New Jersey hair braiding rules

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

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

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs a Hair Braiding Specialist license (its course is capped at 50 hours) or a Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license; beauticians and barbers may also braid, but not weave. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the New Jersey cosmetology license page.

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

Yes. Locs need a Hair Braiding Specialist or Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license, because the state's hair braiding definition includes locking. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the New Jersey cosmetology license page.

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

Yes. Weaves and extensions need a Hair Braiding Specialist or Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license; a beautician or barber license does not cover weaving. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training. Hours and fees for each full license are on the New Jersey cosmetology license page.

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

Yes. Fitting, cutting, coloring or styling a wig while a person is wearing it needs a Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Beautician or Barber license. Hours and fees for each full license are on the New Jersey cosmetology license page.

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs a Hair Braiding Specialist license (its course is capped at 50 hours) or a Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license; beauticians and barbers may also braid, but not weave. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training. Below: locs (license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (license needed) and wig installs (license needed), each answered from New Jersey'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: License needed

Licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling.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 Jersey?

Yes, but not a full cosmetology license. Braiding needs a Hair Braiding Specialist license (its course is capped at 50 hours) or a Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license; beauticians and barbers may also braid, but not weave. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Hair Braiding Specialist, Beautician, Barber
License for this work alone: Hair Braiding Specialist, 50 hours of training
Exemption: Beauticians and barbers may braid hair without a hair braider license, but not weave.

New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Yes. Locs need a Hair Braiding Specialist or Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license, because the state's hair braiding definition includes locking. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Hair Braiding Specialist, Beautician, Barber
License for this work alone: Hair Braiding Specialist, 50 hours of training
Exemption: Beauticians and barbers may do locs without a hair braider license, but not weaving.

New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Yes. Weaves and extensions need a Hair Braiding Specialist or Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license; a beautician or barber license does not cover weaving. The Hair Braiding Specialist license takes 50 hours of training.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Hair Braiding Specialist
License for this work alone: Hair Braiding Specialist, 50 hours of training

New Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Yes. Fitting, cutting, coloring or styling a wig while a person is wearing it needs a Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Beautician or Barber license.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist-Hairstylist, Beautician, Barber
License for this work alone: None

Good to know

What else New Jersey asks of braiders

A business that offers hair braiding needs a shop license from the board.
A shop that offers only hair braiding needs an experienced practicing licensee who holds a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician or hair braiding license.
The hair braiding course must include training in sanitization, decontamination and infection control.

Sources

What New Jersey's official pages say

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

Hair braiding: “without first having secured a license from the board which permits the offering of that service”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“means the twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of hair by hand or with mechanical devices.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“means a person who holds a license to engage in only the practice of hair braiding.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“licensed cosmetologist-hairstylist may perform all the services in the definition of hair braiding”
njconsumeraffairs.gov
“licenses may perform hair braiding services, with the exception of weaving, without having to obtain a hair braiding license.”
njconsumeraffairs.gov
“shall not exceed 50 hours of instruction and shall include training in sanitization, decontamination and infection control, and technique”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Locs: “means the twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of hair by hand or with mechanical devices.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“means a person who holds a license to engage in only the practice of hair braiding.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“licensed cosmetologist-hairstylist may perform all the services in the definition of hair braiding”
njconsumeraffairs.gov
“licenses may perform hair braiding services, with the exception of weaving, without having to obtain a hair braiding license.”
njconsumeraffairs.gov
“shall not exceed 50 hours of instruction and shall include training in sanitization, decontamination and infection control, and technique”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Hair extensions and sew-ins: “means the twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of hair by hand or with mechanical devices.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“without first having secured a license from the board which permits the offering of that service”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“licensed cosmetologist-hairstylist may perform all the services in the definition of hair braiding”
njconsumeraffairs.gov
“means a person who holds a license to engage in only the practice of hair braiding.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“shall not exceed 50 hours of instruction and shall include training in sanitization, decontamination and infection control, and technique”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Wig installs: “cutting, fitting, coloring or styling of hairpieces or wigs to the extent that the services are being performed while the wig is being worn by a person.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“cutting, fitting, coloring or styling of hairpieces or wigs to the extent that the services are performed while the wig is being worn by a person.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
“cutting, fitting, coloring or styling of hairpieces or wigs, to the extent that the services are performed while the wig is being worn by a person.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Also good to know: “for the offering of or rendering of any one or more of the services encompassed in the definition of cosmetology and hairstyling, beauty culture, barbering, manicuring, hair braiding and skin care specialty without first having secured a shop license from the board.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Also good to know: “If a shop performs only hair braiding services, hold a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician or hair braiding license and have three years of experience as a cosmetologist-hairstylist, beautician or hair braiding specialist.”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us
Also good to know: “shall not exceed 50 hours of instruction and shall include training in sanitization, decontamination and infection control, and technique”
pub.njleg.state.nj.us