Illinois bill would eliminate licensing for hair braiders, sparking debate

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A new bill in Illinois would eliminate the need for hair braiders to be licensed professionals.

Currently, Illinois is one of 14 states that require hair braiders to have a license or risk fines.

Hair braiders need 3,000 hours of classroom and practical experience, an education that can cost thousands.

House Bill 3356 completely removes that requirement.

Advocates of the bill say it will allow more people to enter the workforce.

“You learn from history, with your mom or your auntie or your grandma. They’re teaching you how to become a woman. They teach you how to braid,” said Dawuan Neal, the owner of Classic Cuts Barbershop at 1021 S Main Street.

“I was also taught they teach you how to back in day, how to survive with mats in the hair. So braiding is a cultural thing. So when you think about going to school, school can’t really teach you how to braid per se,” he added.

Neal has worked with hair for over 30 years and says while cosmetology school is an important step to becoming a professional, hair braiding is different.

“You got to think about the money aspect,” Neal said. “You’re not teaching me how to braid, so you’re charging me for something I learn from my ancestors, from my parents or my mom or my grandma. So you’re not teaching me that part?”

However, other hair professionals have a less positive take on the bill.

“I think it should be a requirement to a certain level because you just want to be covered on all aspects,” said barber Erick Thomas. “I can know how to cut hair without going to school, but there’s certain things that I’m not going to learn and certain things that I’m not going to know without going to school. You need the education that goes behind … what you’re doing as far as cutting hair and braiding.”

HB3356 passed out of the Illinois House and now heads to the Senate.