Barbering

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A TRADITION IN EXCELLENCE.

Barbers are licensed and regulated in California by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The Board works to ensure that barbers follow State law and infection control standards.

The practice of barbering is all or any combination of the following:

HAIR

A barber can arrange, dress, curl, wave, permanent wave, cleanse, cut, shampoo, relax, singe, bleach, tint, color, straighten, dye, brush, apply hair tonics, beautify, or otherwise treat by any means the hair of any person. This includes shaving the face or trimming a client’s beard or moustache.

SKIN

A barber can perform facials, scalp massages, or treatments with oils, creams, lotions, or other preparations either by hand or with a mechanical appliance. They can apply cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, powders, oils, clays, or lotions to the scalp, face, or neck.

In the State of California a barber cannot:

  • Practice manicuring
  • Tint or dye eyelashes or eyebrows
  • Perform any sort of superfluous hair removal
  • Use medium-grade or medical-grade skin exfoliates
  • Use any type of laser regardless of its known health effects
  • Perform services to any other part of the body except the scalp, face, or neck

In California, barbering services may be legally performed only by State-licensed barbers in State-licensed salons and barbershops

Mission of the BBC

Ensuring the health and safety of California consumers by promoting ethical standards and by enforcing the laws of the beauty and barbering industry.

For questions, comments or complaints, contact the Board.

BOARD OF BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY
2420 DEL PASO ROAD, SUITE 100
SACRAMENTO, CA 95834
www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
800-952-5210