Michigan hair braiding rules

Do you need a license to braid hair in Michigan?

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

No license needed. Hand braiding with no dyes or chemicals needs no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Michigan cosmetology license page.

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

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs by hand with no dyes or chemicals needs no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Michigan cosmetology license page.

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

No license needed. Weaves and extensions done by hand with no dyes or chemicals need no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Michigan cosmetology license page.

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

Yes. Installing or dressing a wig on a client needs a Cosmetologist license. Hours and fees for each full license are on the Michigan cosmetology license page.

No license needed. Hand braiding with no dyes or chemicals needs no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional. Below: locs (no license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (no license needed) and wig installs (license needed), each answered from Michigan's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 29, 2026, with the state's own words.

Braiding: No license needed
Locs: No license needed
Extensions: No license needed
Wig installs: License needed

Licensed by LARA.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 Michigan?

No license needed. Hand braiding with no dyes or chemicals needs no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional.

License needed: No license needed
Licenses that allow it: Natural Hair Culturist, Cosmetologist
Optional license for this work: Natural Hair Culturist, 400 hours of training, $63
Exemption: Hand braiding with no dyes, reactive chemicals, or straightening or curling preparations is natural hair cultivation, which needs no license.

Michigan is one of 35 states whose official pages exempt hair braiding from licensing.

Locs

Do you need a license to do locs in Michigan?

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs by hand with no dyes or chemicals needs no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional.

License needed: No license needed
Licenses that allow it: Natural Hair Culturist, Cosmetologist
Optional license for this work: Natural Hair Culturist, 400 hours of training, $63
Exemption: Locking hair by hand with no dyes, reactive chemicals, or straightening or curling preparations is natural hair cultivation, which needs no license.

Michigan is one of 25 states whose official pages exempt starting and maintaining locs from licensing.

Hair extensions and sew-ins

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

No license needed. Weaves and extensions done by hand with no dyes or chemicals need no license; a Natural Hair Culturist license is optional.

License needed: No license needed
Licenses that allow it: Natural Hair Culturist, Cosmetologist
Optional license for this work: Natural Hair Culturist, 400 hours of training, $63
Exemption: Weaving or extending hair by hand with no dyes, reactive chemicals, or straightening or curling preparations is natural hair cultivation, which needs no license.

Michigan is one of 11 states whose official pages exempt hair extensions and sew-ins from licensing.

Wig installs

Do you need a license to install wigs in Michigan?

Yes. Installing or dressing a wig on a client needs a Cosmetologist license.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist
License for this work alone: None

Good to know

What else Michigan asks of braiders

Natural Hair Culturist applicants must pass a practical and theory exam.
A Natural Hair Culturist license renews every 2 years, with a $48 renewal fee.
A shop that offers only natural hair cultivation does not need an establishment license under the statute.
Work that applies dyes, reactive chemicals, or straightening or curling preparations is not natural hair cultivation, so the exemption does not cover it.

Sources

What Michigan's official pages say

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

Hair braiding: “an individual may engage in natural hair cultivation for compensation and may operate an establishment where natural hair cultivation only is practiced without having first obtained an individual or establishment license under this article”
legislature.mi.gov
“An individual who is licensed as a cosmetologist under this article may perform hair care services, skin care services, natural hair cultivation, and manicuring services”
legislature.mi.gov
“The natural hair culturist license type allows a licensee to engage in natural hair cultivation”
michigan.gov
“Has training either of at least 400 hours extending over a period of at least 3 months in a school of cosmetology approved by the department where services relating to natural hair cultivation are rendered”
legislature.mi.gov
“Natural Hair Culturist by Exam or Reciprocity: $63.00”
michigan.gov
“techniques that result in tension on hair strands such as twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of the hair by hand”
legislature.mi.gov
“if that work does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair”
legislature.mi.gov
Locs: “an individual may engage in natural hair cultivation for compensation and may operate an establishment where natural hair cultivation only is practiced without having first obtained an individual or establishment license under this article”
legislature.mi.gov
“techniques that result in tension on hair strands such as twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of the hair by hand”
legislature.mi.gov
“An individual who is licensed as a cosmetologist under this article may perform hair care services, skin care services, natural hair cultivation, and manicuring services”
legislature.mi.gov
“The natural hair culturist license type allows a licensee to engage in natural hair cultivation”
michigan.gov
“Has training either of at least 400 hours extending over a period of at least 3 months in a school of cosmetology approved by the department where services relating to natural hair cultivation are rendered”
legislature.mi.gov
“Natural Hair Culturist by Exam or Reciprocity: $63.00”
michigan.gov
“if that work does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair”
legislature.mi.gov
Hair extensions and sew-ins: “an individual may engage in natural hair cultivation for compensation and may operate an establishment where natural hair cultivation only is practiced without having first obtained an individual or establishment license under this article”
legislature.mi.gov
“techniques that result in tension on hair strands such as twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of the hair by hand”
legislature.mi.gov
“An individual who is licensed as a cosmetologist under this article may perform hair care services, skin care services, natural hair cultivation, and manicuring services”
legislature.mi.gov
“The natural hair culturist license type allows a licensee to engage in natural hair cultivation”
michigan.gov
“Has training either of at least 400 hours extending over a period of at least 3 months in a school of cosmetology approved by the department where services relating to natural hair cultivation are rendered”
legislature.mi.gov
“Natural Hair Culturist by Exam or Reciprocity: $63.00”
michigan.gov
“if that work does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair”
legislature.mi.gov
Wig installs: “or similar work upon the hair of the head or a wig that an individual is wearing”
legislature.mi.gov
“an individual shall not perform any form of cosmetology services, with or without compensation, on any individual other than a member of his or her immediate family without a license under this article”
legislature.mi.gov
“An individual who is licensed as a cosmetologist under this article may perform hair care services, skin care services, natural hair cultivation, and manicuring services”
legislature.mi.gov
Also good to know: “Take and pass the practical and theory exam.”
michigan.gov
Also good to know: “Renewal Cycle: 2 years”
michigan.gov
Also good to know: “may operate an establishment where natural hair cultivation only is practiced without having first obtained an individual or establishment license under this article”
legislature.mi.gov
Also good to know: “if that work does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair”
legislature.mi.gov