"Bridal stylist" fails in her lawsuit against the Trier Chamber of Skilled Crafts

Self-employed hairdressers need a master craftsman's certificate. This also applies if they additionally offer updo and bridal hairstyles as a make-up artist, according to the Trier Administrative Court.

Anyone offering updo or bridal hairstyles as a "makeup artist" needs a master craftsman's certificate in hairdressing. This was established by the Administrative Court Trier clarified. In this specific case, a 36-year-old woman had been registered as a "make-up artist" in the directory of owners of craft-like trades at the [relevant authority/organization] since 2014. Trier Chamber of Crafts registered. However, she now also offers bridal hairstyles or make-up and hairstyling for events.

The Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK) therefore informed her in May 2024 that, due to her activities in the hairdressing trade (hairstyling), she was subject to a Registration in Annex A of the Register of Craftsmen She needed it. The woman applied for the issuance of a [permit], among other things, based on her many years of professional experience. Exemption permit pursuant to Section 8 Paragraph 1 Sentence 1 of the Crafts and Trades Code (HwO)This paragraph makes it possible, upon application, to practice a craft requiring a license independently even without a master craftsman's certificate, if one can demonstrate certain knowledge and skills.

The Chamber of Skilled Crafts considers vocational training reasonable.

The Trier Chamber of Skilled Crafts rejected the application in February 2025. The Chamber reasoned that it could not be established that the plaintiff had been granted the Passing a master's examination in the hairdressing trade was deemed unreasonable. (She had argued, among other things, that she has two small children, is currently building a house, and is diabetic.) Her objection to this decision, which also sought to... Reassessment of her work as a makeup artist (instead of beautician) Her request was unsuccessful. She therefore sought, among other things, an exemption permit before the Trier Administrative Court.

The plaintiff argued that her work as a hairstylist focused solely on the appearance of hair and therefore did not constitute essential activities of the hairdressing trade, which requires registration. She claimed entitlement to an exemption permit for updo hairstyles. She further stated that she had never worked as a beautician, but only as a makeup artist, a profession not requiring registration.

The verdict: Not artistic, but commercial activity.

The single judge of the Second Chamber of the Administrative Court disagreed with this view and dismissed the action after the oral hearing. The plaintiff, in light of her work as a "hair artist," is subject to mandatory registration in the trade register, as she operates a craft requiring a license as a permanent business. She is not engaged in artistic but rather commercial activity, since it is a learnable profession. This requires basic knowledge, including knowledge of hair characteristics and the application of available tools, such as the (proper) use of curling irons and flat irons. 

She also performs tasks essential to the hairdressing trade by creating updo hairstyles. Styling hairstyles is a core aspect of the hairdressing profession and defines it. In her case, creating updo hairstyles cannot be considered a mere add-on to her work as a "make-up artist." 

The plaintiff further stated regarding the creation of updo hairstyles no entitlement to the granting of an exemption permit An exemption required, among other things, that taking the master craftsman's examination would constitute an unreasonable burden, meaning that she would be more burdened by it than the majority of other applicants. However, this could not be established in her specific case.

Furthermore, the plaintiff has no right to be removed from the trade register of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts with regard to her activity as a "make-up artist", because the requirements for registration still exist at the relevant time of the decision.

Within the Decorative cosmetics of the face are an essential activity for a beautician., which is classified as belonging to the cosmetics industry and is also not artistic. By creating the make-up herself on an individual basis, using the necessary skills and abilities, she is also working in a craft-based and not industrial manner.

The parties involved may, within one month, apply for leave to appeal the decision to the Higher Administrative Court of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Administrative Court Trier, Judgment of November 10, 2025 – 2 K 5830/25.TR 

Source: Trier Administrative Court

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