2025 Vermont Statutes
Title 26 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 6 - Barbers and Cosmetologists
§ 271. Definitions

§ 271. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Barbering” means engaging in the continuing performance, for compensation, of any of the following activities: cutting, shampooing, or styling hair; shaving the face, shaving around the vicinity of the ears and neckline, or trimming facial hair; facials, skin care, or scalp massages, and bleaching, coloring, straightening, or permanent-waving hair, or similar work by any means, with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances. Barbering also includes esthetics.

(2) “Cosmetology” means engaging in the continuing performance, for compensation, of any of the following activities:

(A) Work on the hair of any person, including dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, bleaching, coloring, or similar work by any means, with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances.

(B) Esthetics.

(C) Manicuring.

(3) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Professional Regulation.

(4)(A) “Esthetics” means services related to skin-care treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin, including:

(i) cleansing, toning, stimulating, manipulating, beautifying, exfoliating, or performing any similar procedure on the human body using only cosmetic preparations, hands, mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, tonics, lotions, creams, or makeup;

(ii) beautifying lashes and brows; and

(iii) removing unwanted hair using manual and mechanical means.

(B) “Esthetics” does not include any of the following:

(i) the sale or application of cosmetics to customers in retail stores or customers’ homes;

(ii) any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine, as defined in section 1311 of this title, including injections of any substance and the use of lasers; or

(iii) the application of permanent cosmetics.

(5) “Manicuring” or “nail technician practice” means the nonmedical treatment of a person’s fingernails or toenails or the skin in the vicinity of the nails and includes the use of cosmetic preparations or appliances.

(6) “School of barbering or cosmetology” means a facility or facilities regularly used to train or instruct persons in the practice of barbering or cosmetology.

(7) “Shop” means a facility or facilities regularly used to offer or provide barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, or manicuring. (Added 1997, No. 40, § 16; amended 2005, No. 27, § 19; 2017, No. 144 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; 2023, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 6, 2024.)