The Utah Senate has amended legislation to allow licensed barbers to keep their license status beyond January 2026.
This bill will be sent to the House for a final vote this week.
March 5th Update: Your voice made a difference! Thanks to what you shared with the senators, barbers get to keep their current license status. - The House of Reps could still make adjustments to this bill before it passes. We will let you know if anything changes.
Line 847 - 58-11a-302.24. Practice of barbering -- Barbering license -- Qualifications
After January 1, 2026, Utah will no longer issue barber licenses.
Line 876 - 58-11a-302.25. License transitions
Beginning on January 1, 2026:
A hair design license shall be renewed as a master hair design license or a master barbering license
A individual with a barbering license may renew the license as a barbering license. -
Line 681 - 58-11a-302.19. Practice of master hair design and master barbering -- Master hair design license and master barbering license
Starting in 2026 - you can apply for a Master Barbering License - It will include all of barbering and chemical hair services, complete 1,000 hours of training, in school or apprentices.
March 1st Update: Urgent Action Required!
Our only chance to save Utah Barber License no chemical, is to convince state senators to vote NO on Bill SB330.The Substitute bill was released yesterday, and it’s important to highlight that the commitment made by Senator Sandall to grandfather Barbers Licenses is notably absent from the current draft. This bill is scheduled for its second reading on the Senate floor this coming Monday, and we must take action now to ensure our voices are heard.
While we can request that Senator Sandall add a provision for grandfathering Barbers Licenses, the likelihood of that happening is slim without considerable pressure.
It’s essential for us to reach out to our state senators—and we strongly encourage our clients to do the same! Please take a moment to contact them and express your opposition. Click the link to access the senators’ contact information.
Together, we can make a significant impact!
Feb. 27th Update:
The bill has successfully passed through the committee, and Senator Sandall is currently revising several aspects of it. We can expect to see the new sub-bill within the next day or so.
I encourage you to continue reaching out via email to those in the committee and your senators, ensuring that your voice is heard ahead of their vote. The legislature is determined to push this through, but if we can prompt them to make revisions that impact you and your business, it could really make a difference.
Senator Scott Sandall is proposing a controversial bill allowing unlicensed individuals to offer barbering and cosmetology services. Someone would only need a permit that would require them to complete just 130 hours of training, which is a stark contrast to the current standard of 1,000 hours for barbering. This shift risks allowing untrained and unqualified individuals to enter a profession that with little training and no examination.
Now is your moment to take action! It’s vital that you reach out to your representatives and voice your concerns about this proposed legislation. As lawmakers discuss this critical issue, transparency is lacking, making your input more important than ever. Stand up for quality and safety in our beauty industry—your advocacy can make a difference!
Even if you prefer a quick, inexpensive haircut at a chain salon like Great Clips you should still be deeply concerned about these changes because they directly impact the safety, quality, and long-term reliability of the services you rely on.
Public Health & Safety Risks
Increased Risk of Infections: Licensed barbers are trained to properly clean and disinfect tools, preventing the spread of infections like MRSA, ringworm, and other bacterial or fungal infections.
Poor Sanitation Standards: The bill removes sanitation and public health training from the licensing process, meaning unqualified individuals could be using contaminated clippers, razors, or scissors on multiple clients.
No Training in Skin & Scalp Conditions: A properly trained barber can identify skin conditions like lice, scalp infections, or other medical concerns. An untrained individual may ignore or worsen them.
Purposing: Eliminating the Barber No-Chemical License
The bill removes the Barber No Chemical License, which allows barbers to specialize in traditional barbering without chemical services.
Why eliminate a profession? Many barbers and shop owners rely on this license to operate, and removing it will force them out of business.
This license barbers fought for and reinstated in 2007—why take it away now?
What happens to those who already have this license? Will they be forced to stop working?
Purposing: Barbering with Chemical Services License Only - Master Barber License
Barbering and cosmetology are two separate professions with different skill sets, tools, and training.
Do you prefer a barber or a cosmetologist for your haircut? This bill could eliminate barbers as a profession by lumping them into cosmetology.
Barbering has over 2,000 years of history and has never been a sub-discipline of cosmetology.
Purposing: Reducing Training Hours
The Master Barber License (currently called Hair Design License) would be reduced from 1,200 hours to 1,000 hours with no required continuing education.
How can a barber sustain a 30-year career if they are not fully trained at the start?
Fewer training hours mean barbers will struggle to meet client expectations and provide high-quality service.
A poorly trained barber cannot be profitable—clients expect professional skill, not a rushed education.
Purposing: The Barber Safety Permit: A Disaster Waiting to Happen
The bill introduces a 130-hour Barber Safety Permit, which is NOT a license.
No straight-edge razors, no real barbering skills—how can someone be expected to cut hair professionally in such a short time?
Who will train them? Business owners will be forced to take on extra unpaid training, costing them time and money.
These individuals won’t qualify for financial aid, forcing them to pay out-of-pocket for a permit that leads to an unsustainable career.
“Barbering Under Supervision” = Unqualified Barbers in Shops
The bill allows an unlicensed, unpermitted person to perform barbering under a licensed barber’s supervision.
No sanitation or public health requirements—this puts the public at risk of infections and unsafe practices.
These individuals can’t open their own shop or studio, limiting career growth.
Lower Quality Haircuts & Service
Less Training = Worse Haircuts: Someone with only 130 hours of training will not have the experience to deliver consistent, high-quality haircuts—even for a simple trim.
Longer Wait Times & More Mistakes: If poorly trained barbers take longer or make more mistakes, your quick 15-minute haircut could turn into a frustrating experience.
Dissatisfied Clients, Higher Turnover: As poorly trained barbers struggle, turnover rates will increase, making it harder for customers to find a barber they trust.
How This Bill Hurts Small Businesses
Barbershops that employ Barber No Chemical License holders may lose their entire staff.
Shop owners will have to spend extra time and money training, underqualified employees.
The industry will be flooded with low-skill barbers, decreasing the value of the profession and forcing wages down.
Without strong licensing requirements, clients will receive poor-quality haircuts, expecting professional service but getting an inexperienced barber instead.
No Consumer Protections or Accountability
Currently, licensed barbers answer to state boards and follow strict regulations. Without proper licensing, who will hold bad barbers accountable?
If you get a bad haircut or, worse, suffer an infection or injury, there will be no regulatory body to report it to.
No background checks—this bill removes licensing oversight, meaning anyone can become a barber, even if they have a history of misconduct.
Devaluation of the Barbering Profession = Fewer Skilled Workers
If barbering becomes an unskilled trade, fewer people will pursue it as a serious career. That means fewer skilled barbers in the future, even at budget-friendly chain salons.
Lower pay for barbers = higher turnover. If wages drop because licensing standards are removed, experienced barbers may leave the industry, forcing customers to constantly deal with new, inexperienced workers.
Why You Should Care—Even for a $20 Haircut
You expect a clean, safe environment. This bill removes key hygiene and safety training.
You expect a decent haircut. Poor training means inconsistent results.
You expect your barber to be accountable. With relaxed licensing, no one is ensuring quality.
You expect affordability AND professionalism. If skilled barbers leave, you may be left paying more for less.
Some people may think, “I just want a cheap haircut.” But once licensed professionals leave the industry and low-skill workers take over, big chains could still raise prices—except now, you’re paying more for a lower-quality haircut from someone with minimal training.
No Consumer Protections or Accountability
Currently, licensed barbers answer to state boards and follow strict regulations. Without proper licensing, who will hold bad barbers accountable?
If you get a bad haircut or, worse, suffer an infection or injury, there will be no regulatory body to report it to.
No background checks—this bill removes licensing oversight, meaning anyone can become a barber, even if they have a history of misconduct.
Permits have no testing requirements
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
Poorly trained barbers enter the workforce with minimal skills.
Your barber may lose their job if their license is eliminated.
Sanitation standards will drop, increasing the risk of infections.
Your trusted barber may leave the industry, leaving you with a revolving door of unqualified workers.
Barbering as a skilled profession will die out, and you’ll be stuck with lower-quality service everywhere.
A proposed bill would allow an unlicensed person to work under a licensed barber. Allowing unlicensed individuals to work this way will lower the overall quality of service in our industry. This is offensive to professional barbers!!