(a)  Except as provided in this section, manicuring, esthetics, barbering and/or hairdressing and cosmetic therapy, as defined in this chapter, shall be practiced only in a shop licensed under § 5-10-15. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the practice of barbering, manicuring, and hairdressing and cosmetic therapy and esthetics in the same shop or place of business.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-10-23

  • Department: means the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-10-1
  • Esthetics: means the practice of cleansing, stimulating, manipulating, and beautifying skin, including, but not limited to, the treatment of such skin problems as dehydration, temporary capillary dilation, excessive oiliness, and clogged pores. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-10-1
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Practice of barbering: means the engaging by any licensed barber in all, or any combination of, the following practices: shaving or trimming the beard or cutting the hair; giving facial and scalp massages or treatments with oils, creams, lotions, or other preparations, either by hand or mechanical appliances; singeing, shampooing, arranging, dressing, curling, waving, chemical waving, hair relaxing, or dyeing the hair or applying hair tonics; or applying cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, powders, oils, clays, or lotions to the scalp, face, or neck. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-10-1

(b)  Nothing in this section shall restrict a hairdresser licensed pursuant to this chapter, operating in a licensed nursing service agency, from providing services to an individual who is homebound at their home. For purposes of this section, “homebound” is defined as any person who is considered housebound for purpose of federal Medicare eligibility.

(c)  Nothing in this section shall restrict any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual who is homebound at their home as verified by a licensed healthcare professional.

(d)  Nothing in this section shall restrict or prohibit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual residing in any Department of Housing and Urban Development (H.U.D.) recognized housing for the elderly in the H.U.D. recognized housing in which the individual resides. Those services shall be provided in a separate room inspected by the department of health. Students enrolled in programs of hairdressing, barbering and/or cosmetology are prohibited in H.U.D. recognized housing.

(e)  Nothing in this section shall restrict or prohibit any person licensed pursuant to this chapter from providing services to an individual outside a licensed shop as part of a special occasion event, such as a wedding or prom, so long as those services are limited to hair styling and makeup, and the health and sanitation standards expected of licensees in licensed shops are followed.

History of Section.
G.L. 1938, ch. 263, § 17; P.L. 1942, ch. 1229, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 5-10-23; P.L. 1974, ch. 246, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 378, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 314, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 289, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 432, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 44, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 426, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 450, § 1.