Court Opinion

ID: 4133399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 01:37:33.993622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:08:33.063651
License: Public Domain

THE       ATTUX~CNEY            GENEIXAI.
                         OF     TEXAS

Mrs. Vera LaFoon                   Opinion No. M- 1270
Acting Executive Director
Texas Cosmetology Commission       Re:    Whether barbers may work in
1111 Rio Grande                           beauty shops and whether
Austin, Texas    78701                    beauty operators may work in
                                          barber shops, and related
Dear Mrs. LaFoon:                         questions.

     We have your request of November 7, 1972, regarding a num-
ber of questions involving the Barber Law and the Cosmetology
Act., For purposes of this.opinion, some of your questions have
been combined since the subject matter involved is contained in
similar provisions.~of the pertinent statutes; and, for purposes
of clarity, all questions have been rephrased. The practice of
barbering is~.governed by Article 734a, Vernon's Penal Code,
otherwise known as the,"Barber Law.." The practice of cosmetology
is governed and regulated by Article 734c, Vernon's Penal Code,
.otherwise known as the "Cosmetology Act."

     The practice of barbering is defined in Article 734a, Sec-
tion 4 of the Barber Law and provides as follows:

            ,*Sec. 4.  The practice of barbering is
       hereby defined to be the following practices
       when not done in the practice of medicine,
       surgery, osteopathy, or necessary treatments
       of hea&ingthe,body   by one authorized by law
       to do,,.so;and when not done by a relative,who
       cuts only the hair of those in his or her im-
       mediate family; and when done on living male
       persons.

            "(A)    Shaving or trimming the beard.
            "(1)    Cutting the hair;
            "(2)    Styling or processing the hair of
                    males only.
            " (B)   By giving any of the following treat-
                    ments by any person engaged in shaving
                    or trimming the beard and/or cutting
                    the hair.

                                 -6231-
Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page 2         (M-1270)

          "(1)    Giving facial and scalp massages, or
                  applications of oils, creams, lotions,
                  or other preparations, either by hand
                  or electrical appliances;
          11(2)   Singeing, shampooing, or dyeing the
                  hair of applying hair tonics;
          "(3)    Applying cosmetic preparations, anti-
                  septics, powders, oils, clays, or
                  lotions to the scalp, face, neck or
                  that part of the body above the
                  shoulders.

          "Provided, however, that nothing contained in
     this Act shall be construed to include those persons
     lawfully engaged in beauty culture, hairdressing or
     cosmetology as provided by law, when so engaged in
     giving treatments or applications to female persons
     only, but such persons shall not be permitted to
     shave, trim the beard, style, process, color or cut
     the hair of male persons except in accordance with
     the provisionsand   requirements of this Act relating
     to barbering."   (Emphasis added)

     The practice of cosmetology is defined in Article 734c,
Section l(3) of the Cosmetology Act and provides as follows:

         " (3) 'Cosmetology' means the beautifying
    treatment of a female's hair or skin, or nails
    of a male or female and includes the following
    practices:

         "(A) arranging, dressing, curling, waving,
    cleansing, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring,
    cutting, trimming, shaping, or straightening the
    hair by any method or means;

         "(B) massaging, cleansing, beautifying, or
    stimulating the scalp, face, neck, arms, bust, or
    upper portion of the body by the use of a cosmetic
    preparation, antiseptic, tonic, lotion or cream:

         VI(C) removing superfluous hair from the body
    by use of depilatories or tweezers;

                             -6232-
Mrs.   Vera LaFoon, page 3   "         (M-1270)

            '(D)   manicuring;   and

            "(E) servicing a wig or artificial hair-
       piece either on a humanhead or on a block sub-
       sequent to the initial retail sale and servicing
       by any of the.practices enumerated in Paragraph
       (A) of this subsection.   (Emphasis added)
            II. . .8,

     The regulation of the occupations of barbering and cosme-
tology is necessary to the public health and is a proper sub-
ject for the exercise of the police power of the State. Texas
State Board of Barber Examiners v. Beaumont Barber College, Inc.,
654 S.p.Zd 729 (Tex.Sup. 1970).

      However, the Barber Law and the Cosmetology Act, insofar
 as either of same attempt to limit the practice of barbering
 to males only and the practice of cosmetology to females only,
were held unconstitutional and in violation of the Fourteenth
Amendment of the United States Constitution by judgment entered
.on January 26, 1972, by a three-judge panel in the United States
 District Court for the Northern District of Texas at Dallas in
 Civil Action No. CA-3-5298-B, Bolton, et al v. Texas~ Board of
 Barber Examiners, et al, decision affirmed by U. S. Supreme Court
 on October 10, 1972. In essence, the net effect of such holding
 is that females can get their hair cut and acquire other services
 of barbering in a barber shop if they so desire; and, males can
get their hair cut, trimmed and shaped and acquire other services
 of cosmetology in a,beauty shop, if they so desire.

      Neither the Barber Law nor the Cosmetology Act requires li-
censees thereunder to be of either sex. In other words, while
,most barbers are males and most hairdressers are females, it is
not uncommon today (and is quite legal) for females to be barbers
and,males to be hairdressers.

                                  I.

     Your first and third questions ask whether a beauty operator
may work in or operate a barber shop, and, if so, to what extent?
We rephrase the questions as follows:

            Can the holder of a license to practice cosme-
       tology r as that term is defined in Article 734c,
       Section l(3), Vernon's Penal Code, perform cosmetology

                                 -6233-
Mrs. Vera LaPoon, page 4          (M-1270)

     services within or operate premises covered only
     by a barber shop permit as that term is defined
     by Article 734a, Section 3, Vernon's Penal Code?

     The Cosmetology.Act,   Article 734~ at Section 36, provides
as follows:

          "Sec. 36. The establishment of itinerent
     shops is prohibited.  Any [Beauty Shop] license
     granted under this Act shall permit the licensee
     to practice only in an establishment licensed
     under this Act or an establishment licensed under
     Chapter 65, Acts of the 41st Legislature, 1st
     Called Session, 1929, as amended (Article 734a,
     Vernon's Texas Penal Code.)"

     The Barber Law, Article   734a, at Section 24 provides in
part, as follows:
          "Sec. 24. Each of the following offenses
     shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable upon
     conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction
     by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than
     $200.00.
          II
           . . .

          " (B) Permitting any person in one's employ,
     supervision or control to practice as a barber or
     as an assistant barber, unless thatperson  has a
     current certificate of registration issued by the
     Board: . . ." (Emphasis added)

     As noted at the beginning of the opinion, some of the ser-
vices of cosmetology and barbering overlap.  Therefore, a licensed
hairdresser may practice cosmetology in a barber shop as is ex-
pressly provided in Article 734c, Section 36; and Article 734a,
Section 24 of the Barber Law does not penalize the holder of a
barber shop permit for employing a person, so long as that person
is not practicing as a barber.

     The issuance of a barber shop permit is regulated by Article
734a, Section 3. The pertinent provisions with regard to the in-
stant question are as follows:

                               -6234-
.

    MIS.    Vera LaFoOn, page 5            (M-1270)

                "Sec. 3(A) No person may own, operate,
           or manage a barber shop without a barber shop
           permit issued by the Board.

                w(I) No person may operate a barber
           shop unless the shop is at all times under
           the-general supervision and management of a
           registered,Class A barber."  (Emphasis added)

        Accordingly, we find no restrictions in the barber law that
    would require the owner and/or operator thereof to be a licensed
    barber so long as the barber shop covered by the permit is supervised
    and managed by a duly registered Class A barber.

        The holder of a license to practice cosmetology may render the
    services set out in the Cosmetology Act within premises covered by a
    barber shop, permit; and, may own and operate a premises covered by a
    barber shop permit so, long as such premises are at all times under
    the general supervision and management of a Class A barber.

                                     11.

        Your second and fifth questions ask whether a barber can work
    in or operate a beauty shop, and, if so, to what extent? We re-
    phrase the questions as follows:

                "Is the holder of a license to perform
           barberin&   as that term is .defined in Article
           734a, Section 4, Vernon's Penal Code, permitted
           to work in and/or operate a ~beautyshop cove~red
           only by a beauty.shop license as that term is
           defined ,in Article 734c, Section 23, Vernon's
           Penal Code?"

           Article.7.34a, Section 6, provides, in part, as follows:

                   "Sec. 6. It shall be unlawful for any
           person to follow the occupation of cutting
           hair, or practice as a hair cutter in any
           beatity   shop or hair dressing parlor or else-
           where for hire except hereinbefore provided
           unless excepted by this Act, unless such per-
           son shall have first obtained a certificate,
           as herein provided, which certificate shall
           authorize the cutting of hair only in such
           parlor or establishment where such hair
           cutting is for hire or reward.     . . ."
            (Emphasis added)
                                       -6235-
Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page 6            (M-1270)

     Article 734c, Section 12 provides, in part, as follows:

          "Sec. 12 (b) No person for compensa-
     tion may conduct or operate a beauty shop,
     beauty culture school, wig salon, wig school,
     or any other place of business in which the
     practice of cosmetology, as defined in Section
     1, is taught or practiced without first ob-
     taining a license."   (Emphasis added)

     One of the services covered by both the Barber Law and the
Cosmetology Act is the cutting of hair. Therefore, under the
decision in the Bolton case, supra, the cutting.of hair may be
performed by either, barbers or hairdressers upon either males or
females. Under Section 6 of the Barber Law quoted above (Article
734a) a barber is permitted to cut hair in a beauty shop provided
he obtains a certificate from the Barber Board, which certificate
shall set out the ~premises covered thereby.

     One who would maintain, conduct or operate a beauty shop must
obtain a beauty shop license as required by Section 12 and 23 of
Article 734~. A barber who holds only a certificate ~from the Barber
Board under Section 6 of Article 734a may not conduct, operate or
maintain a beauty shop. We do not hold that a barber who obtains
a beauty shop license may perform the services of a cosmetologist
unless he holds a license to practice cosmetology.

                             III.

     Your fourth questionasks whether a barber may teach haircutting
in a beauty college? We rephrase the question as follows:

          "Is the holder of a license to perform
     barbering, as that term is defined by Article
     734a. Section 4, Vernon's Penal Code, permitted
     to teach barbering services in a premises covered
     only by a private beauty culture school license
     as.that term is defined in Article 734~~ Section
     22, Vernon's Penal Code?"

     A licensed barber may not teach the cutting of hair in a private
beauty culture school unless he also holds an instructor's license
for cosmetology as provided for by Article 734~~ Section 16, Ver-
non's Penal Code, which provides, ins part, as follows:

                               -6236-
Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page 7             (M-1270)

          "Sec. 16(b) An applicant for an in-
     structor's license must be at least 18 years
     of age, have completed the 12th grade or its
     equivalent, have a valid operator's license,
     and have, completed lrOOO hours in instruction
     in cosmetology courses and methods of teaching
     in a licensed private beauty culture school."
     (Emphasis added)

      We find no other provision in either the Cosmetology Act or
the Barber Law which would permit a licensed barber to teach the
limited service of haircutting unless he meets the requirements
set out in Article 734c, Section 16, namely, having a valid in-
structor's license in cosmetology.   See also Sec. 31(a) of Article
734c.

                              IV.

     Your sixth question asks whether it is necessary for a person
to have a barber license to cut hair? We rephrase the question
as follows:

         "Does the license to perform cosmetology
    as that term is defined by Article 734c(3),
    Vernon's Penal Code, permit the holder thereof
    to cut the hair of either males or females?"

     As hereinbefore stated, those statutory provisions defining the
practic,e of cosmetology and the services of,barbering both include
the cutting of hair; and, in view of the Bolton decision, supra,
either a licensed barber~under Article 734a or a licensed cosmetolosist
under Article 734~ may cut the hair of either males or females.

                              V.

     Your seventh and eighth questions inquire as to what type of
permit should be issued for a yunisex" shop and who should inspect
same? We rephrase said questions as follows:

         "Must both a beauty shop license as
    provided for by Article 734c, Section 23,
    Vernon's Penal Code, and a barber shop permit
    as provided for by Article 734a, Section 3 Vernon's
    Penal Code, be obtained for premises wherein
    the practices of cosmetology and barbering
    are both being performed?"

                                   -6237-
Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page a             (M-1270)

     The provisions of the Barber Law and the Cosmetology Act de-
fining the respective practices of each with regard to the treat-
ment of hair are virtually synonymous in meaning: and, the holder
of a license under either statute may cut, style, process, shampoo,
color, singe and perform those services necessary to groom the hair
of either sex. Likewise, facial and scalp massages and the applying
of creams, lotions, tonics, antiseptics, etc. to the scalp, face,
neck and shoulders are permitted under either law. However, only
a licensed barber may perform the services of shaving and trimming
the beard: and, only a cosmetologist may remove superfluous hair
by the use of depilatories or tweezers, or massage the arms and
busts.

     Accordingly, if services of shaving or trimming the beard are
being performed, the premises must be covered by a barber shop per-
mit. If the services of hair removal by the use of depilatories or
tweezers or the massaging of the arms and busts are being performed,
the premises must be covered by a permit issued under the Cosmetology
Act. Otherwise, for those services regarding the cutting and grooming
of the hair, and facial and scalp massages, a premises covered by a
permit or license issued under either statute would be adequate.

     Article 734a, Section 20, grants the Board of Barber Examiners
authority to inspect premises covered by a barber permit; and Article
734c, Section 33 of the Cosmetology Act authorizes the Commissioner
of Cosmetology or his inspector to inspect all premises of licenses
covered thereunder. Accordingly, if the premises is covered by only
a barber permit, same would be subject to inspection under the Barber
Law. Likewise, if the premises is covered only by a cosmetology
license, such premises would be subject to inspection under the
Cosmetology Act.

     However, if the services of shaving or trimming the beard are
being performed on or at a premises wherein the removal of hair by
the use of depilatories or tweezers or the massaging of busts and
arms are being performed, a permit from both the Barber Board and
Cosmetology Commission must be obtained and such premises would
accordingly be subject to inspection under the provisions of each
law as therein provided. Attorney General's Opinion No. C-532
(1965) is overruled and superseded by this opinion.

                        SUMMARY

     All of those services necessary for or incidental
     to the grooming of the hair, together with facial

                                  -6230.
                                 i

,

    Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page 9            (M-1270)

         and scalp massage, may be performed by either a
         barber or a hairdresser on either males or females,
         including the cutting of hair.

         A beauty operator may perform services of cosmetology
         in a barber shop. A beauty operator may operate a
         barber shop if.it is at all times under the general
         supervision and management of a Class A barber.

         A barber may cut hair in a beauty shop if he has
         obtained a certificate therefor covering the
         premises specified; but may not operate a beauty
         shop without a license to practice cosmetology.

         A barber may not teach the cutting of hair in
         a beauty cultural school without obtaining an
         instructor's license in cosmetology.

         If the barbering services of shaving or trimming
         the beard are being performed in or at a premises
         wherein the cosmetology services of hair removal
         by the use of depilatories or tweezers or the
         massage of busts and arms are being performed,
         such premises must be covered by permits or
         licenses from both the Barber Board and Cos-
         metology Commission and is subject to inspec-
         tion by both.

                                         ORD C. MARTIN
                                             General of Texas

    Prepared by Bill Campbell
    Assistant Attorney General

    APPROVED:
    OPINION COMMITTEE

    Kerns Taylor, Chairman
    W. E:Allen, Co-Chairman
    Melvin Corley
    Dan Green
    Harriet Burke
    John Banks

                                     -6239-
Mrs. Vera LaFoon, page 10      (M-1270)

SAMUEL D. MCDANIEL
Staff Legal Assistant

ALFRED WALKER
Executive Assistant

NOLA WRITE.
First Assistant

                            -6240-