License to Braid Hair?
By dramaqn
@dramaqn (1990)
United States
January 10, 2008 12:29am CST
This is just unbelievable informaiton and I figured what better place than here to vent it. Some states, mine included (OH) want people to take a cosmotology course at a school to get licensed to braid hair. For those of you that aren't aware, people who only braid hair for money are called Natural Hairstylist. The big debate is that when you go to school for cosmotology, it teaches about chemicals due to the pemanents, dying,sanitizing equiptment, etc. Well, none of this is used whan braiding hair, so why should they have to spend so much money and time to do what is their talent? People who are gifted at painting or drawing dont go to school to sell their wares. If they do go to school it's to enhance what they do or to gain other art forms. And braiding hair is considered a form of art. Not only that, but briading hair has been around since before these laws were invented. Why is that for tattoo and piercing artist they can get a license from the board of health simply by being an apprentice at a parlor, obtaining CPR/First Aid that includes bloodborne pathogens certificate and yet to braid hair and get paid legally, you have to spend thousands of dollars and waste 450 hours and will probably be better at braiding than the instructor. People who want a Natural Hairstylist (braiding) license should only have to take a test on skin and scalp fungus of the scalp and pay a reasonable fee. And like any business pay taxes. How hard is this? Oh wait, let me guess, it's just society's way of keeping the poor poor. Anyway, what's your take on this?
4 people like this
5 responses
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
11 Jan 08
well i guess your right..its a pity that some govt. officials never think of that...but on the other side there are maybe some objective behind all this..although in our country everyone can earn money through that if skilled and without a diploma!!
1 person likes this
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
11 Jan 08
I'd think that if someone was braiding hair for money the most the State should require is a license that certifies the practitioner knows and uses sanitary measures when working on someone's head.
What else would they need to know, for goodness sake. Aren't these requirements supposed to protect the consumers? Why not base it on the risks to the consumer?
We are just dealing with way too many laws to regulate behaviors.
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
10 Jan 08
Doesn't sound fair to me, sounds like another government money grab. After all, it's not like you're using chemicals that might burn someone, or damage them. It seems like a fairly safe practice, I don't understand it, but, unfortunately sounds like the route you have to take.
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
10 Jan 08
That's foolish & illogical for all the reasons you stated. I think being able to identify head lice, ring worm and things they may realistically encounter is reasonable; but you don't need a "degree" to learn that. FWIW, in my town tattoo artist & piercers must take college Anatomy & Physology (can't spell tonight) before getting their license. I've never heard of it in any other state or town's regulations but mine.
Are you a natural hairstylist? And will you cooperate with these regulations or try to fight them?
1 person likes this
@dramaqn (1990)
• United States
10 Jan 08
I am not a natural hairstylist, I was researching this for my best friend who kicks but when it comes to doing some braids. However, I am about to begin my apprenticeship for piercing, to do the piercings in ex0husband's new tattoo parlor. However, I will still help fight this cause. I've had my hair braided since I was little by my mom's best friend and as an adult by my best friend.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
10 Jan 08
You are right, dramaqn..Unless they are going to work with chemicals or lotions, if all they are doing is braiding hair, I don't think they have to have a license. Though if they wanted to, they can take a class like you said, to sharpen the skill they already have, but it's wasteful, to make them...
I don't get it...
@dramaqn (1990)
• United States
10 Jan 08
Yes, it's crazy. A simple fungus class should be all that's needed, at least that way the hairstylist will know if they should or shouldn't touch someone's scalp. Thank you so much for your input. What state do you live in? I would like to look up the laws about it for your state.
