NEWARK - The State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Board) is issuing a special rule adoption, which is effective immediately and temporarily, and an identical rule proposal, to implement P.L. 2018, c. 126, which creates a limited license to perform hair braiding services and a licensure requirement for hair braiding shops.

The limited license requires 40 or 50 hours of training, depending on whether the applicant has three years of hair braiding experience at the time of application.  This is in contrast to the 1,200 hours of training required to obtain a full cosmetology license. Additionally, the rules increase the number of members on the Board of Cosmetology to 13 and provide that two members must own or operate a hair braiding shop in this State.

Hair braiders and their patrons primarily include African-American women and other women of African and/or Caribbean descent.  With the enactment of P.L. 2018, c.126, and the Board's rulemaking, the Legislature and Board seek to remove certain barriers to economic opportunity for individuals who might pursue work as hair braiders, while maintaining consumer protections for their patrons.

The proposed regulation, and information on how to submit a comment by January 31, 2020, can be viewed on the Division of Consumer Affairs' website here

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