New Hampshire hair braiding rules

Do you need a license to braid hair in New Hampshire?

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

No license needed. Hand braiding is exempt from the state's cosmetology licensing under the natural hair braiding exemption, as long as no dyes or chemical straightening, curling or color treatments are used.

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

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs is covered by the natural hair braiding exemption and needs no license, as long as no dyes or chemical treatments are used.

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

No license needed. Extensions and weaves put in by hand are exempt from licensing; chemical joining methods such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds fall outside that exemption.

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

Not stated. New Hampshire's official pages we read do not say whether installing wigs on a client needs a license. Ask OPLC before you offer it.

No license needed. Hand braiding is exempt from the state's cosmetology licensing under the natural hair braiding exemption, as long as no dyes or chemical straightening, curling or color treatments are used. Below: locs (no license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (no license needed) and wig installs (not stated), each answered from New Hampshire'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: Not stated

Licensed by OPLC.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 New Hampshire?

No license needed. Hand braiding is exempt from the state's cosmetology licensing under the natural hair braiding exemption, as long as no dyes or chemical straightening, curling or color treatments are used.

License needed: No license needed
Exemption: Natural hair braiding is exempt from the barbering, cosmetology and esthetics chapter unless dyes, reactive chemicals or other preparations are used to alter the color or structure of the hair.

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

Locs

Do you need a license to do locs in New Hampshire?

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs is covered by the natural hair braiding exemption and needs no license, as long as no dyes or chemical treatments are used.

License needed: No license needed
Exemption: Locking is part of natural hair braiding, so it is exempt under the same conditions: no dyes, reactive chemicals or other preparations that alter the color or structure of the hair.

New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?

No license needed. Extensions and weaves put in by hand are exempt from licensing; chemical joining methods such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds fall outside that exemption.

License needed: No license needed
Exemption: Hand-applied extensions and weaves are exempt, but chemical joining methods such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds are not part of the exemption.

New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?

Not stated. New Hampshire's official pages we read do not say whether installing wigs on a client needs a license. Ask OPLC before you offer it.

License needed: Not stated

Good to know

What else New Hampshire asks of braiders

The chapter's licensing provisions do not apply to the persons listed in its exemptions, including those practicing natural hair braiding.
The exemption covers only minor trimming, and only when it is incidental to braiding, locking, weaving or extending hair.

Sources

What New Hampshire's official pages say

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

Hair braiding: “Persons engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding.”
gc.nh.gov
“The application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair; or”
gc.nh.gov
Locs: “twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair by hand or with mechanical devices”
gc.nh.gov
“The application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair; or”
gc.nh.gov
Hair extensions and sew-ins: “The use of natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair and fibers, decorative beads, and other hair accessories;”
gc.nh.gov
“The use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin bonds, or fusion bonds.”
gc.nh.gov
Also good to know: “The provisions of this chapter relative to barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, and manicuring shall not be construed to apply to the following persons”
gc.nh.gov
Also good to know: “Minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair”
gc.nh.gov