Exempt hair braiders from licensing requirements

Under current state law, hair braiders in Hawaii are technically required to have a cosmetology license to practice their craft for money. However, the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology has not enforced this requirement due to questions about its legality and appropriateness. As a result, hair braiders have been left in regulatory limbo for years — without clarity or a reasonable path forward.

The cosmetology license is not suited to the practice of braiding and imposes significant barriers. Cosmetology programs in Hawaii cost an average of $21,829 and require 1,800 hours of training, much of which is irrelevant to braiding. Even hairdressing programs — at a lower requirement of 1,250 hours — are not focused on braiding techniques, making it a costly and inefficient path for those seeking to practice this specialized craft.

Many hair braiders in Hawaii are women, often from minority communities, where natural hair braiding is a traditional cultural practice. Exempting them from licensing requirements would help foster greater opportunity and entrepreneurship in these communities, empowering individuals to turn their skills into businesses.

SB1620 would exempt natural hair braiders from the state’s licensing requirements, provided that their work is limited to braiding hair. This bill aims to clarify the current regulatory confusion and provide much-needed support for hair braiders in Hawaii.