posted on: 06/22/2026
For the past several months, the beauty industry has been abuzz and mobilizing. From classrooms to salons, hair pros across the country have paid close attention to the proposed federal accountability framework, also referred to as the Do No Harm rule, and for good reason. The rule spurred a unifying force and call to action to protect access to cosmetology education.
Where Things Stand Today
Now that the public comment period has officially closed, we’re waiting to learn the outcome. The Do No Harm rule has moved to the White House for final review, where a decision will determine the future of cosmetology education. Before the final rules are officially published, it’s worth celebrating some victories.
The industry showed up en masse, with schools, educators, professionals, and advocacy groups coming together. Organizations—including Associated Hair Professionals (AHP), the American Association of Career Schools (AACS), the Professional Beauty Association, and Career Education Colleges and Universities—helped direct individuals to the federal comment portal, and the numbers suggest the rallying cry was heard.
AACS reported receiving more than 7,000 comments from beauty and wellness professionals. When combined with submissions from other industry professionals, comments totaled about 10,000. That level of engagement sends a clear message: Cosmetology professionals are deeply invested in protecting their craft and the pathways that make careers in beauty possible.
A Quick Rule Recap
The concern lies in how the rule could shape the future of cosmetology education. As written, the rule would introduce an earnings-based accountability framework for postsecondary programs. The goal is straightforward—ensure students receive a return on their educational investment while protecting taxpayer dollars.
The problem is how the accountability test is structured. In its current design, 92 percent of cosmetology and barbering programs are projected to fail the earnings test.
Why the Metrics Matter
Industry leaders, including AHP, consistently raised concerns that the proposed test metrics don’t accurately reflect how beauty careers work. Cosmetology doesn’t follow a conventional earnings trajectory like many traditional degree fields. Income builds gradually as professionals grow their clientele. It’s also influenced by factors not captured in the accountability test, such as gratuities and flexible, part-time work schedules.
As a result, applying a uniform “one-size-fits-all” earnings test won’t correctly represent a profession rooted in entrepreneurship and career growth that occurs over time.
What Could Happen Next
If the Do No Harm rule is implemented as proposed, programs that fail the test could face penalties, potentially limiting access to education and reducing the number of available training programs over time. Programs may be impacted as soon as 2028.
What This Moment Highlights
While the outcome remains uncertain, the industry has shown it’s ready to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
The volume of comments received on the Do No Harm proposed rules underscores the strength of the cosmetology community and may help open the door for more thoughtful approaches to evaluating earnings for certificate-based programs. Collective advocacy of this scale is powerful, no matter what comes next. We’ll keep you posted as the situation develops.