Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology

The Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, established in statute as the Kentucky State Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, sets the educational, health, and regulatory standards for the beauty industry statewide. It licenses individual practitioners in cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, and shampoo/style services, along with specialty permits for eyelash artistry, makeup artistry, and threading. The board also licenses instructors and apprentice instructors, and it regulates salons, limited-facility businesses, event and homebound service permits, and cosmetology schools.

KBC relocated its home office on December 10, 2025, and now operates out of 1025 Capital Center Dr, Suite 200, Frankfort, KY 40601. Staff are available by phone at (502) 564-4262 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern, and the office is closed on weekends and recognized state holidays. Because call volume runs heavy during the July–August renewal period, the board encourages licensees and applicants to reach out by email at kbc@ky.gov for faster service on licensing questions or technical issues.

The board is composed of gubernatorial appointees representing consumers, estheticians, nail technicians, salon owners, school owners, and technical education, supported by an executive director and administrative staff who manage day-to-day licensing, examinations, and complaint intake.

Kentucky's core personal license disciplines are Cosmetologist (1,500 training hours), Esthetician (750 hours), Nail Technician (450 hours), and Shampoo and Style Services (300 hours), each requiring a passed written and practical exam. Beginning with the July 2026 renewal cycle, all KBC personal and business licenses move from annual to biennial renewal, with every license renewing in the same July 1–31 window rather than on an individual's birthday, and Kentucky does not require continuing education hours to renew.

Starting with the July 2026 renewal period, Kentucky moved every KBC license from an annual to a biennial renewal cycle. All licenses now renew during a single statewide window, July 1 through July 31 of each even-numbered year, rather than on the licensee's birthday. A license renewed in the July 2026 window is issued through July 31, 2028.

Renewals are submitted entirely online through the board's licensing portal; as of July 1, 2023, KBC no longer accepts physical payments or paper renewals. Applicants must have a current email address on file, upload a recent photo (taken within six months, plain white or light-blue background, no filters or AI-generated images) and a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Name changes require supporting legal documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, and salon owners must keep their list of employees and booth renters current within 30 days of any change.

A submitted renewal is routed through the portal for staff review and can be approved outright or placed on hold for manual review; approved personal licenses are mailed to the address on file, while salon, school, and limited-facility licenses are emailed for printing. The board asks applicants to watch their email for deficiency notices, which allow 10 days to correct an issue, and to contact the office if a renewed license hasn't arrived within 60 days.

A license not renewed by July 31 becomes Inactive and accrues an annual fee for every year it remains lapsed, plus a one-time restoration fee, all of which must be paid before the license is reinstated — provided the lapse is five years or less. A license expired for more than five years cannot simply be restored; the holder must retake the written and practical licensing exam before applying for a new license.

The Kentucky Board of Cosmetology investigates licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, instructors, salons, and schools for violations of state cosmetology law and sanitation regulations. The board cannot settle matters of a civil nature and has no authority to require a licensee to pay damages to a customer — those disputes belong in civil court, not with the board.

Complaints must be filed online using the board's complaint form; KBC does not accept complaints by phone or email. A complaint must be submitted in full with valid contact information, and the board encourages including supporting photos and documents to strengthen the case. Because the form requires identifying contact details, complaints cannot be filed anonymously.

Once filed, the information provided may be shared with the licensee named in the complaint and used to enforce state cosmetology law. Under Kentucky's Open Records Act, a filed complaint is generally available for public view upon request, though certain personal details such as contact information are exempt from disclosure.