New York Consolidated Laws, General Business Law - GBS § 400. Definitions

1. “Secretary” means the secretary of state.

2. “Person” means an individual, firm, limited liability company, partnership or corporation.

3. “Licensee” means a person licensed pursuant to this article to engage in the practice of natural hair styling, esthetics, nail specialty or cosmetology, or to operate an appearance enhancement business in which such practice, as herein defined, is provided to the public.

4. The practice of “nail specialty” means providing services for a fee or any consideration or exchange to cut, shape or to enhance the appearance of the nails of the hands or feet.  Nail specialty shall include the application and removal of sculptured or artificial nails.

5. The practice of “natural hair styling” means providing for a fee, or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, any of the following services to the hair of a human being:  shampooing, arranging, dressing, twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding the hair or beard by either hand or mechanical appliances.  Such practice shall not include cutting, shaving or trimming hair except that such activities are permissible to the extent that such activities are incidental to the practice of natural hair styling.  Such practice shall not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair.  Techniques which result in tension on hair roots such as certain types of braiding, weaving, wrapping, locking and extending of the hair may only be performed by a natural hair styling or cosmetology licensee who has successfully completed an approved course of study in such techniques.

6. The practice of “esthetics” means providing for a fee, or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, services to enhance the appearance of the face, neck, arms, legs, and shoulders of a human being by the use of compounds or procedures including makeup, eyelashes, depilatories, tonics, lotions, waxes, sanding and tweezing, whether performed by manual, mechanical, chemical or electrical means and instruments but shall not include the practice of electrology.

7. The practice of “cosmetology” means providing the services described in subdivisions four, five and six of this section, providing service to the hair, head, face, neck or scalp of a human being, including but not limited to shaving, trimming, and cutting the hair or beard either by hand or mechanical appliances and the application of antiseptics, powders, oil, clays, lotions or applying tonics to the hair, head, or scalp, and in addition includes providing, for a fee or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, services for the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair of a human being.

8. “Appearance enhancement business” means the business of providing any or all of the services licensed pursuant to this article at a fixed location.

9. “Department” means the department of state.

10. The practice of “waxing” means providing for a fee, or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, services to enhance the appearance of the face, neck, arms, legs, or shoulders of a human being by the removal of hair by the use of depilatories, waxes or tweezing but shall not include the practice of electrology.

11. “Trainee” means a person pursuing in good faith a course of study in the practice of nail specialty under the tutelage, supervision and direction of a licensed nail practitioner.  Such trainee shall be employed by a licensed appearance enhancement business.