In Missouri People Can Braid Hair Without Jumping Through Unnecessary Regulatory Hoops

MISSOURI — June 14, 2018

Good news for African-style hair braiders who conduct business in the state of Missouri came down from States lawmakers — the State finally passed a law “allowing” black people to braid hair without requiring a 1500-hour cosmetology license.  Those who practice the art of African-style hair braiding will now have a lot more money in their pockets to support their loved ones.

The change comes after the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a lawsuit against the Show-Me State, arguing that it’s unfair to force African-style hair braiders to spend an average of $12,000 for tuition and many months worth of training that has nothing to do with their jobs. Instead, they will now only have to pay a $20 extortion fee and watch a 4 to 6-hour instructional video, as well as submit to routine board inspections.

 “The new braiding license is a dramatic improvement from Missouri’s incredibly burdensome requirement that African-style braiders waste a thousand or more hours and spend tens of thousands of dollars to obtain a full cosmetology license, just to braid hair,” stated IJ’s Dan Alban, the lead attorney representing Missouri braiders.

At the same time, Missouri’s insistence that all African-style hair braiders still submit to a $20 licensing fee, as well as watch hours of instructional video that probably isn’t relevant to their duties, represents an infringement on their constitutional rights – at least that still seems to be IJ’s view on the matter.