Hair braiding is an intricate art that requires careful work. Clients are willing to pay good money for an expert hair braider. With proper training, you’ll be on your way to a rewarding career as a hair braider.
Here’s everything you need to know about a career as a hair braider.
Hair Braider Career
Before starting your journey as a hair braider, there are some things you need to know about the career to decide if it’s a right fit for you:
- You must be comfortable standing for a prolonged period because it can take several hours to complete new braids for an entire head of hair.
- To find employment or clients, you must scour job boards, knock on salon doors with your resume, and join networking groups or professional associations like, Professional Beauty Association and Associated Hair Professionals.
- A hair braiding session performed by an experienced professional can cost anywhere from $100 to $300, depending on the look the client desires. At current prices, working with only 2-3 clients per day can result in a nice income.
Hair Braider Salary
Are you still interested? Amazing! Read these guides to learn more about life as a professional hair braider and how to become an African hair braider.
Hairstylists typically make about $50,000 per year (including tips) working in a salon. But you have the potential to earn six figures a year by starting your own African hair braiding business. As a business owner, you’ll set your rates and control your schedule. Clients are willing to spend hours in a salon chair and pay well for a perfect set of braids.
Are you ready to turn your hair braiding side hustle into a high-earning business? (We can’t wait!) You can start an African hair braiding business and make more money doing what you love. It will take time to build a loyal client list and hit six figures per year, but it’s worth the wait!
Read this guide to learn how to build a six-figure African hair braiding business.
Hair Braider School and Training
Cosmetology school is where aspiring hair, nail, and skin specialists go to turn their passion into a certified professional career. Cosmetology school provides extensive, hands-on training so you can pass your licensing exams and take on clients like a pro!
In cosmetology school, you study techniques to beautify hair, skin, and nails. You learn modern and classic concepts to make your clients look and feel great. Your instructors teach you essential skills to be a real-world cosmetologist.
Many cosmetology schools don’t teach hair braiding. But some beauty schools and hair braiders offer specialty courses, like Ross Beauty Acadamy and Beauty Concepts Salon.
Ultimately, you should choose a cosmetology course that matches your state’s licensing requirements and has a strong focus on business development. After all, you’re there to advance your career.
Read this guide to learn more about cosmetology school.
Hair Braider License
Most states require regular hairstylists to earn their cosmetology license before they can start a business. Thankfully, hair braiders have a bit of breathing room. In the US, 32 states exempt hair braiders from receiving a license.
Read more about the fight for braiding freedom.
These are the states that still require braiders to get a cosmetology license:
- Hawaii
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Wyoming
These states (plus Washington D.C.) require braiders to get a specialty license, 9 of which require coursework from a cosmetology program::
- Oregon
- Nevada
- Missouri
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- New Jersey
Open a Braiding Salon
Hair professionals can take their business to new heights by opening a hair salon or barbershop. To get started, ensure you have all your necessary licenses and a clear business plan. And when you’re ready to open up shop, choose software that can easily manage your beloved clients.
Read our best tips for opening a hair salon.
If you’re opening up shop, you’ll need to be insured. When accidents happen on the job, salon insurance helps you cover the costs. It can pay for legal fees, medical bills, repairs, and income reimbursements. Without salon insurance, you have to pay out of pocket if your property is damaged or a client or employee makes a claim. Yikes!
Read this guide to learn how salon insurance can help your braiding business.
When your braiding salon is good to go, you’ll need to stock up on inventory. Most salon owners and hair professionals buy their products from wholesale distributors. These distributors have partnerships with popular hair brands. So, they can offer products to cosmetologists at a discounted rate. They act as a middleman between you and your favorite brands.
Learn more about Salon Service Group and other salon product distributors.
Tips for Hair Braiders
#1 Mix Up Your Services
Hair braiding is naturally repetitive but doesn’t have to be boring. You can take your hair braiding services to the next level by using a mix of colors in your styles. Clients will love it and tell their friends about your skills. So, it’s a great way to get repeat bookings for your business.
Read our best tips for mixing different braiding hair colors.
#2 Build a Social Media Presence
As a hairstylist, you already know what you love and what works for you and your current clients. So as an influencer, you can share what works for you! Authenticity truly shines through when you are talking about products that you already love.
Many of these companies you love have affiliate programs where you can earn a commission whenever someone purchases through your link. This is an excellent way to share what you love and make extra income!
Learn how to become a hair influencer.
The Bottom Line
You can create a rewarding career as a hair braider with passion, training, and skill. You’ll build your business, set your rates, and hit your income goals. Who knows? You might even open a braiding salon.
Be sure to check our latest posts for professional hair braiders.
