Minnesota hair braiding rules
Do you need a license to braid hair in Minnesota?
No license needed. Braiding done predominantly by hand with simple tools needs no Minnesota license, because hair braiding is exempt from chapter 155A. Below: locs (no license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (not stated) and wig installs (no license needed), each answered from Minnesota'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
- Not stated
- Wig installs
- No license needed
Licensed by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners.The board's site Hours and fees for each licenseThe state's own words
Hair braiding
Do you need a license to braid hair in Minnesota?
No license needed. Braiding done predominantly by hand with simple tools needs no Minnesota license, because hair braiding is exempt from chapter 155A.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Hair braiding is exempt from chapter 155A when done predominantly by hand with simple braiding devices and without penetrating chemical hair treatments.
Minnesota is one of 35 states whose official pages exempt hair braiding from licensing.
Locs
Do you need a license to do locs in Minnesota?
No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs by hand with simple tools falls under the exempt hair braiding definition, so no Minnesota license is needed.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Locs are exempt as hair braiding, since the definition names locking, when done predominantly by hand with simple braiding devices and without penetrating chemical hair treatments.
Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Not stated. Minnesota's official pages we read do not say whether hair extensions and sew-ins need a license. Ask the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners before you offer them.
- License needed
- Not stated
- Exemption
- Sewn-in or woven-in extensions done predominantly by hand are exempt as hair braiding when no chemical hair joining agents are used.
Wig installs
Do you need a license to install wigs in Minnesota?
No license needed. Using and styling wigs is exempt from licensing if you do only hairstyling and makeup and have completed a four-hour health, safety and infection-control course; cutting or chemical services fall outside that exemption.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Hairstyling-only work, which includes using and styling wigs and extensions, is exempt if the worker has completed a four-hour health, safety and infection-control course and does no cutting or chemical services.
Minnesota is one of 3 states whose official pages exempt installing wigs on a client from licensing.
Good to know
What else Minnesota asks of braiders
- Cutting hair and applying dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals or keratin count as hair technician services.
- A hair technician license requires completing a 900-hour hair technician course at a Minnesota cosmetology school.
- Braiding that uses penetrating chemical treatments, coloring agents or chemical joining agents falls outside the braiding exemption.
- Hairstyling-only work is exempt if the worker has completed a four-hour health, safety and infection-control course.
Sources
What Minnesota's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Minnesota's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 29, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners before you start charging for a service.
- Hair braiding
“The practice of hair braiding is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.”
revisor.mn.gov “predominantly by hand and by only using simple braiding devices”
revisor.mn.gov “Hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments”
revisor.mn.gov - Locs
“a natural form of hair manipulation that results in tension on hair strands by beading, braiding, cornrowing, extending, lacing, locking, sewing, twisting, weaving, or wrapping human hair”
revisor.mn.gov “The practice of hair braiding is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.”
revisor.mn.gov “predominantly by hand and by only using simple braiding devices”
revisor.mn.gov “Hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments”
revisor.mn.gov - Hair extensions and sew-ins
“The practice of hair braiding is exempt from the requirements of this chapter.”
revisor.mn.gov “a natural form of hair manipulation that results in tension on hair strands by beading, braiding, cornrowing, extending, lacing, locking, sewing, twisting, weaving, or wrapping human hair”
revisor.mn.gov “synthetic fibers, and hair extensions into a variety of shapes, patterns, and textures predominantly by hand”
revisor.mn.gov “Hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents”
revisor.mn.gov - Wig installs
“It also includes the use and styling of hair extensions and wigs.”
revisor.mn.gov “A person who performs only hairstyling and makeup services shall be exempt from the licensing provisions of sections 155A.21 to 155A.36”
revisor.mn.gov “if the person has completed a four-hour course in health, safety, and infection-control matters and state law”
revisor.mn.gov “It does not include cutting or the application of dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals, keratin, or other preparations to color or alter the structure of hair.”
revisor.mn.gov - Also good to know
“Hair technician services include cutting the hair and the application of dyes, bleach, reactive chemicals, keratin, or other preparations to color or alter the structure of the hair.”
revisor.mn.gov - Also good to know
“Complete a 900-hour hair technician course at a Minnesota cosmetology school.”
mn.gov - Also good to know
“Hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents”
revisor.mn.gov - Also good to know
“if the person has completed a four-hour course in health, safety, and infection-control matters and state law”
revisor.mn.gov
Questions
Minnesota hair braiding licenses, answered
Do you need a license to braid hair in Minnesota?
Do you need a license to do locs in Minnesota?
Do you need a license to do hair extensions or sew-ins in Minnesota?
Do you need a license to install wigs in Minnesota?
What do you need to open a braiding salon in Minnesota?
Plan the rest
Ready to fill your book
- Hours, exams and fees for each Minnesota cosmetology and barber license
- What Minnesota requires to open a salon or shop of your own
- What Minnesota inspectors check in a salon
- Renewing a Minnesota cosmetology or barber license
- Renting a chair or a suite? Start from a booth rental agreement
- A deposit and cancellation policy for long appointments
Hair braiding rules in other states
Ready when you are
Braiding legally? Fill the book next
SalonAI plans the business side of a braiding practice in Minnesota: a website with your styles and prices that clients book from in one tap, deposits for long appointments, prep reminders, your Google profile and Instagram, reviews and rebooking. Founden builds and runs it while you braid.
Built with Founden. Review your setup and running costs before activation.