* Illinois press release from 2011…

Earlier this month, compromise legislation took effect creating a new category of licenses for hair braiders in Illinois. Under the new law, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will begin issuing licenses to professionals who braid the hair of their clients. People wishing to enter the profession as licensed hair braiders will be able to obtain a license with 300 hours of classroom and practical experience. Under prior law, a full cosmetology license and 1500 hours of training was required if a hair braider sought a license.

That wasn’t an easy bill to pass.

* Editorial at the time…

There is good news for those with the flair for braiding hair. Under a new law, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will now issue licenses exclusively for hair braiders which means the state will no longer require them to attain a full cosmetology license as it had in the past. […]

Many people braid hair for a living, and we recognize that they dont need an entire cosmetology license just to do so. There has always been a great deal of resistance toward the 1500 hours, and this law allows them to attain a hair braiding license in half the time, said Susan Hofer, a spokesperson for IDFPR.

* Three years later…

(W)hile both Illinois and Michigan have burdensome course requirements for braiders, neither state actually has a way for braiders to legally learn. Illinois, a state with almost 13 million residents, does not have a single licensed school that teaches a braiding course. […]

Since January 1, 2011, Illinois has issued 613 hair braider licenses. None have been renewed as of yet, as the first expiration will occur on October 31, 2014. By comparison, the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation has issued 15,911 cosmetologist licenses from 2008 to present.

More…

Eleven states currently leave the market completely unregulated. Eight other states have lighter hour requirements than Illinois. And no states have experienced a public health crisis from rogue hair braiders. It’s more often the case that hairdressers, threatened by competition, push for more regulation on their competitors.

* Rep. Carol Ammons today…

Easing financial burdens for professional hair braiders, legislation introduced by state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, successfully passed out of the House, making professional hair-braiding a more accessible career path for Illinois residents by removing it from the list of the cosmetology professions that require state licensure.

“Rolling back hair braiding licensing regulations restores opportunity for a handful of women and men, young and old, who have been hindered from growing their business professionally because of financial burdens when seeking licensure,” said Ammons. “This bill effectively removes that barrier by getting rid of the requirement that hair braiders have to be licensed to practice, opening a door that was previously closed for many residents.”

House Bill 3356 removes hair-braiding from the list of licensed cosmetology professions, allowing individuals to self-start in the hair braiding profession without having to pay the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) a licensing fee.

“Many brilliant individuals, predominantly women, throughout my community already offer braiding, installations, and other hair services in the comfort of their own homes,” said state Representative Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, Chief Co-Sponsor of the bill. “I am proud of this measure, which will unshackle the creativity and ingenuity of the talented people who are longing to start or expand their hair care businesses.”

“Removing the financial burden of obtaining a license for hair braiding will promote robust entrepreneurship and economic opportunities, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” added Ammons. “I look forward to handing this off to the Senate to get this measure through the finish line.”

House Bill 3356 passed unanimously out of the House Chamber on Monday and awaits bicameral action.