Overview
"Natural hair care" means the braiding, cornrowing, extending, lacing, locking, sewing, twisting, weaving or wrapping of human hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or hair extensions through the use of hands or simple devices such as clips, combs, hairpins or needle and thread. During the 2019 legislative session the Legislature further expanded the definition of natural hair care to include shampooing and conditioning under Senate Bill 422.
Scissors may be used to trim synthetic fibers, hair extensions or sewn-in weave extensions as is necessary to perform natural hair care activities or to make customized wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or hair extensions.
Natural hair care does not include the use of scissors except when trimming synthetic fibers, hair extensions or sewn-in weave extensions as is necessary to perform natural hair care activities or to make customized wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or hair extensions.
Natural hair care also does not include the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents, permanent wave styles or chemical hair bleaching agents.
What You Need to Know
Scope of Practice Questions
Do you have a question about how a law or rule impacts your individualized practice?
Please know that the Health Licensing Office (HLO) and its boards do not provide individualized advice on how the law applies to practice in the field. Here are some resources:
- If you are looking for an attorney to provide you with legal advice about the statutes and rules governing your licensure, the Oregon State Bar has information on how to hire a lawyer.
- If you wish to make a complaint against a person for violating HLO and the board's statutes or rules, you may use this complaint form.
- If you wish to make a public comment on the statutes and rules governing your licensure, interested party feedback is encouraged at all public meetings.
- Guidance on how to obtain a license is available on the HLO website.
- If you believe HLO and the board's rules need to be amended, you may file a rule petition with HLO for consideration. Please note that any rules must fit within HLO and the board's current statutory authority. Please also know that the board will consider your position but might not adopt your proposed rule. The statute that governs rule petitions is ORS 183.390.
- If you believe HLO and the board's statutes need to be amended, information about the legislative process is also available on the Oregon Legislature's website.
Please know the HLO and its boards remain neutral on substantive bills proposing changes to its laws and cannot act on your behalf in any proposals to change the governing statutes.
Questions?
For questions, please call (503) 378-8667, or go to the Health Licensing Office Contact Us page to search for staff that specialize in specific areas of expertise.