Florida Hair Braiding School and Requirements

As of 2020, Florida no longer requires you to attend hair braiding school or get a beauty license to have a braiding career. However, you may want to consider getting a cosmetology license to perform other hair services. Read on to learn what a Florida hair braider can do, when to consider getting a license, and how much money you might earn in that career.

Browse our directory of hair braiding schools in Florida, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair braiding licensing requirements and job outlook.

Florida Hair Braiding: Should I Get a License?

You don't need to go to hair braiding school to become a braider or hair wrapper in Florida. But the hair treatments you can provide are limited. The state defines hair braiding as "the weaving or interweaving of natural human hair or commercial hair, including the use of hair extensions or wefts." Wrapping, which falls into the same overarching category, simply involves wrapping materials like thread around hair strands.

It really is limited to that. You need a Florida cosmetology license to provide hair cutting, dyeing, and chemical straightening or curling services. Florida cosmetology licenses take 1,200 hours to complete, require state exams, and include permission to do in-depth hair, nail, skin, and makeup services.

If you're only interested in providing braiding and wrapping services, you're golden! No need to investigate licensure further. But if you're on the fence, you could start as a braider, and if you like the field, return to school for your cosmetology license after you've worked as a braider for a while.

READ MORE: Learn More About Florida Cosmetology School

Florida Hair Braider Salary

Indeed.com reports that as of October 2023, the average base salary for Florida hair braiders is $55,273 per year. However, there are only 50 reported salaries for them to draw from. If we look at government data for 2022, the state's licensed cosmetologists and hairstylists average $43,770.

Factors like years of work, city or town, type of workplace, and more all affect how much a hair braider earns.

Salary data doesn't generally include self-employed hair braiders, even though many braiders work for themselves. If you plan to be a self-employed hair braider in Florida, talk to others in that career to find out how much you can expect to make more accurately.

Contact the Florida State Board of Cosmetology