NC lawmakers push to trim the time it takes to be certified in hair braiding
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Senate Bill 808 approved by the NC Senate, goes to the House for consideration.
- The bill would set hair design at 900 hours and reduce cosmetology hours to 1,200.
- Current proposal sets a 10‑hour requirement for natural hair care certification.
North Carolina lawmakers have moved one step closer to significantly trimming the path to hair braiding certification.
A bill moving through the state legislature could reduce the required training hours necessary for natural hair care certification. Natural hair care includes hair braiding, twisting, locking and wrapping primarily textured hair.
The state Senate on Tuesday advanced Senate Bill 808, which supporters say aims to reduce the regulatory burden for hair care service providers. After a 44-29 vote with most Democrats in opposition, the bill now moves to the House for consideration.
Lawmakers and cosmetic teachers have praised the bill for breaking down barriers for students who don’t want a full cosmetology license, which requires more than 1,000 hours of training. But others say 10 hours of infection-control curriculum, which the current bill proposes, is not enough.
Sen. Amy Galey of Burlington, a Republican and one of the primary sponsors of the bill, has said in committee meetings that some pursuing this profession feel burdened by the current requirements of learning other cosmetology skills alongside natural hair care services, since some students only want to pursue hair care.
She told The News & Observer on Tuesday that the goal of the bill is to establish a floor rather than create the perfect path to licensure.
Galey said the 10-hour requirement is subject to change through conversations in the House.
“I want to be sure that women get in the workforce and that we don’t put irrational barriers in their way,” she said.
Earning a cosmetology license in North Carolina currently requires 1,500 training hours. The bill would reduce that to 1,200.
It would also separate hair design licensure from the broader cosmetology programs. Hair design covers using chemicals to bleach and color hair, and the licensure would require 900 hours of curriculum training and an exam.
Debate over natural hair certification
The bill’s three primary sponsors are all Republican: Galey, Sen. Tim Moffitt of Hendersonville and Sen. Norman Sanderson of Minnesott Beach in Pamlico County.
Sen. Val Applewhite, a Democrat who represents Cumberland County, shared a personal story that described her childhood experiences with chemical relaxing, or chemical straightening, and how it damaged her hair.
She said that as a young Black girl growing up, she learned that her natural hair “is not something that is acceptable” compared to straight hair, which was more societally acceptable.
“And I, really, from a personal sense, I believe we really need to have people that are licensed that understand Black hair, natural hair,” Applewhite said. “And actually it is more difficult. I know I look fabulous. But it’s actually more difficult to take care of natural hair than it is straight hair.”
Galey clarified that the natural hair care certification would not extend to using chemicals.
Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Durham Democrat, said she was concerned that twisting, wrapping, extending and locking hair could require more training than outlined in the bill, since those techniques could be defined based on a stylist’s interpretation.
She said she wants to hear from people who have earned natural hair care licenses, and said she looks forward to continuing her work with Moffitt on the bill.
Galey on Tuesday also added an amendment to the bill that would better align the date when the bill would become effective with the community college schedule.
The N.C. Board of Cosmetology Art Examiners, which administers many examinations for various cosmetology licenses and certificates, recently ruled that “fairy hair” services — which includes tying colorful tinsel into someone’s hair — do not require state regulation.
This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 6:22 PM with the headline "NC lawmakers push to trim the time it takes to be certified in hair braiding."
