South Dakota hair braiding rules

Do you need a license to braid hair in South Dakota?

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

No license needed. Natural hair braiding done by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread, with no chemical treatments, needs no license; braiding combined with chemical services is cosmetology.

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

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs does not need a license when done solely as natural hair braiding, without chemical treatments.

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

Yes. Weaves and extensions need a Cosmetologist License unless they are done by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread and use no chemical joining agents. Hours and fees for each full license are on the South Dakota cosmetology license page.

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

Yes. Installing wigs for pay needs a Cosmetologist License. Hours and fees for each full license are on the South Dakota cosmetology license page.

No license needed. Natural hair braiding done by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread, with no chemical treatments, needs no license; braiding combined with chemical services is cosmetology. Below: locs (no license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (license needed) and wig installs (license needed), each answered from South Dakota'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: License needed
Wig installs: License needed

Licensed by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission.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 South Dakota?

No license needed. Natural hair braiding done by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread, with no chemical treatments, needs no license; braiding combined with chemical services is cosmetology.

License needed: No license needed
Exemption: Natural hair braiding is exempt when done solely by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread, with no chemical treatments, colors, straighteners, joining agents or bleach.

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

Locs

Do you need a license to do locs in South Dakota?

No license needed. Starting and maintaining locs does not need a license when done solely as natural hair braiding, without chemical treatments.

License needed: No license needed
Exemption: Starting and maintaining locs is exempt when done solely as natural hair braiding, with no penetrating chemical treatments, colors, straighteners, joining agents or bleach.

South Dakota 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 South Dakota?

Yes. Weaves and extensions need a Cosmetologist License unless they are done by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread and use no chemical joining agents.

License needed: License needed
Licenses that allow it: Cosmetologist License
License for this work alone: None
Exemption: Extensions sewn or braided solely by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread, with no chemical joining agents, are exempt as natural hair braiding.

Wig installs

Do you need a license to install wigs in South Dakota?

Yes. Installing wigs for pay needs a Cosmetologist License.

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

Good to know

What else South Dakota asks of braiders

A Cosmetologist License requires 1,500 hours of cosmetology education, shown by a transcript from a South Dakota school.
The natural hair braiding exemption does not cover penetrating chemical treatments, coloring, straightening, joining agents, permanent waves or bleaching.
A licensed cosmetologist may practice only in a licensed salon or booth, with limited exceptions.

Sources

What South Dakota's official pages say

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

Hair braiding: “Any person engaging solely in natural hair braiding as set forth in”
sdlegislature.gov
“is exempt from the provisions of this chapter”
sdlegislature.gov
“by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins, or thread”
sdlegislature.gov
Locs: “by beading, braiding, cornrowing, extending, lacing, locking, twisting, weaving, or wrapping human hair”
sdlegislature.gov
“is exempt from the provisions of this chapter”
sdlegislature.gov
Hair extensions and sew-ins: “Hair care by styling, wrapping, arranging, braiding, twisting, weaving, extending, fusing, dressing”
sdlegislature.gov
“Cosmetologist License”
dlr.sd.gov
“Natural hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents”
sdlegislature.gov
“is exempt from the provisions of this chapter”
sdlegislature.gov
Wig installs: “similar work upon the hair, scalp, wigs, or hairpieces of a person;”
sdlegislature.gov
“Cosmetologist License”
dlr.sd.gov
Also good to know: “Complete 1,500 hours of cosmetology education, as shown by transcript from a South Dakota school.”
dlr.sd.gov
Also good to know: “Natural hair braiding does not involve the use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents”
sdlegislature.gov
Also good to know: “Cosmetology, nail technology, and esthetics may only be practiced in a licensed salon or booth”
sdlegislature.gov