Louisiana hair braiding rules

Do you need a license to braid hair in Louisiana?

Q: Do you need a license to braid hair in Louisiana?

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs an Alternative Hair Design special permit from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Louisiana cosmetology license page.

Q: Do you need a license to do locs in Louisiana?

Yes. Starting and maintaining locs (locking) falls under the same Alternative Hair Design special permit, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Louisiana cosmetology license page.

Q: Do you need a license to do hair extensions or sew-ins in Louisiana?

Yes. Weaves and extensions fall under the same Alternative Hair Design special permit, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Louisiana cosmetology license page.

Q: Do you need a license to install wigs in Louisiana?

Not stated. Louisiana's official pages we read do not say whether installing wigs on a client needs a license. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before you offer it.

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs an Alternative Hair Design special permit from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training. Below: locs (license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (license needed) and wig installs (not stated), each answered from Louisiana's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 29, 2026, with the state's own words.

Braiding: Braiding license
Locs: License needed
Extensions: License needed
Wig installs: Not stated

Licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology.The board's site Hours and fees for each license The state's own words

Hair braiding

Do you need a license to braid hair in Louisiana?

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs an Alternative Hair Design special permit from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Alternative Hair Design special permit
License for this work alone: Alternative Hair Design special permit, 500 hours of training

Louisiana is one of 16 states that ask for a license or registration for hair braiding alone rather than a full license.

Locs

Do you need a license to do locs in Louisiana?

Yes. Starting and maintaining locs (locking) falls under the same Alternative Hair Design special permit, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Alternative Hair Design special permit
License for this work alone: Alternative Hair Design special permit, 500 hours of training

Louisiana is one of 13 states that ask for a license or registration for starting and maintaining locs alone rather than a full license.

Hair extensions and sew-ins

Do you need a license to do hair extensions or sew-ins in Louisiana?

Yes. Weaves and extensions fall under the same Alternative Hair Design special permit, which allows work only in board-licensed cosmetology salons. The Alternative Hair Design special permit takes 500 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Alternative Hair Design special permit
License for this work alone: Alternative Hair Design special permit, 500 hours of training

Louisiana is one of 13 states that ask for a license or registration for hair extensions and sew-ins alone rather than a full license.

Wig installs

Do you need a license to install wigs in Louisiana?

Not stated. Louisiana's official pages we read do not say whether installing wigs on a client needs a license. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before you offer it.

License needed: Not stated

Good to know

What else Louisiana asks of braiders

Alternative Hair Design permit holders may work only in facilities licensed by the board as cosmetology salons.
Special permits are valid for one year.
Hours of study for a special permit cannot be counted toward any other board license.

Sources

What Louisiana's official pages say

Each answer above, in the words of Louisiana's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 29, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology before you start charging for a service.

Hair braiding: “the practice of styling hair by twisting, wrapping weaving, extending, locking or braiding the hair”
doa.la.gov
“Individuals with special permits for alternative hair design shall be authorized to provide alternative hair design services only in facilities licensed by the board as cosmetology salons.”
doa.la.gov
“The alternative hair design curriculum shall consist of at least 500 hours of instruction”
doa.la.gov
Locs: “the practice of styling hair by twisting, wrapping weaving, extending, locking or braiding the hair”
doa.la.gov
“Individuals with special permits for alternative hair design shall be authorized to provide alternative hair design services only in facilities licensed by the board as cosmetology salons.”
doa.la.gov
“The alternative hair design curriculum shall consist of at least 500 hours of instruction”
doa.la.gov
Hair extensions and sew-ins: “the practice of styling hair by twisting, wrapping weaving, extending, locking or braiding the hair”
doa.la.gov
“Individuals with special permits for alternative hair design shall be authorized to provide alternative hair design services only in facilities licensed by the board as cosmetology salons.”
doa.la.gov
“The alternative hair design curriculum shall consist of at least 500 hours of instruction”
doa.la.gov
Also good to know: “Individuals with special permits for alternative hair design shall be authorized to provide alternative hair design services only in facilities licensed by the board as cosmetology salons.”
doa.la.gov
Also good to know: “All special permits issued by the board shall be valid for a period of one year.”
doa.la.gov
Also good to know: “Hours of study used to obtain any special permit authorized by this Chapter shall not be counted toward the number of hours necessary to receive any other license issued by the board.”
doa.la.gov