License: Natural Hair Braider

Arkansas Department of Health Cosmetology and Massage Therapy Section Board of Health external site

4815 West Markham Street, Slot 8

Little Rock, AR 72205

(501) 682-2168

(A) “Natural hair braiding” means a service of twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair by hand or with a mechanical device that includes without limitation: (i) The use of natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair fibers, decorative beads, and other hair accessories; (ii) The minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair; (iii) The use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils, pomades, and shampoos; and (iv) The making of wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions.(B) Natural hair braiding does not include: (i) The application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair; (ii) The use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds, or fusion bonds; or (iii) Embellishing or beautifying hair by cutting or singeing except as needed in the braiding process. (C) Natural hair braiding is commonly known as “African-style hair braiding” but is not limited to any particular cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious form of hairstyle. (1) Except as provided under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for natural hair braiding certification asserting reciprocity with another state shall: (A) Provide a certificate, a license, or a registration from another state that shows that he or she was legally practicing natural hair styling, braiding, or natural hair cultivation in that state; (B) Pass a written examination approved by the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee; (C) Submit an application for certification; and (D) Pay a registration fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) every two (2) years. (2) Except as provided under subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for natural hair braiding certification who is not asserting reciprocity with another state shall: (A) Provide proof of completion of an eighty-hour health and safety course approved by the committee; (B) Provide proof of completion of a forty-hour scalp care course approved by the committee; (C) Pass a written examination approved and administered by the committee on health, safety, scalp care, and this subchapter; (D) Submit an application for certification; and (E) Pay a registration fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) every two (2) years. (c) An individual may engage in natural hair braiding and operate an establishment where only natural hair braiding is practiced without obtaining natural hair braiding certification.