The Black Informant

JACKSON - Margaret Burden of Tupelo, who wants to work as a professional hair braider, sees more economic opportunity for black women.

Christina Barnes of Hazlehurst, who’s undergone formal training to become a nail technician, sees more children dropping out of school.

They have vastly different interpretations of the same bill that passed the Mississippi Senate on Wednesday.

The bill would require professional hair braiders to register with the state Board of Health rather than be licensed by the state Board of Cosmetology.

…Current state law says African-style hair braiders must have either a cosmetology license, which required 1,500 hours of education in everything from salon management to cutting and styling; or a wig specialist license, which requires 300 hours of education on how to fit and care for wigs. (more…)

The article goes on to say that if the bill goes through, braiders will only have to pay $50 every two years for licensing.

I don’t know if the government needs to get involved with this issue. As most black women will tell you, the braiding world is a world all to itself that does not need government oversight. If sistah-girl can braid, don’t mind you bringing your kids over to her crib, and the price is right…chile’, tell her what time ya’ll can hook up!!

Very strange that the government would want to regulate “this” world (probably someone’s cuzzin’ got their hair braided up too tight and decided to go legal).