Beauty Businesses

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COVID19 Update

Information regarding restrictions can be found on the Coronavirus - Information for Beauty-Based Businesses page.

Operating any of the above businesses without obtaining registration from Council is an offence.

Council public health officers must inspect a new business before transfer of ownership or trading can start. Officers also carry out regular business inspections to ensure appropriate standards are maintained. Visit the Victorian Department of Health website for a list of these standards.

Information for businesses, including Government assistance can be found on the Coronavirus - Information for Business page

Registration 

The registration process for hairdressers and make-up artists has been simplified. Now, any business trading solely with hairdressing or make-up services at their premises, can apply for an ongoing registration. However, for any hairdressing or make-up business offering additional services, such as body piercing, facials, waxing or tattooing, the annual registration applies.

If you want to open a new health or beauty business you will need to be registered under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act.

A health or beauty business includes activities such as hairdressing, beauty therapy (that is: waxing, threading, manicuring, laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), spray tanning, eyelash extensions etc), body piercing, colonic irrigation or tattooing.

Massage businesses are not required to be registered unless skin penetration is included in the activities. 

A health or beauty business can be separated into high and low risk activities.

Low risk activities include hairdressing, temporary make-up application, eyelash/eyebrow extensions or tinting and spray tanning.

High risk activities include beauty therapy such as waxing, threading, manicuring, laser, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), body piercing, colonic irrigation or tattooing.

Registration under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act and compliance with the relevant guidelines is arranged through our Health Proectection Unit.

Apply to start a beauty business

If you’re looking to start a health and beauty business within the Colac Otway Shire please contact the Council’s Health Protection team on (03) 5235 9400 for further information.