Original Notice.
Expedited Rule Making—Proposed notice was filed as WSR 25-18-107.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 24, 2026.
Submit Written Comments to: Ellis Starrett, 1125 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, beginning May 20, 2026, by June 23, 2026.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ellis Starrett, phone 360-902-3846, email rulescoordinator@dol.wa.gov, by June 13, 2026.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Requiring cosmetology, barber, esthetician, and hair designer students to complete training requirements for textured hair prior to licensure.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: EHB 1874, passed during the 2025 legislative session, sets new training requirements for the above professional industries.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of licensing (DOL), governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Sydney Muhle, 405 Black Lake Boulevard S.W., Olympia, WA 98502, 360-634-5124; Implementation: Sarah Gretza, 405 Black Lake Boulevard S.W., Olympia, WA 98502, 564-233-4313; and Enforcement: Chantelle Petrone Marker, 405 Black Lake Boulevard S.W., Olympia, WA 98502.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is fully exempt.
The minimum training requirements for a student or apprentice to be eligible for licensure in the following professions shall include:
(1) For cosmetology:
(a) Theory of the practice of cosmetology including business practices and basic human anatomy and physiology;
(b) At least 100 hours of skills in the application of manicuring and pedicuring services for all skin types;
(c) At least 100 hours of skills in the application of esthetics services for all hair and skin types;
(d) Shampooing including draping, brushing, scalp manipulations, conditioning, and rinsing for all hair and skin types;
(e) Scalp and hair analysis for all hair and skin types;
(f) Hair cutting and trimming including scissors, razor, thinning shears, and clippers for all hair and skin types;
(g) Hair styling including wet, dry, and thermal styling, braiding and styling aids for all hair and skin types;
(h) Cutting and trimming of facial hair including beard and mustache design, and eyebrow, ear, and nose hair trimming for all hair and skin types;
(i) Artificial hair for all hair and skin types;
(j) Permanent waving including sectioning, wrapping, preperm test curl, solution application, processing test curl, neutralizing, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(k) Chemical relaxing including sectioning, strand test, relaxer application, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(l) Hair coloring and bleaching including predisposition test and strand test, and measurement, mixing, application, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(m) Cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities;
(n) Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work stations, individual equipment and tools and proper use and storage of linens;
(((n)))(o) Diseases and disorders of the scalp, hair, skin, and nails for all hair and skin types;
(((o)))(p) Safety including proper use and storage of chemicals, implements and electrical appliances;
(((p)))(q) First aid as it relates to cosmetology; and
(((q)))(r) Not all training may be on mannequins.
(2) For hair design:
(a) Theory of the practice of hair design including business practices and basic human anatomy and physiology;
(b) Shampooing including draping, brushing, scalp manipulations, conditioning, and rinsing for all hair and skin types;
(c) Scalp and hair analysis for all hair and skin types;
(d) Hair cutting and trimming including scissors, razor, thinning shears, and clippers for all hair and skin types;
(e) Hair styling including wet, dry, and thermal styling, braiding and styling aids for all hair and skin types;
(f) Cutting and trimming of facial hair including beard and mustache design, and eyebrow, ear, and nose hair trimming for all hair and skin types;
(g) Artificial hair for all hair and skin types;
(h) Permanent waving including sectioning, wrapping, preperm test curl, solution application, processing test curl, neutralizing, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(i) Chemical relaxing including sectioning, strand test, relaxer application, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(j) Hair coloring and bleaching including predisposition test and strand test, and measurement, mixing, application, and removal of chemicals for all hair and skin types;
(k) Cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities;
(l) Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work stations, individual equipment and tools, and proper use and storage of linens;
(((l)))(m) Diseases and disorders of the scalp and hair for all hair and skin types;
(((m)))(n) Safety including proper use and storage of chemicals, implements, and electrical appliances;
(((n)))(o) First aid as it relates to hair design; and
(((o)))(p) Not all training may be on mannequins.
(3) For barbering:
(a) Theory of the practice of barbering services ((and))including business practices and basic human anatomy and physiology;
(b) Shampooing including draping, brushing, scalp manipulations, conditioning, and rinsing for all hair and skin types;
(c) Scalp and hair analysis for all hair and skin types;
(d) Hair cutting and trimming including scissors, razor, thinning shears, and clippers for all hair and skin types;
(e) Hair styling, wet, dry, and thermal styling, and styling aids for all hair and skin types;
(f) Cutting and trimming of facial hair including shaving, beard and mustache design, and eyebrow, ear, and nose hair trimming for all hair and skin types;
(g) Artificial hair for all hair and skin types;
(h) Cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities;
(i) Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work stations, individual equipment and tools, and proper use and storage of linens;
(((i)))(j) Diseases and disorders of the skin, scalp, and hair for all hair and skin types;
(((j)))(k) Safety including proper use of implements and electrical appliances;
(((k)))(l) First aid as it relates to barbering; and
(((l)))(m) Not all training may be on mannequins.
(4) For manicuring:
(a) Theory in the practice of manicuring and pedicuring services, business practices, and basic human anatomy and physiology;
(b) Artificial nails including silk, linen, fiberglass, acrylic, gel, powder, extensions and sculpting, preparation, application, finish, and removal;
(c) Cleaning, shaping, and polishing of nails of the hands and feet and treatment of cuticles;
(d) Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work station, individual equipment and tools, and proper use and storage of linens;
(e) Diseases and disorders of the nails of the hands and feet;
(f) Safety including proper use and storage of chemicals, implements, and electrical appliances;
(g) First aid as it relates to manicuring and pedicuring; and
(h) Not all training may be on mannequins.
(5) For esthetics:
Theory in the practice of esthetics services, business practices, and basic human anatomy and physiology (750 hours):
(a) Care of the skin compresses, massage, facials, wraps, masks, exfoliation, use of electrical or mechanical appliances or chemical compounds for all hair and skin types;
(b) Temporary removal of superfluous hair of the skin by means including tweezing, waxing, tape, chemicals, lotions, creams, sugaring, threading, mechanical or electrical apparatus and appliances for all hair and skin types;
(c) Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work stations, individual equipment and tools, and proper use and storage of linens;
(d) Diseases and disorders of the skin for all hair and skin types;
(e) Cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities;
(f) Safety including proper use and storage of chemicals, implements, and electrical appliances;
(((f)))(g) First aid as it relates to esthetics; and
(((g)))(h) Not all training may be on mannequins.
(6) Master esthetics (450 additional hours):
Theory in the practice of master esthetics, business practices, and basic human anatomy and physiology including all of subsection (4) of this section and the following:
(a) Laser, light frequency, radio frequency, ultrasound, and plasma practices for all hair and skin types;
(b) Medium depth chemical peels for all hair and skin types;
(c) Advanced client assessment, documentation, and indications/contraindications for all hair and skin types;
(d) Pretreatment and post-treatment procedures for all hair and skin types;
(e) Lymphatic drainage and advanced facial massage for all skin types;
(f) Advanced diseases and disorders of the skin for all skin types; ((and))
(g) Advanced theories; alternative, touch, and spa body treatments((.))for all hair and skin types;
(h) Cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities; and
(i) The use of medical devices during instruction of the master esthetics curriculum must comply with state law and rules, including any laws that require delegation or supervision by a licensed health professional acting within the scope of practice of that health professional. A detailed written explanation of how the course will be taught must be submitted and approved by the department.
(7) Online training curriculums must be approved by the department.