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For Licensed Estheticians & Brow Pros
7 Spots Remaining — Founding Rate Ends Soon
Add Threading to Your Service Menu
10-Week Live Mentorship Included
Threading since '09. Teaching the art now.
Know Before You Thread
Threading Laws
by State
A reference guide to eyebrow threading licensing requirements across all 50 US states, researched from state board sources as of 2025.
For informational purposes only — not legal advice. Laws change. Always verify current requirements directly with your state's cosmetology board before performing threading services or opening a business.
Status Key:
Exempt No licence required
Registration Simple registration only
Licence Required Cosmetology or esthetics
Verify Contact board directly
14States Exempt
1Registration Only
33Licence Required
2Verify with Board
⚠ Important — Salon Ownership vs. Personal Service
Even in states where threading is exempt from licensing, operating or owning a salon requires separate facility licensing and compliance with state business and health department regulations. A threading exemption covers your personal service — it does not exempt you from salon operation laws. Always consult your state board and a local attorney before opening a commercial location.
| State | Status | Requirement | Notes | State Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Exempt | No licence required | Confirmed exempt by the Institute for Justice. Among 20+ states with no cosmetology licence requirement for threading. | www.aboc.alabama.gov ↗ |
| Alaska | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. Esthetics licence required. | www.commerce.alaska.gov ↗ |
| Arizona | Exempt | No licence required | Exempted after successful IJ lawsuit. No cosmetology licence required for threading. Salon facility rules still apply. | azbbhe.us ↗ |
| Arkansas | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading considered within cosmetology scope. Esthetics licence requires 600 hours. | www.arkansas.gov ↗ |
| California | Exempt | No licence required | Threading explicitly exempt from cosmetology licensing. No training required to thread clients commercially. Salon facility licence still required for commercial locations. | www.barbercosmo.ca.gov ↗ |
| Colorado | Exempt | No licence required | Threading not regulated under Colorado cosmetology laws. No licence needed. | dpo.colorado.gov ↗ |
| Connecticut | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence (260 hrs) | Threading falls under esthetics scope. Esthetics licence requires 260 hours. | portal.ct.gov ↗ |
| Delaware | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. | dpr.delaware.gov ↗ |
| Florida | Licence Required | Cosmetology or facial specialist licence (260 hrs) | Florida explicitly requires a licensed cosmetologist or facial specialist to perform threading. Esthetics: 260 hours. | myfloridalicense.com ↗ |
| Georgia | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence (1,500 hrs) | Georgia has among the highest cosmetology training requirements nationally. Threading is regulated. Reform bills have been introduced but not yet passed. | sos.ga.gov ↗ |
| Hawaii | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under cosmetology scope. Must be performed in a licensed facility. | cca.hawaii.gov ↗ |
| Idaho | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence (600 hrs) | Threading falls under esthetics services. Esthetics programme requires 600 hours. | ibol.idaho.gov ↗ |
| Illinois | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. | idfpr.illinois.gov ↗ |
| Indiana | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). Verify threading-specific status directly. | www.in.gov ↗ |
| Iowa | Exempt | No licence required | SF 2119 (2022) explicitly exempted eyebrow threading from cosmetology licensing. Threaders need not be licensed in Iowa. | plb.iowa.gov ↗ |
| Kansas | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence (1,000 hrs) | Among the strictest in the country. Multiple exemption attempts have not passed as of 2025. | ksboc.us ↗ |
| Kentucky | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Kentucky State Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists. | cosmetology.ky.gov ↗ |
| Louisiana | Exempt | No licence required | Exempted after successful IJ legal action. Threading may be performed without a cosmetology licence. | www.lsbc.louisiana.gov ↗ |
| Maine | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading falls under esthetics scope in Maine. | www.maine.gov ↗ |
| Maryland | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists. Threading is within cosmetology scope. | www.dllr.state.md.us ↗ |
| Massachusetts | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Massachusetts has one of the highest cosmetology training requirements nationally (1,000 hrs). Threading is regulated. | www.mass.gov ↗ |
| Michigan | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). | www.michigan.gov ↗ |
| Minnesota | Exempt | No licence required | Minnesota carved out certain beauty services from licensing requirements in 2020. Threading is included in the exemption. | mn.gov ↗ |
| Mississippi | Exempt | No licence required | Mississippi exempts eyebrow threading from cosmetology licensing. | www.msboc.us ↗ |
| Missouri | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. | pr.mo.gov ↗ |
| Montana | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. | boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov ↗ |
| Nebraska | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Nebraska Board of Cosmetology Examiners. | dhhs.ne.gov ↗ |
| Nevada | Exempt | No licence required | Nevada explicitly exempts eyebrow threading from cosmetology licensing. One of the earliest states to do so. | cosmetology.nv.gov ↗ |
| New Hampshire | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under NH Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics. Threading is within cosmetology scope. | www.oplc.nh.gov ↗ |
| New Jersey | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. | www.njconsumeraffairs.gov ↗ |
| New Mexico | Exempt | No licence required | New Mexico exempts threading from cosmetology licensing requirements. | www.rld.nm.gov ↗ |
| New York | Licence Required | Appearance enhancement licence | Threading falls under New York's appearance enhancement scope. A licence is required. | www.dos.ny.gov ↗ |
| North Carolina | Licence Required | Cosmetology licence | Regulated under NC State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. | www.nccosmeticarts.com ↗ |
| North Dakota | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under ND State Board of Cosmetology. | www.nd.gov ↗ |
| Ohio | Registration | Boutique services registration (no hours required) | HB 238 signed January 2025 created a boutique services registration covering threading and braiding. Registration required but no training hours, no cosmetology exam. | cos.ohio.gov ↗ |
| Oklahoma | Licence Required | Esthetics licence (600 hrs) | IJ represented threader Shazia Ittiq in a challenge to Oklahoma's 600-hour requirement. Case ongoing as of 2024. Verify current status with board before practicing. | cosmo.ok.gov ↗ |
| Oregon | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Oregon Health Licensing Office. | www.oregon.gov ↗ |
| Pennsylvania | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology. Must be performed in a licensed salon. | www.dos.pa.gov ↗ |
| Rhode Island | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Rhode Island Board of Hairdressing. | health.ri.gov ↗ |
| South Carolina | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under SC Board of Cosmetology. | www.llr.sc.gov ↗ |
| South Dakota | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. | dlr.sd.gov ↗ |
| Tennessee | Exempt | No licence required | Tennessee exempts eyebrow threading from cosmetology licensing. Confirmed exempt. | www.tn.gov ↗ |
| Texas | Exempt | No licence required | After a landmark Texas Supreme Court ruling (2015) and SB 1502/SB 2065 (2017), threading requires NO barber, cosmetologist, or specialty licence. One of the most business-friendly threading states in the country. | www.tdlr.texas.gov ↗ |
| Utah | Exempt | No licence required | Utah explicitly exempts threading from cosmetology licensing. | dopl.utah.gov ↗ |
| Vermont | Verify | Unclear — contact board directly | Vermont's cosmetology regulations do not explicitly address threading. Contact the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation before practicing. | sos.vermont.gov ↗ |
| Virginia | Licence Required | Wax technician or cosmetology licence | Virginia requires at minimum a wax technician licence (115 hrs) for threading. Multiple exemption bills have failed (2015, 2019, 2021). Verify current status with DPOR. | www.dpor.virginia.gov ↗ |
| Washington | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Threading regulated under Washington State Department of Licensing, Cosmetology section. | www.dol.wa.gov ↗ |
| West Virginia | Exempt | No licence required | West Virginia exempts threading from cosmetology licensing. Confirmed exempt per IJ. | www.wvboc.com ↗ |
| Wisconsin | Licence Required | Cosmetology or esthetics licence | Regulated under Wisconsin Cosmetology Examining Board. | dsps.wi.gov ↗ |
| Wyoming | Verify | Unclear — contact board directly | Wyoming cosmetology rules do not explicitly address threading. Contact Wyoming Board of Cosmetology directly before practicing. | cda.wyo.gov ↗ |
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