BeautifulBraids.Com

It takes an average of 9 months to 24 months or 1000 hours to 2100 hours to obtain a cosmetology license. That license will allow you to provide services in a salon such as hair cuts, colors, chemical treatments and stuff like that. Oh, and don't let me forget the very lengthy section on how to create a frenchbraid. If memory serves me correctly, you spend approximately 1 week learning how to make a braid!!!!! WOW! That's it. Then they politely skim over a section called Afro hair straightening. This includes chemical and thermal straightening techniques. It's a sad thing, when you think about it. They give you a black doll with long, straight hair when they want you to braid it. Then when it's time to learn how to press the hair they give you this black, nappy-headed doll, with hair that perhaps would stretch to the length of your pinky finger! SAD. SAD. SAD. That is my only response.

Anyway, I dug up some more pretty interesting facts:

Check out these comparisons...

Cosmetologist--1000 hrs-2100 hrs.

vs.

Food Safety--15 hours--YES. Someone who handles YOUR FOOD!!!
Security Guards--20 hours-- I feel safe already.
Volunteer Firefighters--36 hours--Would you call them to rescue you?
Childcare Workers--40 hours--People we leave our babies with. Does that seem weird to you? Maybe I'm just being picky.
HomeHealth Aides--160 hours. Our parents and our precious grandparents depend on these people for proper care. How much can you learn about caring for the elderly or terminally ill in 4 weeks.?
EMT (emergency medical technicians). You know, when you call 911. Those people in the jumpsuits who are there to save your life. Yes. That's an EMT.
And they train a big whopping 130 hours. We spend more time learning how to ride a bike.

All these jobs only add up to 401 hours worth of training. This does not even equate to 25% of a cosmetologist license. Not to say that a cosmetologist license isn't technical. But, are we saying that a cosmetologist is 4 times more technical than an Emergency Medical Technician or a Volunteer Firefighter? These are people we depend on daily to save lives, care for our children and make us feel safe. Why must a cosmetologist require such extensive training to make someone look better? Is it the old mighty dollar talking? I say so.

On top of that. The good ole' government wants braiders to obtain a cosmetology license to braid hair.

WHY?

The only form of braiding taught in a cosmetology school is the Art of Frenchbraiding. That means, one frenchbraid down the back of the head. They don't even teach you how to add extensions.

Oh, and another thing. Don't get busted braiding hair without a license. Some states have what is called "Hair Police". No. You won't get a ticket, but you will get shut down or jailed, if they catch you! Un-be-liev-able.

Now, some of you may not agree with what I am about to say.

But, I feel I have to defend part of what they are enforcing.

Here we go... Braiding hair is an artform. Culturally, it has been around forever. Although, you can take classes to learn to braid, for some it is completely natural. Like walking or running. They do it very, very well. It is quite similar to an artist or a sculpturer. The designs are detailed and flawless. So beautiful that you want to capture the style and frame it.

Yet. Most individuals who braid hair have no training in sanitation and disease awareness. Without proper education in those areas you could do more harm than good. You should be able to identify any signs of infectious scalp conditions or if the scalp looks sore for any reason. Each client who comes into the salon is a potential source of infection to the hairdresser and other clients. Service should not be given if an infectious condition is found, or if the hair or scalp is damaged in such a way that the serivce required can not be done effectively.

Therefore, I agree with some form of training. As a matter of fact I want to commend the state of Florida. They have done an excellent job in rectifying this issue. They require, for braiders, a two day 16-hour course, containing valuable information on sanitation and comunicable diseases. Great Job Florida!

Listed below you will find the information you have been waiting for. We were unable to obtain information from some states. So, we have included the address and phone number of each. Maybe you will have better luck than we did. GOOD LUCK!