Sunday, April 22, 2007

Texas Law for Hair Braiders


I've been seriously considering pursuing my locking skills and after much homework, I've found that I can't just take the Sisterlock Consultant class and be on my way to starting a SL clientele, here's the twist......

Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation has created a new certificate for hair braiders and the new certificate was made available on September 1, 2006.

The rules adopted by the Commission require a curriculum of 35 hours of instruction before a certificate will be issued. This includes 11 hours in hair braiding & locking technical skills; 16 hours of instruction in the Health and Safety law and rules; and eight hours of hair analysis and scalp care.

Applicants will not be required to pass a practical or written licensing examination for a braider certificate. However, a certificate will only be granted after a cosmetology school certifies to the TDLR that an applicant has completed the required braider curriculum. The services a hair braider can offer will be limited. Hair extensions can be attached by braiders, but they must be braided in rather than attached with glue or any other chemical. Certificate holders will not be permitted to shampoo, condition or dry hair.

If I want to become a certified braider or locktician and work out of a salon I must complete the following at a local cosmetology school.

At first I thought, this is a shame how the law makers are doing everything in their power to gain profits from our culture. Then, after reviewing the curriculum I figured this may be a good thing. See below:

The required 35-hour hair braider curriculum is:
HAIR BRAIDING CURRICULUM - (35 HOURS)
(A) Hair Braiding – Technical Skills (11 hours):
(i) tools and equipment: types of combs, yarn, thread
(ii) types and patterns of braids: twists, knots, multiple strands, corn rows, hair locking
(iii) artificial hair and materials for extensions
(iv) trimming of artificial hair only as applicable to the braiding process
(v) braid removal and scalp care
(vi) client education: maintenance
(B) Health and Safety/Law and Rules (16 hours):
(i) Texas health and safety law and rules
(ii) bacteriology: sanitation, and disinfection
(iii) viruses, diseases, disorders: transmission, control, recognition
(iv) Texas license requirements – individuals and salons
(v) Texas professional responsibility requirements – individuals and salons
(vi) Texas Occupations Code, Chapters 1602 and1603 (laws)
(vii) 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 83 (rules)
(C) Hair Analysis and Scalp Care (8 hours):
(i) hair and scalp disorders and diseases: dandruff, alopecia, fungal infections, infestations, infections
(ii) hair structure, composition, texture
(iii) hair growth patterns, styles, textures
(iv) effect of physical treatments on the hair

I would love to become more educated about our hair and I'm seeing an increase in female baldness . This is primarily due to over processing with chemicals as well as over manipulating the hair lines due to braiding and locking too tightly. This is a special of area of interest for me and I'm excited that the class will cover the information.

Now, I'm on a mission to find the right school for me to take the class. So, in Texas, in order to operate as a Certified Sisterlock Consultant in a salon you must "first" become a Certified Hair Braider.


Option 1
Certified Hair Braider Class $600.00
Sisterlock Consultant Class $1395.00
(SL Travel & Hotel) $1000.00
Total $ 2995.00
*Gives me the option to lock and retighten traditional, tool maintained locks and Sisterlocks

Option 2
Certified Hair Braided $600.00
Total $600.00
* Lock and retighten traditional and tool maintained locks. Never to be able to use the Sisterlock name

I believe I know the option I'll take but hummmmm.....what's your opinion, Option 1 or Option 2?