New Colorado Law Updates Scope and Oversight

Governor Jared Polis signed into law House Bill 26-1181, introducing several updates that affect cosmetologists, estheticians, hairstylists, and barbers across Colorado. These changes clarify scope of practice and shift how the profession is regulated. Here’s a quick look at what’s changed and what it means for you.

Esthetics

Esthetics scope now includes the following, along with what was formerly included:

• Body wraps using oils, creams, masks, scrubs, antiseptics, clays, or lotions
   

Cosmetology

The cosmetology scope has been clarified and expanded to reflect current practice:

• Includes trimming, lightening, and coloring facial hair (beards and mustaches)
• Clarifies that manicuring or pedicuring may be performed using hands, mechanical/electrical tools, or cosmetic/chemical preparations
• Adds body wraps using oils, creams, masks, scrubs, antiseptics, clays, or lotions
   

Hairstyling

A notable change to hairstyling scope:

• Applying hair extensions is no longer included. This change helps define boundaries between hairstyling and other licensed professions.
   

Barbering

The definition has been updated to reflect modern terminology:

• “Dyeing” is replaced with “lightening and coloring” the hair
   

A Shift in Regulatory Structure

The bill extends the Barber & Cosmetologist Act through 2033, maintaining the state’s regulatory framework and ensuring continued oversight for licensed professionals.

The bill also eliminates the Barber and Cosmetology Advisory Committee, which previously provided input on industry and regulatory matters. This change follows recommendations from the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) as part of its sunset review process. Moving forward, all cosmetology rulemaking, enforcement, and policy decisions will be handled directly by the DORA.