Can Estheticians Do Dermaplaning in California?

Yes — licensed estheticians can do dermaplaning in California. The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology confirmed effective January 1, 2022, that dermaplaning falls within the scope of practice for both estheticians and cosmetologists, as long as the service stays superficial and cosmetic and does not destroy living tissue.¹

The Legal Basis

The authority comes from California Business and Professions Code Section 7316, which defines skin care as exfoliating, cleansing, or beautifying the face and body using hands, esthetic devices, or cosmetic products to improve the skin’s appearance, provided the service does not destroy live tissue. The same section allows estheticians to remove unwanted hair with devices and appliances, excluding lasers and light-based tools.² Dermaplaning fits both authorities at once: it exfoliates the outer skin and removes fine vellus hair in a single pass.

The word “dermaplaning” does not appear in the statute itself. The Board resolved the ambiguity through its January 2022 industry bulletin, and its Senate Bill 803 FAQ directly answers “Can an esthetician now perform dermaplaning?” with yes.³ The Board defines dermaplaning (also called dermablading) as exfoliating the epidermis with a razor-edged tool, typically a single-use surgical blade with a rounded end, to remove fine vellus hair and dead skin cells.¹ “Epidermis” is the operative word. That is the boundary between a lawful cosmetic service and the practice of medicine.

License and Training

You need a valid California esthetician or cosmetology license to offer dermaplaning at all. Performing the service without a license is a misdemeanor, and the establishment employing an unlicensed person is also subject to citation and fines.⁴

California does not require a separate dermaplaning certification or a specific number of extra training hours. The Board’s bulletin does state clearly that licensees should be fully trained before offering the service to the public, and the Board cannot recommend specific vendors or schools.¹ Finding a reputable program is on you. Private certification courses typically run several hundred dollars.

The Board also encourages licensees to talk to their liability insurance carrier before offering dermaplaning. Because the service involves a blade near the face, some policies may require additional riders or proof of training before they cover dermaplaning claims.

The Board’s Best Practices

The BBC’s bulletin sets out expectations that a reputable training program will cover and that you should follow at every appointment:¹

Wash your hands before providing any service, and consider wearing gloves throughout the procedure.
Do not combine waxing, threading, sugaring, or other hair removal with dermaplaning. Schedule those services one to two weeks before the dermaplane appointment.
Advise clients to stop physical or chemical exfoliants three to five days before the appointment. Prescription exfoliants like retinoids should be stopped for 7 to 14 days, or as the prescribing physician recommends.
Ask clients to avoid movement, talking, and other distractions during the service. You are working with a surgical blade on their face.
Examine the skin before starting. If you find open acne, abrasions, sunburn, or other irritation, do not perform the service.
Dispose of single-use blades in a sharps container immediately after use, never in regular waste receptacles. Contact the California Department of Public Health’s Medical Waste Management Program for guidance on disposing of full sharps containers.

The bulletin also directs licensees to review Board health and safety regulations in Sections 979, 981, and 990 of Title 16, Division 9 of the California Code of Regulations, which cover sanitation, disinfection, and safety requirements for establishments.

Bloodborne Pathogen Compliance

Blade work carries a real risk of nicking a client, which means potential blood exposure. The Board’s bulletin encourages licensees to obtain additional training on blood and fluid-borne pathogens from Cal/OSHA. For salon and spa owners with employees, this is a federal obligation, not a suggestion.

OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) requires employers to evaluate whether employees may come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. When that risk exists, the employer must provide training at initial assignment and at least annually afterward, offer hepatitis B vaccination at no charge, and supply personal protective equipment such as gloves.⁵ California’s own regulation at 8 CCR 5193 mirrors the federal standard and requires a written Exposure Control Plan that is reviewed and updated at least annually.⁶

Sharps containers must be puncture-resistant, leakproof, closable, and labeled or color-coded red. Place them as close as possible to where blades are used, keep them upright, and replace them before they overfill.⁷ These are among the easiest details to get cited for during an inspection.

Screening Clients and Refusing Service

The Board requires you to examine each client’s skin before service and refuse if you find open acne, abrasions, sunburn, or irritation.¹ Experienced practitioners screen for more:

Active cystic acne, because the blade can spread bacteria across the face and worsen inflammation.
Rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, which involve compromised or inflamed skin that physical exfoliation can aggravate.
Recent isotretinoin (Accutane) use, since skin remains hypersensitive for roughly six months after stopping the medication.
Any open wound or recent procedure that breaks the skin’s surface.

A thorough intake form covering medications, skin conditions, and recent treatments will catch most of these before the client is in the chair. When something is unclear, refer to their dermatologist.

Where Dermaplaning Becomes the Practice of Medicine

Estheticians work on the epidermis. Anything that penetrates, cuts into, or destroys living tissue below that outer layer is the practice of medicine.² The Barbering and Cosmetology Act itself states that it confers no authority to practice medicine or surgery.⁸

Two things follow. The intent must be cosmetic. Dermaplaning to smooth skin texture or remove peach fuzz is cosmetic. Dermaplaning to treat acne scarring, reduce hyperpigmentation from a medical condition, or address a dermatological diagnosis is medical, and an esthetician cannot perform it regardless of technique. The outcome must also stay superficial. Even with cosmetic intent, a technique aggressive enough to reach the dermis crosses the line. Procedures at that depth fall to physicians, or to nurses and physician assistants working under physician supervision.

1
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Industry Bulletin – Dermaplaning
2
California Legislative Information. California Code BPC 7316 – Practice of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Skin Care
3
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Senate Bill 803 Questions and Answers
4
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 2026 Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations
5
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 1910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens
6
California Department of Industrial Relations. Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens
7
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Protecting Yourself When Handling Contaminated Sharps
8
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Industry Bulletin – Skin Care Machines/Devices