Hawaii Hair Braiding School and Requirements

Though Hawaii has considered eliminating hair braiding licensure, as of 2023, you need a cosmetology or hairdresser license to braid hair in the state. Learning what these licenses involve can help you decide which may be right for you.

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

Hawaii Hair Braider License Options

Hawaiian hair braiders need a cosmetology or hairdresser license. Cosmetology license programs last 1,800 hours and let you do hair, nails, and skincare. Hairdresser licenses require 1,250 hours of training and allow you to perform hair services.

Both require practical and theory exams at the end.

At the end of the day, which you choose comes down to what you want to do. Do you want to do a bit of everything? Cosmetology! Just hair? Hairdressing! Hawaii also makes it easy to apply your hairdressing hours to a cosmetology license program, so you could always return to school after working in hair for a couple of years if that suits you best.

READ MORE: Learn More About Hair School in Hawaii

READ MORE: Learn More About Cosmetology School in Hawaii

Hair Braider Salary in Hawaii

How much you can earn as a Hawaii hair braider depends on your location, workplace, years of experience, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which doesn't factor in hair braiders working from home or freelancing, Hawaii's average stylist and cosmetologist earns $34,170 per year as of 2022. ZipRecruiter, which pulls pay data from job postings and third-party data sources, estimates that the average work-from-home hair braider in the state makes $45,610 annually.

Talk to other hair braiders in the field and location you want to work in to learn more about your potential pay.

Contact the Hawaii State Board of Cosmetology