Braider opportunity act.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the use of dyes or reactive chemicals beyond their exclusion from natural hair braiding.

Braider Opportunity Act

This law says natural hair braiding does not need a cosmetology license and allows salon owners to require their own certification for braiders.

What This Bill Does

• Makes the practice of natural hair braiding exempt from Wyoming's Cosmetology Act.
• Clarifies that natural hair braiding is separate from other hair services like coloring or perming.
• Allows salon owners to require private certification for people who do natural hair braiding at their salons.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who practice natural hair braiding in Wyoming
• Salon owners and managers

Terms To Know

Braiding device

A clip, comb, crochet hook, curlers, hairpin, rollers, scissors, blunt-tipped needles, thread, hair binders, decorative beads or other hair accessories.

Practice of natural hair braiding

Twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding a person's hair by hand or with a tool. It includes minor trimming incidental to these practices and the use of topical agents like conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils, or pomades.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not cover the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations that alter hair color or structure.
• Salon owners can still require their own certification for natural hair braiders, even if it's not required by law.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0399

Bill No.:

SF0113

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

25LSO-0399

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0048

Chapter No.:

80

Prime Sponsor:

Hutchings

Catch Title:

Braider opportunity act.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Braider opportunity act.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill specifies that the Wyoming Cosmetology Act does not apply to the practice of natural hair braiding and that the practice of natural hair braiding is separate and distinct from the practice of barbering, the practice of hair styling and the practice of cosmetology.

The bill provides definitions of "braiding device" and "practice of natural hair braiding" and clarifies practices that are not included in the definition of natural hair braiding.

The bill clarifies that it does not prohibit the owner of a salon from requiring private certification of a person engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding at the owner's salon.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

25LSO-0399

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0113

ENROLLED ACT NO. 48,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session

AN ACT relating to professions and occupations; specifying that the practice of natural hair braiding is exempt from the Wyoming Cosmetology Act; clarifying that the owner of a salon may require certification for the practice of natural hair braiding; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 33
‑
12
‑
120(a) by creating new paragraphs (xx) and (xxi) and by renumbering (xx) as (xxii) and 33
‑
12
‑
140 by creating new subsections (d) and (e) are amended to read:

33
‑
12
‑
120.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act:

(xx)

"Braiding device" means a clip, comb, crochet hook, curlers, hairpin, rollers, scissors, blunt
‑
tipped needles, thread and hair binders;

(xxi)

"Practice of natural hair braiding" means the service of twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding a person's hair by hand or with a braiding device decorative beads or other hair accessories, the minor trimming of natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding hair and the making and lacing of wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or hair extensions. "Practice of natural hair braiding" includes the use of topical agents including conditioners, gels, moisturizers, oils or pomades. "Practice of natural hair braiding" shall not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals or other preparations to alter the color of a person's hair or to straighten, curl or alter the structure of a person's hair or the use of chemical hair joining agents including synthetic tape, keratin bonds or fusion bonds;

(xx)
(xxii)

"This act" means W.S. 33
‑
12
‑
119 through 33
‑
12
‑
140.

33
‑
12
‑
140.

Exemptions.

(d)

This act shall not apply to a person solely engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding. The practice of natural hair braiding is not regulated under this title and is separate and distinct from barbering, the practice of hair styling and the practice of cosmetology.

(e)

Nothing in subsection (d) of this section shall prohibit the owner of a salon from requiring private certification of a person engaged in the practice of natural hair braiding at the owner's salon.

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1