Saint Louis Hair Braiders Lose Licensing Appeal

ST. LOUIS, MO — An effort to overturn state requirements that hair braiders be licensed like barbers and cosmetologists in Missouri has failed, the Kansas City Star reports. A federal appeals court rejected the case of Joba Niang and Tameka Stigers, two St. Louis hair braiders, who said expensive training courses and exam fees put an undue burden on them by forcing them to take the same courses and exams as other hair care professionals — courses that often don't even cover hair braiding.

Missouri requires more than 1,000 hours of training and an exam to become licensed as a barber or cosmetologist. The state only requires 100 hours for a basic EMT license.

State officials said the licensing requirements protect consumers from health risks like hair loss or scalp infections. But critics say unnecessary licensing laws shut poor people and minorities out of industries they could use to improve their economic situations. In the 1950s, only 5 percent of American jobs required such a license, according to Brookings. Today more than 30 percent do.

The Institute for Justice, a libertarian public interest law firm, represented the hair braiders in court. "No one should have to hire a lawyer or lobbyist just to braid hair," the group said in a previous statement. "The right to earn an honest living is an essential part of our nation’s promise of opportunity."