NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee lawmakers are considering a hair-braiding bill that would eliminate the number of training hours required to obtain a hair-braiding license.
The bill called the Hair Braiding Freedom Act, would repeal the 300 hours of training and a state fee typically required for a hair-braiding license.
Proponents at Beacon Impact said people would instead have to take a 16-hour sanitation course, register with the Department of Commerce & Insurance and post a sign saying they're not licensed by the Board of Cosmetology.
Beacon Impact represents a group of African-American women who wanted an easier path to get into the profession. The bill would exempt people from getting a natural hair-styling license and instead, only a hair-braiding license.
Opponents of the bill said there is a big health and education component that would be missed. A petition was created to inform hair professionals about the bill.
"It's just knowing the little simple things that you're going to learn in school and if you want to do hair and if you want to touch people than you need to have the proper education," hairstylist Michelle Williamson said.
Williamson owns Bombshells Hair Studio & Spa in Murfreesboro.
"I've been doing hair for 23 years in Rutherford County. My daughter does hair. we both went to school for over 1500 hours. My feeling is if you're working in an environment and you're charging a consumer for a service than you need to have the same license that I do," she said.
About 25 states do not require professionals to have a hair-braiding license.
