South Carolina H 3483: Blow-dry styling services

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3483 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3483

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 40-7-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF BARBERS 
AND BARBERING, SO AS TO DEFINE "BLOW-DRY STYLING"; BY AMENDING SECTION 
40-7-390, RELATING TO PERSONS EXEMPT FROM REGULATION BY THE BOARD OF BARBER 
EXAMINERS, SO AS TO EXEMPT PERSONS PROVIDING BLOW-DRY STYLING SERVICES; BY 
AMENDING SECTION 40-13-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF 
COSMETOLOGY AND COSMETOLOGISTS, SO AS TO DEFINE "BLOW-DRY STYLING"; AND BY 
AMENDING SECTION 40-13-360, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM REGULATION BY THE BOARD 
OF COSMETOLOGY, SO AS TO EXEMPT PERSONS PROVIDING BLOW-DRY STYLING SERVICES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 40-7-20 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 (3) "Blow-dry styling" means the 
practice of shampooing, conditioning, drying, arranging, curling, 
straightening, or styling hair using only mechanical devices, hair sprays and 
topical agents, such as balms, oils, and serums. It includes the use and 
styling of hair extensions, hair pieces, and wigs. It excludes cutting hair or 
the application of dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals, keratin treatments, or 
other preparations to color or alter the structure of hair. It is distinct from 
the practice of barbering as defined in item (1) and cosmetology as defined in 
Section 40-13-20.

SECTION 2. Section 40-7-390(6) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (6) persons authorized by state law to 
practice cosmetology only when they are practicing in salons or schools of 
cosmetology and persons providing blow-dry styling but no 
other services requiring a license under this chapter or Chapter 13.

SECTION 3. Section 40-13-20 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 Section 
40-13-20. As used in this chapter:

 (1) 
"Beauty salon" or "salon" means a building or any place, or part of a place or 
building including, but not limited to, a rental booth, in which cosmetology is 
performed on the general public for compensation.

 (2) "Blow-dry styling" means the 
practice of shampooing, conditioning, drying, arranging, curling, 
straightening, or styling hair using only mechanical devices, hair sprays and 
topical agents, such as balms, oils, and serums. It includes the use and styling 
of hair extensions, hair pieces, and wigs. It excludes cutting hair or the 
application of dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals, keratin treatments or other 
preparations to color or alter the structure of hair. It is distinct from the 
practice of barbering, as defined in section 40-7-20, and cosmetology.

 (2)(3) "Cosmetology" means engaging in any of these practices 
or a combination of these practices when done for compensation either directly 
or indirectly:

 (a) 
arranging, styling, thermal curling, chemical waving, pressing, shampooing, 
cutting, shaping, chemical bleaching, chemical coloring, chemical relaxing, or 
similar work, upon the hair, wig, or hairpiece of any person, by any means, 
with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances;

 (b) 
using cosmetic preparations, make-up, antiseptics, lotions, creams, chemical 
preparations on, or otherwise, or waxing, tweezing, cleansing, stimulating, 
manipulating, beautifying, or similar work on the scalp, legs, feet, face, 
neck, arms, hands; or

 (c) 
manicuring or pedicuring the nails of a person or similar work.

 (3)(4) "Cosmetologist" means a person including, but not 
limited to, an independent contractor, not a student, who is licensed to 
practice cosmetology.

 (4)(5) "Cosmetology school", "beauty school", or "school" 
means a place or part of a place in which cosmetology or any of its practices 
are taught.

 (5)(6) "Esthetician" means a person including, but not 
limited to, an independent contractor, who is licensed to practice skin care, 
make-up, or similar work. Skin care is for the sole purpose of beautifying the 
skin.

 (6)(7) "Independent contractor" means a licensed practitioner 
who rents or leases a place or part of a place in a beauty salon.

 (7)(8) "Instructor" means a person who is licensed to teach 
cosmetology or any practices of cosmetology in accordance with this chapter.

 (8)(9) "Nail technician" means a person including, but not 
limited to, an independent contractor, who is licensed to practice manicuring 
or pedicuring the nails or similar work.

 (9)(10) "Student" means a person who is engaged in learning 
or acquiring the practices of cosmetology and, while learning, performs or 
assists in any of the practices of cosmetology in a school licensed under this 
chapter and under the instruction or immediate supervision