SB 486 — Relating to WV Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION IntroducedCommittee Substitute for Senate Bill 486 ByBY SenatorSENATOTHORNE Thorne[Reported [IntroducedFebruary January26, 19,2026, 2026;from the Committee on Government Organization] CS for SB 486 A BILL to amend and reenact §30-27-3 and §30-27-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended;

referredand to the Committee on Government Organization] Intr SB 486 2026R2352 A BILL to amend and reenact §30-27-3 of the Codecode ofby Westadding Virginia,a 1931,new assection, amended,designated §30-27-8c, relating to the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists;

and adding the definition of "master aesthetician" to persons licensed under this article.article;

establishing a salon training program;

and exempting safe services from licensure.

(1) Administering cosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin, including cleansing, toning, performing effleurageeffleurage, or other related movements, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp;

(2) Applying, by hand or with a mechanical or electrical apparatus, any cosmetics, makeups, oils, powders, clays, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams, or chemical preparations necessary for the practice of aesthetics to another person’s face, neck, back, shoulders, hands, elbowselbows, and feet up to and including the knee;

CS for SB 486 (b) "Aesthetician" or "esthetician" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of aesthetics and has completed 600 clockclock-hours hours of training.

(c) "Applicant" means a person making application for a professional license, license, Intr SB 486 2026R2352 certificate, registration, permit, or renewal under the provisions of this article.

and (3) Applications, treatments, or rubs of on the scalp, face, or neck with oils, creams, lotions, cosmetics, antiseptics, powders, or other preparations in connection with the shaving, cutting, or trimming of the hair or beard.

(f) "Barber crossover" is a person who has completed 1,200 or 1,500 clockclock-hours hours of training, is licensed as a barber, and completed additional hours of training in nails, aesthetics, and/or chemical services, to the total amount of 2,100 hours,clock-hours, to perform cosmetology.

(h) "Barber permanent wavist" means a person who has completed 2,000 clockclock-hours hours of training and was licensed to perform barbering and barber permanent waiving enrolled by August 28, 2012.

CS for SB 486 (i) "Board" means the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

(j) "Certificate" means an instructor certificate to teach in a school under the provisions of this article or a document issued by the board for certification obtained pursuant to §30-27-8b of Intr SB 486 2026R2352 this code.

(l) "Cosmetologist" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of cosmetology and who has completed 1,800 clockclock-hours hours of training.

(3) Applying by hand or with a mechanical or electrical device or appliance, any cosmetics, makeups, oils, powders, clays, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creamscreams, or chemical preparations necessary for the practice of aesthetics to another person’s face, neck, shoulders, hands, elbows, and feet, up to and including the knee;

CS for SB 486 (n) "Cosmetology crossover" is a person who has completed 1,800 clockclock-hours hours of training, is licensed as a cosmetologist, and completes an additional 300 hoursclock-hours of training in clipper cuts and face shaving to perform barbering, for a total of 2,100 hours.clock-hours.

or Intr SB 486 2026R2352 (2) For salons, a professional licensee is on the premises and is quickly and easily available.

Cutting, styling, shaping, arranging, braiding, weaving, dressing, adding extensions, curling, facial hair trimming, scalp treatments, waving, permanent waving, relaxing, straightening, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring, or similar, work on human hair, or a wigwig, or hairpiece, by any means, including hands, mechanical or electrical devices, or appliances.

(q) "Hair stylist" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of hair styling and who has completed 1,000 clockclock-hours hours of training, effective July 1, 2016.2016, or 1,000 clock-hours of training in the salon training program.

CS for SB 486 (u) "Master aesthetician" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of aesthetics and has completed a minimum of 900 clockclock-hours hours of training and who is authorized to practice using laser technology, intense pulsed light ("IPL")(IPL) devices, microneedling, and radiofrequency treatments.

Intr SB 486 2026R2352 (v)(w) "Nail care" means any one or any combination of the following acts when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of disease:

(w) (x) "Nail technician" or "manicurist" means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of nail care and has completed 400 clockclock-hours hours of training.

CS for SB 486 (dd) (ee) "Salon license" means a license to own and operate a salon.

(gg) (hh) Hair braiding, threading, and any other item not spelled out are not regulated by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

Intr(hh) SB"Hair 486braiding" 2026R2352means NOTE:the service of twisting, locking, wrapping, weaving, cornrowing, extending, or braiding hair by hand or with mechanical devices, including the use of natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair and fibers, decorative beads, or other hair accessories, the minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, locking, wrapping, weaving, cornrowing, extending, or braiding hair, and the making and lacing of wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions, as well as the use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils, pomades, and shampoos.

The(ii)"Natural purposehair braiding" excludes the application of thisdyes, billreactive ischemicals, or other preparations to addalter the definitioncolor of "Masterthe aesthetician"hair whoor isto authorizedstraighten, tocurl, practiceor usingalter laserthe technology,structure intenseof pulsedthe lighthair ("IPL")or devices,the microneedling,use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds, or fusion bonds, and radiofrequencyis treatments.distinct from aesthetics, barbering, barber permanent waving, cosmetology, hair styling, and nail care.

Strike-throughs(jj) indicate"Threading" languagemeans thata wouldmethod beof strickenremoving hair from athe headingeyebrows, upper lip, or other body parts by using a cotton thread to pull hair from follicles, including the presentuse lawof andover-the-counter underscoringastringents, indicatesgels, newpowders, languagetweezers, thatand wouldscissors beincidental added.to threading.

Threading is distinct from aesthetics, barbering, barber permanent waving, cosmetology, hair styling, and nail care.

(kk) "Blow-dry styling" means the practice of shampooing, conditioning, drying, arranging, curling, straightening, or styling hair using only mechanical devices, hair sprays, and topical agents, such as balms, oils, and serums, including the use and styling of hair extensions, hair CS for SB 486 pieces, and wigs.

Blow-dry styling excludes cutting hair or the application of dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals, keratin treatments, or other preparations to color or alter the structure of human hair, and is distinct from aesthetics, barbering, barber permanent waving, cosmetology, hair styling, and nail care.

(ll) "Makeup application" means the application of a cosmetic to enhance the appearance of the face or skin including powder, foundation, rouge, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick, including the application of makeup applied using an airbrush.

Makeup application excludes the application of permanent makeup or tattooing, and is distinct from aesthetics, barbering, barber permanent waving, cosmetology, hair styling, and nail care.

Hair braiding, threading, blow-dry styling, makeup application, and any other item not spelled out are not regulated by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

§30-27-8.

Professional license requirements.

(a) An applicant for a professional license to practice as an aesthetician, barber, barber crossover, cosmetologist, hair stylist, cosmetologist crossover, or nail technician shall present satisfactory evidence that he or she:

(1) Is at least eighteen 18 years of age;

(2) Is of good moral character;

Does not have a criminal conviction that directly relates to the applicant’s ability to safely practice as an aesthetician, barber, barber crossover, cosmetologist, hair stylist, cosmetologist crossover, or nail technician, as determined by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists;