Bill > S656

This bill aims to deregulate certain cosmetic art services in North Carolina by exempting natural hair care services, blow-dry styling, and makeup artistry from licensing requirements. Specifically, the bill converts the mandatory natural hair care specialist license to a voluntary certification, allows practitioners of these services to work without a license if they complete a four-hour sanitation course, and expands the authorized settings where these services can be provided. The bill changes existing law to remove licensing requirements for natural hair care specialists, blow-dry stylists, and makeup artists, while still offering a voluntary certification option for natural hair care specialists. Practitioners in these areas will now only need to complete a one-time four-hour sanitation and safety course approved by the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners to provide their services. The bill also broadens the locations where these services can be performed, including hospitals, nursing homes, event locations, and barbershops. Existing natural hair care specialist license holders will automatically be converted to voluntary certificates, and they can continue to practice without the certificate, though holding it allows them to use the "certified natural hair care specialist" title. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025, with the goal of reducing regulatory barriers for practitioners in these specific cosmetic art services.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S656