African Hair Braider Career Overview
This in-demand service is only expected to grow in popularity as the United State population becomes more culturally rich and diverse.
You’ll need training to offer African hair braiding services, although whether you’ll need a license depends on where you live. Some states specifically address hair braiding (Texas requires a license plus at least 35 hours of education) while others do not, and some include the practice under the umbrella of a cosmetology license.
There are 22 states that do not have laws about hair braiding, and 10 that require specialty licenses for hair braiders. You’ll need to investigate the laws and regulations in your own state to determine the best training options. Check with your state’s board of cosmetology to learn about the laws and requirements where you live.
African hair braiders make good money. A hair braiding can cost anywhere from $100 to $300. It all depends on the look the client wants to achieve. At current prices, you can see that working with only 2-3 clients per day can result in a nice income.
This is also a growth industry. Employment of African hair braiders, who are grouped with hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists, is projected to grow 8 percent through 2028, faster than the average for all U.S. occupations. Population growth will lead to greater demand for quality hair care services, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
African hair braiders earn an average annual salary of $27,940 the BLS reports. Beauty professionals earn more money in some parts of the country, for example, the average salaries for hair dressers and stylists are highest in Washington D.C., Hawaii, Delaware, Virginia and Washington State.
Resources to help in starting or expanding your African Hair Braider career:
- African Hair Braider Associations
- African Hair Braider School and Certification
- African Hair Braider License
- African Hair Braider Social Groups
