The Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering is accepting public comments through June 22 on temporary rules that could shape health, safety and business standards across the industry.
For Hattiesburg barber Bonnie Holloway, the process marks a sign of progress after two years of uncertainty following the state’s merger of its cosmetology and barbering boards.
Holloway, who co-owns The Dapper Man Studio in Hattiesburg with Crystal McCormick, opened her barbershop just before Mississippi merged the boards in 2024. She said she has seen signs of progress since the board began operating again.
“So far, so good,” Holloway said. “We’ve actually had one of the board members come by to introduce himself, which has never happened. Because it’s kind of like they’re just there and we’re here, but he came by and introduced himself, so that was good.”
What Took So Long to Start?
The board was created after Mississippi combined its separate cosmetology and barbering boards in 2024. But in the following legislative session, the Mississippi Senate didn’t confirm Gov. Tate Reeves’ appointees. Without that approval, the board lost its quorum and couldn’t complete its regular work or finalize temporary rules written earlier in the year.
Catherine Bell, executive director of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, said the current board members were approved by the Senate early in the 2026 legislative session.
“That enabled the board to get up and running and start to do all of the things that need to get done for a new state agency to get created,” Bell said.
For Holloway, the board’s return has been a good sign for the future.
“When we decided to (start our own shop), that’s when they started doing everything,” Holloway said. “For a minute we were without a board altogether, but like (Crystal) was saying, it’s starting to line up. It’s starting to come together slowly, but it looks like it’s really going to happen.”
What Has the Board Done So Far?
Bell said the board began meeting in late January and first addressed issues that had held up licenses, such as setting a passing score for the licensing exam. That allowed applicants to learn whether they passed and what steps remained in the process.
The board also decided to remove the practical exam from the licensing process, which some educators have said allows them to focus more closely on individual learning needs rather than preparing students for a second state test.
Since the temporary rules written in 2025 expired, the board also began developing a new set of rules chapter by chapter.
The first rules released, Chapter 11, addressed health and safety standards for shops and licensees. Bell said the board received public comments on those regulations and made changes before releasing a revised version.
“The board received some comments on that and went back to the drawing board and made some very substantial revisions to those rules,” Bell said.
Bell said the current rules differ from those developed in 2025. She said the board is attempting to protect customers while avoiding requirements that unnecessarily burden professionals and businesses.
“We want to make sure the rules accomplish that goal without being overly burdensome on the licensees,” Bell said.
What Can the Public Do?
Bell said the board is encouraging licensees to review the temporary rules and submit written feedback before the comment period ends.
“If you want to have an opportunity to craft the future of this agency, now’s the chance. Send in a comment,” Bell said.
Bell said written comments can be emailed to executivedirector@msbcb.ms.gov, mailed to the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering at P.O. Box 55689, Jackson, MS 39296-5689, or delivered to the board office.
Comments must be received by June 22.
Bell said she will gather the comments for the board, which will review them at a meeting after the deadline and decide whether additional changes are needed.
“They’ll review all of the comments at that time and, based on the comments received, determine if they need to make any changes to make the rules even better,” Bell said.
For Holloway, who opened her business as the state began reorganizing oversight of her industry, seeing work get started is a good sign after a period of uncertainty.
“I think it’s headed in the right direction,” Holloway said.
This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
