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States Asked to Deregulate Hair
Braiding
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| By EMILY WAGSTER
PETTUS, Associated Press Writer |
March 11,
2005 |
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| State lawmakers across the country are
trying to untangle the issue |
JACKSON, Miss. - To hear one side tell it, African hair
braiding is an art passed down through generations, a form of
expression that shouldn't be hampered by bureaucratic licensing.
The other side
argues the practice needs to be regulated so braiders will learn to
prevent the spread of scalp diseases.
Now, state lawmakers
across the country are trying to untangle the issue.
Tennessee state Sen. Steve Cohen filed a bill at the request
of a constituent who braids.
"The cosmetologists want to
keep the hair braiders down," Cohen charged. "It's not a health and
sanitation issue. It's control. It's power."
In Mississippi,
however, many cosmetologists say it's unfair to exempt a small group
from licensing.
"We are not against braiders," said Charlie
Hilliard, president of the Mississippi Independent Beauticians
Association. "We are for training."
Arizona, California,
Kansas and Maryland already exempt hair braiders from cosmetology
licensing, and Michigan has a voluntary licensing system, according
to the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, which has filed
a federal lawsuit challenging Mississippi's braiding regulations.
The institute said Washington state recently interpreted its
laws to say braiders aren't covered by cosmetology regulations.
In South Carolina, Gov. Mark Sanford in December vetoed a
bill that would have required hair braiders to have 60 hours of
training; they now need 1,500 hours of cosmetology education.
Sanford said either requirement is "absurd."
Back in
Mississippi, the National Federation of Independent Businesses has
joined braiders in asking lawmakers to lift the licensing mandate.
Margaret Burden of Tupelo, Miss., complains the state
requirements are an obstacle to her desire to braid for a living.
"My goodness, they talk about wanting to take women off
welfare, women needing to get jobs and pay taxes," said Burden, a
plaintiff in the braiding lawsuit. "This is a way to do it."
Mississippi law says a braider must hold either a
cosmetology license, requiring 1,500 hours of education, or a wig
specialist license, requiring 300 hours in fitting, styling and
caring for wigs.
The Mississippi House has voted to lift
licensing requirements for people who braid, twist or add extensions
to hair without chemicals. The Senate altered the bill this week to
make braiders register with the state Department of Health and be
subject to sanitation inspections. The compromise returns to the
House.
Sydnia Townsend of Jackson, Miss., drives three hours
north to Holly Springs, Miss., to get her hair twisted once a month.
Each session takes six hours.
"It's hard to find people who
work with natural hair," Townsend said.
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| ©Indiana
Printing & Publishing Co. 2005
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