Hairdressers, nail salons and beauty therapists, as well as tattooing, body piercing and other skin penetration activities can spread diseases and cause infections. Some of these services have a higher risk of spreading disease or causing infection as they may involve the release of blood or bodily fluid. 

Businesses providing higher risk services require a licence from Council. 

When you need a licence

You need a licence to provide any higher risk personal appearance service, including:

• body piercing, other than closed ear and nose piercing
• implanting a natural or synthetic substance into a person’s skin, for example hair or beads
• scarring or cutting a person’s skin using a sharp instrument to make a permanent mark, pattern or design
• tattooing (including cosmetic tattooing and semi-permanent make-up)
• tattoo removal using micro needles.

When you don't need a licence

You do not need a licence if you only provide the following non-higher risk services:

• hairdressing
• beauty therapy (including facial or body treatments, application of cosmetics, manicures or pedicures, application of, or mending artificial nails, hair removal by electrolysis or wax)
• closed ear or nose piercing
• acupuncture
• massage therapy
• tattoo removal using a laser (you don’t need a licence from Council but you do need a laser licence issued by Queensland Health)
• personal appearance services provided within a health-care facility (you don’t need a licence from Council but need to comply with relevant medical legislation).