Senate Bill 274 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; make up application and blow-dry styling exempt from regulation

Summary

SB274 would remove makeup application from esthetics and exempt makeup application and blow-dry styling from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

The bill redefines two services: blow-dry styling and makeup application. It removes makeup services from the esthetics definition and therefore from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It exempts makeup application and blow-dry styling from Board regulation, but only when the provider offers no other barbering, cosmetology, or esthetics services at that location. It makes non-substantive, technical updates to current code language to reflect these changes.

Who It Affects

• People who provide only makeup application or only blow-dry styling would be exempt from regulation by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
• Licensed professionals in cosmetology, esthetics, or barbering would experience a narrower regulatory scope, since makeup application and blow-dry styling would not be regulated by the Board if those are the only services offered.

Key Provisions

• Definitions: blow-dry styling is defined as cleansing, conditioning, drying, arranging, curling, straightening, or styling hair using mechanical devices, brushes, combs, hair sprays, and topical agents, excluding cutting, coloring, bleaching, relaxing, permanent waving, or chemical treatments.
• Definitions: makeup application is defined as the practice of applying cosmetics to enhance facial or skin appearance, including airbrush makeup.
• Esthetics: makeup is removed from the definition of esthetics, and makeup application is exempt from Board regulation.
• Regulatory exemptions: makeup application and blow-dry styling are exempt from Board regulation, provided the provider offers no other barbering, cosmetology, or esthetics services at the location.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective on October 1, 2026.
• Technical updates: nonsubstantive revisions to update the language of the code to current style.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions