Louisiana, a state notorious for high occupational licensing barriers and below-average household median income, may soon create one of the strictest hair braiding licensing requirements in the country.
Although the Pelican State's cosmetology board already requires at least 500 hours of training to obtain an "alternative hair design" permit, House Bill 912, proposed by state Rep. Candace Newell (D–New Orleans), would increase the minimum number of hours to at least 600 over three and a half months at a registered cosmetology school. The training must cover, in part, the ancient origins of braiding, multicultural braid styles and experiences, and proper braiding and sanitation techniques. Applicants must then pass an examination and pay an annual fee.
