment)
Saunas	Some saunas may fall under the definition of health spas, which are regulated by Texas Secretary of State. Also see health spa FAQs.
Shampooing and Conditioning	Shampooing and conditioning are not regulated and do not require a license in Texas. Shampooing was de-regulated in 2017.
Shaving	Cosmetology Operators may shaving a person's neck with a safety razor if it is preparatory or ancillary to another cosmetology service. Cosmetology Operators and Class A Barbers may shave a person's face with a safety razor. Class A Barbers may shave a shave with an unguarded razor.
Tanning	Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services
Tattoos	Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services
Teeth Whitening, other dental services	Contact the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners
Television Actors	Unlicensed individuals may provide “incidental cosmetic services” for the primary purpose of preparing participants for the filming of a television program or motion picture.
Wig, toupee, or hairpiece servicing	Servicing a person's wig, toupee, or artificial hairpiece on a person's head or on a block after the initial retail sale is not considered barbering or cosmetology and does not require a license.