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Monday, February 02, 2015

A License to Braid Hair? Critics Say State Licensing Rules Have Gone Too Far

Nivea Earl was thrilled when she opened Twistykinks hair braiding salon in Jacksonville, Arkansas, last April. Earl had been practicing the African-style art of twisting and braiding hair for at least 16 years, first working on friends, classmates and family and later taking on clients at home. Now, she had finally launched her own storefront business.

But Earl has done no advertising and has been running Twistykinks only through word of mouth. That’s because what she is doing is illegal under Arkansas law, where she needs a cosmetology license to braid hair. That would mean 1,500 hours of training, passing two exams and paying thousands of dollars to attend a cosmetology school that doesn’t even teach hair braiding.

“It’s totally discriminatory against hair braiders,” said Earl, 33. “I don’t think we should have to be held to the same standards and guidelines as cosmetologists and barbers. Hair braiding does not involve chemicals or cutting or dying the hair. We don’t even shampoo it.”

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thatz because of all the burning chemicals they use on peeps heads.

Anonymous said...

Maybe another democrat will finally realise the government is out to screw her. The local govt. should be trying encourage people like her. I hope she can fight back and I hope she wins.

Anonymous said...

6:21, did you not read. They do not use any chemicals. For braided/twisted hair, the customer washes and deep conditions their own natural hair (using normal shampoo and conditioners) and combs it out themselves.

The "stylist" doesn't wash hair, as the braiding is already a 7 to 12 hour process. Synthetic hair is twisted/added to your natural hair to give it length.

Really a business license is all that should be needed. They don't cut any hair, wash or treat hair or do any other cosmetic procedures (no waxing, nails or anything) - braiding stylists only braid hair.

Anonymous said...

6:21, did you not read. They do not use any chemicals. For braided/twisted hair, the customer washes and deep conditions their own natural hair (using normal shampoo and conditioners) and combs it out themselves.

The "stylist" doesn't wash hair, as the braiding is already a 7 to 12 hour process. Synthetic hair is twisted/added to your natural hair to give it length.

Really a business license is all that should be needed. They don't cut any hair, wash or treat hair or do any other cosmetic procedures (no waxing, nails or anything) - braiding stylists only braid hair.

Anonymous said...

license for hair, nails, etc, but no license to pump out future government sucking leeches. Seems to me maybe we should require a license to pump out future criminals!

Anonymous said...

Even though it is a place for bugs to hide - I agree with 8:34 - a simple business license....

Anonymous said...

Hair braiding does involve an element of hygiene that hair braiders must have knowledge about. They should maintain standards.
That being said, the whole Government permitting process is nothing but a cash grab by an overzealous bureaucracy feeding itself in the false name of "safety" and inspection rights, or control when in fact, capitalism and free market does a MUCH better job of weeding out those concerns by creating a competitive business environment.
There is no need for Government oversight, its only there to leech off private business.

Anonymous said...

At minimum she should have a business license.
Also, as someone else said,.,
they are touching people's heads and they are using shared combs, brushes, etc.
They need to have an elementary, and state determined understanding
(bc that is understanding at its simplest level)
of hygiene, cleanliness, etc.
Licensing also adds some ACCOUNTABILITY when things go wrong, so its a good thing.
I work as a hairstylist, so I see no problem with the state requiring licensing, paying for a license, etc.
Anybody can 'hang a shingle' but when they screw up,
the majority of people will want to know that they have some recourse.

Anonymous said...

Medusa for sure.Look into her eyes and immediately turn to stone.