The Nevada State Board of Cosmetology establishes and enforces practice standards in order to protect the health and safety of consumers receiving cosmetology services within the State of Nevada. The Board regulates and licenses Estheticians, Cosmetologists, Electrologists, Hair Braiders, Hair Designers, Nail Technologists, Demonstrators of Cosmetics, Instructors, and Apprentices. For more information on our Inspection, Licensing, and Testing Services, please visit the specific services' page.

​Anyone who provides the following services for the public must be licensed by the Board:

1. Cleansing, stimulating or massaging the scalp or cleansing or beautifying the hair by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams.
2. Cutting, trimming or shaping the hair.
3. Arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring or straightening the hair of any person with the hands, mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or by other means, or similar work incident to or necessary for the proper carrying on of the practice or occupation.
4. Removing superfluous hair from the surface of the body of any person by the use of electrolysis where the growth is a blemish, or by the use of depilatories, waxing, tweezers or sugaring, except for the permanent removal of hair with needles.
5. Beautifying, massaging, cleansing or stimulating the skin of the human body by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams, or any device, electrical or otherwise, for the care of the skin.
6. Applying cosmetics or eyelashes to any person, tinting eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body.
7. Removing superfluous hair from the body of any person by the use of depilatories, waxing, tweezers or sugaring.
8. Care of another’s fingernails or toenails.
9. Beautification of another’s nails.
10. Extension of another’s nails.
11. Massaging of another’s hands, forearms, feet or lower legs.
12. The making of customized wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions.

​To qualify for a license, individuals must complete a certain number of training hours at a licensed school of cosmetology. Once the training is complete, the applicant must pass written and practical State licensure examinations, developed by a national standard testing organization.​

The Board also licenses cosmetology establishments and cosmetology schools where these professional services are provided and learned respectively. The Board handles your complaints involving unlicensed practice, gross negligence and unsanitary conditions within these establishments. Our consumer guides have been prepared to allow you to make informed decisions when choosing a cosmetology establishment for receiving cosmetology services.​