New York Hair Braiding School and Requirements
Potential New York hair braiders can begin their careers with a Natural Hair Styling License. However, there are times when you may want to get a cosmetology license instead.
Browse our directory of hair braiding schools in New York, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair braiding licensing requirements and job outlook.
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What New York Hair Braiders Can Do
If you plan to work only with natural hair in New York, you don't need a full cosmetology license. Instead, you can gain a specific Natural Hair Styling license.
However, there are certain services that natural hair styling licensees can't provide. They can shampoo, dress, twist, wrap, weave, extend, lock, and braid hair but can't cut, shave, or trim hair. Nor may they apply dyes, reactive chemicals, or any other substance that might alter its structure.
Essentially, if you're planning to only braid, weave, or lock hair and fit weaves, extensions, or wigs, you should be fine with a natural hair styling license. For anything more in-depth, you may need to complete full cosmetology training instead.
New York Natural Hair Braiding School
Most New York hair braiders opt to get a natural hair styling license. To do this, you must complete 300 training hours at a state-approved natural hair braiding school and pass written and practical exams. You must also undertake a physical exam and gain a Health Certification, and complete a one-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness program.
Classes cover a variety of subjects, including hair analysis, hair and scalp diseases and disorders, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, shampoos, conditioners, rinses and treatments, hair braiding, locking, weaving, and styling. Students also learn important lessons in professionalism, safety, and health.
New York Cosmetology School for Hair Braiders
Alternatively, for those who want to go all-in on their education, gaining a full license in cosmetology is also an option. It may feel like overkill, but having training in all areas is a great way to ensure a successful career, and you can branch out beyond natural hair, too. It also makes it easier to relocate your work to other states and means you can offer services that braiders can't, such as cutting, dyeing, and perming.
A New York cosmetology license takes 1,000 hours to complete and, just like the natural hair styling license, students must undertake a physical exam and gain a Health Certification, complete a one-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness program, and take (and pass) written and practical exams.
The curriculum covers various topics, including hair cutting, styling and coloring, nail care, skin care, chemistry, anatomy, and health and safety. As of last year, natural hair education is now an essential part of the curriculum—meaning you will definitely receive training specific to working with natural hair, something that can't be guaranteed when completing other states' cosmetology programs.
READ MORE: Learn More About Cosmetology School in New York
Hair Braiding Exam in New York
Natural hair styling students must pass written and practical exams before receiving their license. Each exam costs $15 to take.
Natural Hair Styling Written Exam
The written exam is multiple choice, and you have two-and-a-half hours to complete it. It must be taken at one of New York's examination sites, and you must arrive with a valid government-issued photo ID on the day.
Upon completion, you are emailed your results, with either a pass or fail grade—unlike some other state tests, numerical scores aren't given. If you pass, the result is valid for up to five years. If you fail, the test can be rescheduled and repeated as needed.
Natural Hair Styling Practical Exam
The practical exam takes place at Empire Beauty School, Inc.'s Manhattan location, which can be found at 22 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001. As with the written exam, you must arrive with a valid photo ID and all your exam supplies, including a mannequin head and a pen, alongside other items on the Supplies List. You have two-and-a-half hours to complete the test.
Once it begins, the exam is split into the following timed sections:
After you finish the exam, you'll receive either a pass or fail grade by email. If you pass, you'll receive your New York State Natural Hair Styling License in the mail. If you fail, you can reschedule a new test as needed.
Getting Your New York Natural Hair License
As mentioned above, there are several steps you must complete before you can be granted a natural hair styling license and work in New York as a hair braider. To summarize, these are:
New York Hair Braider Salary
Gathering accurate salary data for hair braiders is tricky, as the career is often home-based, and the information available isn't always specific to natural hair braiding, but more hairstyling as a whole.
According to the Bureau of Labor Services (BLS), hairstylists in New York earn an average of $43,010 per year, or $20.68 per hour—slightly above the national average of $38,910 per year. This data doesn't include information about self-employed people—but according to Ziprecruiter.com, a freelance hairstylist in New York can expect to earn slightly more, with an average salary of $46,765 per year.
Ziprecruiter.com provides data for hair braiders specifically, with recent (February 2024) reports stating an average salary of $42,905 per year, or $21 per hour. It also ranks New York as the top-paying location in the country for hair braiders.
The site reports that home-based braiders earn slightly more, averaging $44,080 annually.
As well as being the best-paid location for hair braiders, New York also has excellent prospects for the hair industry as a whole. According to O*Net, hairstylist roles in the state are projected to grow by an incredible 57% between 2020 and 2030. This translates to about 6,560 new stylist job openings each year!
Contact the New York State Board of Cosmetology
- 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231
- Website: New York Dept. of State Division of Licensing Services
- Call: 518-474-4429
- Fax: 518-473-6648