Wyoming hair braiding rules
Do you need a license to braid hair in Wyoming?
No license needed. Natural hair braiding is not licensed in Wyoming for a person doing only natural hair braiding, and applying dyes falls outside that practice. Below: locs (no license needed), hair extensions and sew-ins (license needed) and wig installs (license needed), each answered from Wyoming'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 Wyoming Board of Cosmetology.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 Wyoming?
No license needed. Natural hair braiding is not licensed in Wyoming for a person doing only natural hair braiding, and applying dyes falls outside that practice.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- A person doing only natural hair braiding is exempt, and applying dyes is outside that practice.
Wyoming is one of 35 states whose official pages exempt hair braiding from licensing.
Locs
Do you need a license to do locs in Wyoming?
No license needed. Locking hair (locs) is part of natural hair braiding, which Wyoming does not regulate for a person doing only that work.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Locking is part of natural hair braiding, which is not regulated when a person does only that work.
Wyoming 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 Wyoming?
Yes. Applying hair extensions by bonding, sewing or other means is licensed hairstyling work in Wyoming; extensions braided in by hand count as natural hair braiding, which is exempt unless chemical joining agents are used.
- License needed
- License needed
- Licenses that allow it
- Hair Stylist, Cosmetologist
- License for this work alone
- None
- Exemption
- A person solely engaged in natural hair braiding is exempt, but this does not cover extensions joined with chemical hair joining agents, including synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds.
Wig installs
Do you need a license to install wigs in Wyoming?
Yes. Fitting or dressing a wig or hairpiece on a client is licensed hairstyling work in Wyoming, unless the person only makes or laces wigs as natural hair braiding.
- License needed
- License needed
- Licenses that allow it
- Hair Stylist, Cosmetologist
- License for this work alone
- None
- Exemption
- A person solely engaged in natural hair braiding, which includes making and lacing wigs, is exempt; that exemption does not cover styling.
Good to know
What else Wyoming asks of braiders
- The board says its natural hair braiding statement does not cover cutting, clipping, trimming, hair removal, massage, styling, curling, waving or any chemical services.
- A salon owner may require private certification of natural hair braiders working at the salon.
Sources
What Wyoming's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Wyoming's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 29, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology before you start charging for a service.
- Hair braiding
“Natural Hair Braiding is not regulated by the board of cosmetology in Wyoming.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov “locking or braiding a person's hair by hand or with a”
wyoleg.gov “This pertains to people engaged in natural hair braiding only.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov “shall not include the application of dyes”
wyoleg.gov “engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding”
wyoleg.gov - Locs
“locking or braiding a person's hair by hand or with a”
wyoleg.gov “Natural Hair Braiding is not regulated by the board of cosmetology in Wyoming.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov “This pertains to people engaged in natural hair braiding only.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov - Hair extensions and sew-ins
“Applying extensions to a person’s hair by bonding, sewing, braiding, or”
drive.google.com “"Hair stylist" means a person who engages in the practice of hair styling as defined by this act and rules of the board”
wyoleg.gov “"Cosmetologist" means a person who engages in the practice of cosmetology as defined by this act and rules of the board”
wyoleg.gov “twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending,”
wyoleg.gov “joining agents including synthetic tape, keratin bonds or”
wyoleg.gov “locking or braiding a person's hair by hand or with a”
wyoleg.gov “This pertains to people engaged in natural hair braiding only.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov “(d) This act shall not apply to a person solely engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding.”
wyoleg.gov “or the use of chemical hair joining agents including synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds”
wyoleg.gov - Wig installs
“the scalp, hair, wigs, or hairpiece of any person; and”
drive.google.com “"Hair stylist" means a person who engages in the practice of hair styling as defined by this act and rules of the board”
wyoleg.gov “"Cosmetologist" means a person who engages in the practice of cosmetology as defined by this act and rules of the board”
wyoleg.gov “the making and lacing of wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or hair extensions”
wyoleg.gov “This does not apply to cutting, clipping, trimming, hair removal, massage, cleansing, styling, curling, waving, or any chemical services.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov - Also good to know
“This does not apply to cutting, clipping, trimming, hair removal, massage, cleansing, styling, curling, waving, or any chemical services.”
cosmetology.wyo.gov - Also good to know
“prohibit the owner of a salon from requiring private”
wyoleg.gov
Questions
Wyoming hair braiding licenses, answered
Do you need a license to braid hair in Wyoming?
Do you need a license to do locs in Wyoming?
Do you need a license to do hair extensions or sew-ins in Wyoming?
Do you need a license to install wigs in Wyoming?
What do you need to open a braiding salon in Wyoming?
Plan the rest
Ready to fill your book
- Hours, exams and fees for each Wyoming cosmetology and barber license
- What Wyoming requires to open a salon or shop of your own
- What Wyoming inspectors check in a salon
- Renewing a Wyoming 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
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