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Hair Extension License Requirements by State: Weaving Licenses, Cosmetology Scope and Regulators

Hair extensions look like a product business from the outside and are a licensed service business on the inside. In nearly every state, the act of attaching hair to a client sits inside the cosmetology license, specialty weaving licenses are rare, and the braiding exemptions that free up so much natural hair work stop before wefts, bonds and chemicals. This page explains how the licensing works, then compares the states we have researched from official board sources, starting with Texas.

State sources last reviewed: November 5, 2026

Researched from official state sources. This comparison publishes a state row only when that state's board pages and statutes have been reviewed for it. We publish a figure only when it traces to the state board or statute behind it. Our guides are free. We may earn a commission when you use a partner service, at no additional cost to you.

How licensing for this business type works across the United States

Start with the distinction the whole trade turns on: the license attaches to the installation, not the hair. Selling bundles, wefts and clip-ins is retail, and no state in our research licenses a retail sale. Attaching that hair to a paying client is a service, and states regulate it as part of cosmetology, because the work involves the client's own hair and scalp, adhesives and chemical bonds in many methods, and sanitation risks that retail never raises. So an extensions business is really two businesses sharing a counter: an unlicensed retail operation and a licensed service operation, and the licensing questions all live on the service side.

The standard model is the full cosmetology license. In most states there is one route in: complete the state's cosmetology course, pass the board examinations, and work inside a licensed establishment. Extensions are simply one service inside that license's scope, alongside cutting, coloring and chemical work. The second model, a dedicated specialty license for weaving or extensions, is genuinely rare. Texas is the clearest example we have researched: its Hair Weaving Specialist license authorizes attaching commercial hair and nothing else, on 300 hours of training instead of the operator's 1,000. A specialist license is a trade: a much shorter course in exchange for a scope that stops at the install, with cutting, coloring and styling left to full license holders. Whether your state offers that trade at all is the first thing to check, because most do not.

The third piece is the braiding boundary, and it is where extension businesses most often get into trouble. Many states have deregulated natural hair braiding or exempted it from cosmetology, and braiding hair in is a real installation method, so the exemption genuinely covers braid-based installs in those states. But every exemption we have researched is drawn narrowly. In Texas the statute exempts attaching commercial hair by braiding and without the use of chemicals or adhesives, and the licensing department says in plain words that chemicals or adhesives require a hair-extension license. Tape, bonds, glue and every non-braid weaving method sit on the licensed side of the line, and cutting and chemical services sit there in every state. A service menu, not a job title, decides whether a given chair needs a license.

The regulator is the state's cosmetology board or licensing department in every model, and the establishment layer follows the practitioner layer: extensions are performed inside a licensed salon or shop, or under the booth, mini-salon and suite structures the state offers, unless the board publishes otherwise. Texas again shows the pattern in full: the individual license for the hands, a specialty establishment option for a weaving only shop, and a mini-establishment license for a solo suite. Knowing which body draws these lines in your state matters more than any single fee, because that body answers scope questions, handles complaints and decides whether your menu needs a credential.

License requirements by state

The table below is the working comparison. A state appears here only after its board pages and statutes have been reviewed for this business type, and the row carries the credential name, the training requirement and the regulator exactly as that state's official sources publish them. States not yet researched are left out rather than filled from directories or exam prep sites, because extension licensing hides inside cosmetology scope definitions that summaries routinely get wrong. Each researched row links to its full state guide, and the table grows state by state in the order set by our build plan.

State	License or registration name	Training or course requirement	Regulator	State guide
Texas	Hair Weaving Specialist (specialty route) or Cosmetology Operator; hair weaving is licensed work	300 hours for the Hair Weaving Specialist; 1,000 hours for the Cosmetology Operator	Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)	Texas guide
California	Cosmetologist (full scope) or Hairstylist (nonchemical only); no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; 600 hours for the Hairstylist	California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology	California guide
Florida	Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical treatment; no license or registration for installs inside the statutory hair braiding definition, which includes extensions and wefts; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for the braiding exemption	Florida Board of Cosmetology (DBPR)	Florida guide
New York	Natural Hair Styling license (specialty route, weaving and extending in scope) or Cosmetology license; no separate extensions license	300 hours for the Natural Hair Styling license; 1,000 hours for the Cosmetology license	New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services	New York guide
Pennsylvania	Cosmetology license for extension work involving cutting, coloring, or chemical services; no license for weaving and extending done as natural hair braiding, deregulated by Act 100 of 2024; no specialty extensions license	1,250 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology	Pennsylvania guide
Illinois	Hair Braider license for sew-in and braid based installs; Cosmetology license for bonded installs, cutting and chemical services	300 hours (hair braider); 1,500 hours plus state examination (cosmetology)	Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)	Illinois guide
Ohio	Natural Hair Stylist, Hair Designer or Cosmetologist license for installs; boutique services registration (braiding) for braid-based work only	Natural Hair Stylist 450 hours; Hair Designer 1,000 hours; Cosmetologist 1,500 hours; braiding registration has no school hours or exam	State Cosmetology and Barber Board	Ohio guide
Georgia	Master Cosmetologist or Hair Designer license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; no license for installs confined to braiding techniques, which the statute defines to include hairweaving and fiber extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,500 credit hours for the Master Cosmetologist; 1,325 credit hours for the Hair Designer; no course for braiding only work	Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers	Georgia guide
North Carolina	Cosmetologist license for all install methods; Natural Hair Care Specialist license (300 hours) for sew-in and braid based installs, with chemical adhesive installs excluded; no specialty extensions license and no braiding exemption	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 300 hours for the Natural Hair Care Specialist	North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners	North Carolina guide
Michigan	No license required for extension installs done as natural hair cultivation, which MCL 339.1201(p) defines to include weaving and extending by hand, under the MCL 339.1210a(3) exemption; optional Natural Hair Culturist license; Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	No course for natural hair cultivation under the exemption; 400 hours over at least 3 months (or a 6 month apprenticeship) for the optional Natural Hair Culturist license; 1,500 hours (or a 2 year apprenticeship) for the Cosmetologist	Michigan Board of Cosmetology (LARA)	Michigan guide
New Jersey	Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license or Hair Braiding Specialist license for weaving and extending installs (hair braiding scope); Beauty Culture and Barbering licenses cover braiding services except weaving; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist-Hairstylist; 40 hours (with three years of braiding experience) or 50 hours for the Hair Braiding Specialist	New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling	New Jersey guide
Virginia	Cosmetologist license for cosmetology services around installs; hair braiding excluded from cosmetology with no braider license issued; no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding (outside the licensing chapter)	Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR)	Virginia guide
Washington	Cosmetologist or Hair Designer license for installs by any method; no license for extensions attached only by natural means as natural hair braiding (WAC 308-20-025); no specialty extensions license	1,600 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,400 hours for the Hair Designer; no course for natural hair braiding	Washington State Department of Licensing	Washington guide
Arizona	No license required for tension based installs (weaving and extending) under the Section 32-506(10) exemption; Cosmetologist or Hairstylist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; Barber license names extensions expressly; no specialty extensions license	No course for the tension exemption; 1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for the Hairstylist; 1,200 hours for the Barber	Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board	Arizona guide
Tennessee	Natural hair stylist license for extension installation; cosmetologist license for cuts, color and chemical finishes; registered hair braider for braiding only	300 hours for the natural hair stylist license; 1,500 hours for cosmetologist; 16 hours of health and hygiene training plus biennial registration for hair braiders	Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners	Tennessee guide
Massachusetts	Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring, cleansing or chemical services; no license for installs inside the statutory natural hair braiding definition, which includes weaving and extending; no specialty extensions license and no separate hairdresser license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding exemption work	Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering	Massachusetts guide
Indiana	No license for extension work done as natural hair braiding (IC 25-8-2-20 covers weaving and extending with extensions and fibers); cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents, cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	No training required for natural hair braiding (fully exempt); 1,500 hours for the cosmetologist license	State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)	Indiana guide
Missouri	Class CA Cosmetologist or Class CH Hairdresser license for installs; hair braiding registration ($20) for tension based work inside the Section 329.010(9) definition, which names extending; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the cosmetologist course (1,220 hours in a public vocational technical school; 3,000 hours as an apprentice); no course for hair braiding, registration requires the board's 4 to 6 hour instructional video	Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners	Missouri guide
Maryland	No license for tension based installs, which Section 5-101(n)(2)(iii) excludes from the practice of cosmetology (twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding, no dyes or reactive chemicals); Cosmetologist or Limited Hairstylist license for licensed hair services; no specialty extensions license	None for tension installs; 1,500 hours (or 24 months as a registered apprentice) for the Cosmetologist license; 1,200 hours (or 15 months as a registered apprentice) for the Limited Hairstylist license	Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists	Maryland guide
Wisconsin	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition (tape-ins, fusion bonds, cutting, color and chemical work); no license for natural hair braiding, whose Section 454.20(12m) definition names weaving and extending; no specialty extensions license	1,550 hours (or a 4,000 hour apprenticeship) for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding definition work	Cosmetology Examining Board (Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services)	Wisconsin guide
Colorado	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition; no license for tension installs inside the natural hair braiding definition, which names weaving and extending; hairstylist license no longer covers applying extensions (removed August 12, 2026); no specialty extensions license	50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding definition work	Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure (Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies)	Colorado guide
Minnesota	Cosmetologist or hair technician license for installs outside the exemptions; no license for installs inside the hair braiding definition, including sew-ins; hairstyling exemption for styling extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,550 hours for cosmetologist; 900 hours for hair technician; none for hair braiding; four hour course for the hairstyling exemption	Board of Cosmetologist Examiners	Minnesota guide
South Carolina	Cosmetologist license (full scope) or hair braider registration (braiding definition installs)	1,500 hours for cosmetologist; six hour course plus board exam for braider registration	Board of Cosmetology and Board of Barber Examiners, LLR	South Carolina guide
Alabama	No license for natural hair styling installs since October 1, 2026 (Act 2026-527); voluntary Natural Hair Stylist license; cosmetologist license for cutting, coloring and chemical work	None required for natural hair styling; voluntary license 210 school hours or 420 apprentice hours; cosmetologist 1,500 school hours or 3,000 apprentice hours	Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering	Alabama guide
Louisiana	Cosmetologist certificate (full scope, including chemical bonding and color) or alternative hair design special permit (weaving and extending alternative hair only, no dyes or reactive chemicals)	1,500 hours plus theory and practical exams for the cosmetologist certificate; board curriculum of at least 500 hours for the alternative hair design permit	Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology	Louisiana guide
Kentucky	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at KRS 317A.010(19), which names weaving and extending with hair extensions and is exempt under KRS 317A.020(1)(d); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; limited stylist (shampoo and style) license does not cover attaching hair; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 300 hours for the limited stylist (shampoo and style services); no course for natural hair braiding	Kentucky Board of Cosmetology	Kentucky guide
Oklahoma	No license for installs inside the hairbraiding definition at 59 O.S. section 199.1 paragraph 19, which names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions and is not the practice of cosmetology; Cosmetology license for installs using chemical hair jointing agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; blow-dry styling certificate covers styling installed extensions only, not installing; no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for nonchemical or 1,250 hours for chemical cosmetology licensure (the board examination page still states 1,500 hours); 12 hours of Board instruction for the blow-dry styling certificate; no course for hairbraiding	Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Natural hair care certificate for hand method installs (extending, sewing and weaving of hair extensions named at ORS 690.005(15)); hair design certificate for bonded installs using chemical hair joining agents and for cutting, coloring and chemical work (hair design holders are authorized to practice natural hair care under ORS 690.046(3)); no specialty extensions certificate	No career school for natural hair care: Health Licensing Office training module plus written examination; 1,110 hours for hair design	Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology	Oregon guide
Connecticut	Registered hairdresser and cosmetician license (weaving is named in the section 20-250(4) definition of hairdressing and cosmetology); no specialty extensions license; braiding and shampooing exempt under the section 20-250(4) proviso	1,500 hours in an approved school, or a Department of Labor approved apprenticeship; written examination	Connecticut Department of Public Health	Connecticut guide
Utah	Cosmetology license (hair weaving and hair fusing named at Section 58-11a-302.13) or master hair design / master barbering license (hair fusing, extensions and hair weaving at Section 58-11a-302.19); haircutting permit covers hair fusing and extensions (Section 58-11a-302.17); hair braiding exemption covers extension hair and wefts applied without glue or tape; no specialty extensions license	1,250 hours for the cosmetology license; 1,000 hours for the master hair design or master barbering license; 150 hours for the haircutting permit; no course for hair braiding	Division of Professional Licensing (Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Board)	Utah guide
Iowa	Barbering and cosmetology license (chapter 157 names no weaving or extension service; installs are licensed practice performed in a licensed establishment); no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding registration covers weaving without chemicals under section 10A.532; blow-dry styling covers the use and styling of installed extensions only; unlicensed installers may work under supervision in a registered establishment training program (section 157.12D)	1,550 hours for the barbering and cosmetology license (or 2,000 hours of supervised practice in an establishment training program to reach the examination); no course for natural hair braiding registration; 2 hours of law and sanitation education for blow-dry styling	Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)	Iowa guide
Nevada	Hair braider license for sew-in weaves and tension installs; cosmetologist or hair designer license where chemical hair joining agents are used	No training hours for the hair braider license (Barbicide Certification Course completed before applying); 1,600 hours for cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for hair designer	Nevada State Board of Cosmetology	Nevada guide
Arkansas	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 17-26-503, which names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions (exemption at Section 17-26-504; optional braiding certificate at Section 17-26-505); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; registered hairstylist registration covers washing and styling only; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; none for natural hair braiding (optional certificate: 80 hour health and safety course plus 40 hour scalp care course and a written examination)	Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section	Arkansas guide
Mississippi	Cosmetologist license for licensed work; hair braiding registration with the Department of Health for tension installs inside the section 73-7-71 definition	1,500 hours of school or 3,000 hours of apprenticeship (cosmetologist); no course hours, $25 registration plus the infection control self-test (braiding)	Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering; Mississippi State Department of Health (braiding registration)	Mississippi guide
Kansas	No license for tension installs inside the Section 65-1901(d)(2)(A) exclusion, which names weaving and extending (KDHE infection control self-test kept at the work location under Section 65-1928); Cosmetologist license for cutting, coloring and chemical services; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for exclusion work, self-test only	Kansas Board of Cosmetology	Kansas guide
New Mexico	Hairstylist license, whose Section 61-17A-4.1 definition names applying hair extensions, or cosmetologist license (full scope); no license for installs inside the hair braiding definition, which names weaving and extending and includes hair extensions incidental to braiding; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the hairstylist; 1,600 hours for the cosmetologist; no course for hair braiding definition work	Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists	New Mexico guide
Nebraska	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition; no license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 38-1042.01, which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at Section 38-1075(3)); no specialty extensions license and no hairstylist license	1,800 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services	Nebraska guide
Idaho	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 54-5802(24), which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at Section 54-5805(10)); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license and no hairstylist license	1,600 hours of school or 3,200 hours as a registered apprentice for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)	Idaho guide
West Virginia	Cosmetologist license (full scope) or Hair Stylist license, whose Section 30-27-3(p) definition names adding extensions; no license for hair braiding alone, which Section 30-27-3(gg) leaves unregulated; no specialty extensions license	1,800 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for the Hair Stylist; no course for braiding	Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists	West Virginia guide
Hawaii	No license names extension work; installs inside the natural hair braiding definition follow braiding, no license today under the board's determination and registration from January 1, 2028; Cosmetologist license or Hairdresser license for installs using chemical hair joining agents and for cleansing, shampooing, cutting or coloring around an install; no specialty extensions license	1,800 hours of school or 3,600 hours as a beauty apprentice for the Cosmetologist; 1,250 hours of school or 2,500 hours as a beauty apprentice for the Hairdresser; no course for natural hair braiding definition work today, with a board approved sanitation, health and safety course required for the 2028 registration	Board of Barbering and Cosmetology	Hawaii guide
New Hampshire	Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at RSA 313-A:25 XIII, which names weaving and extending and includes hair extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist (or 3,000 hours as an apprentice); no course for natural hair braiding	Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics	New Hampshire guide
Maine	No license names extension installation; Cosmetologist in practice; Hair Designer for the same hair services; braiding services exempt but undefined	Cosmetologist 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours; Hair Designer 1,200 school hours or 2,000 trainee hours	Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program	Maine guide
Montana	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at MCA 37-31-101(17), which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at MCA 37-31-102(5)); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists	Montana guide
Delaware	Cosmetologist license (Master Barber license also carries the hair services scope); no specialty extensions or weaving license; hair braiding exempt under section 5103(c)(8), with extensions allowed only when attached by natural means	1,500 classroom hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,500 classroom hours for the Master Barber (or a barber license plus a 600 hour chemical apprenticeship); no course for exempt hair braiding	Board of Cosmetology and Barbering	Delaware guide
South Dakota	Cosmetologist license, whose statutory scope at section 36-15-2(1) names weaving, extending and fusing; no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding exemption at section 36-15-16.1 covers installs inside the section 36-15-1.1 definition (extending and weaving hair extensions by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread), which excludes chemical hair joining agents	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist (or a 1,500 hour apprenticeship); no course for exempt natural hair braiding	Cosmetology Commission	South Dakota guide
North Dakota	Cosmetologist license, whose statutory scope at section 43-11-01(10) names hair extensions using chemical hair joint agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds); no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding at section 43-11-01(20) covers sew-ins and weaves done by sewing or weaving with needle and thread and is not cosmetology	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist (apprenticeship route under section 43-11-16.1, measured at 2,500 hours on the board's endorsement checklist); no course for natural hair braiding	State Board of Cosmetology	North Dakota guide
Alaska	Hair braiding license for braid attached installs (the definition at AS 08.13.220(6) names braiding hair extensions, trimming extensions for braiding purposes and attaching hair by braiding); Hairdresser license for cutting, coloring, chemical and styling work around installs, which also carries hair braiding under AS 08.13.160(f); no specialty extensions or weaving license, and the word weaving appears nowhere in AS 08.13	35 hours of instruction and no examination for the hair braiding license; 1,650 school hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours plus a written examination for the hairdresser license	Board of Barbers and Hairdressers	Alaska guide
Rhode Island	Hairdresser and Cosmetician license, whose practice definition at section 5-10-1(15) names weaving; no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding exempt under section 5-10-29, whose definition names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions and excludes chemical hair joining agents	1,000 hours for the Hairdresser and Cosmetician; no course for exempt natural hair braiding	Department of Health	Rhode Island guide
Vermont	Cosmetologist license; no Vermont definition names weaving, attaching hair or extensions, and no specialty extensions or weaving license exists; natural hair braiding or styling is exempt under 26 V.S.A. section 273(7), whose text does not name extensions or added hair, so install work is not claimed exempt	1,000 hours of cosmetology school or a 1,500 hour apprenticeship, plus written and practical examinations, for the Cosmetologist; no course requirement for exempt natural hair braiding or styling	Office of Professional Regulation, Barbers and Cosmetologists	Vermont guide
Wyoming	Hairstylist license or cosmetologist license. Board rules place applying extensions by bonding, sewing, braiding or any other means inside the hairstyling scope both licenses carry. No specialty extensions or weaving license. Natural hair braiding is exempt under W.S. 33-12-140(d); its definition includes weaving and extending by hand or braiding device and excludes chemical hair joining agents.	1,000 hours for the Hairstylist license, 1,600 hours for the Cosmetologist license; no course or registration for exempt natural hair braiding.	State Board of Cosmetology	Wyoming guide

What the researched states show

Texas is the flagship for this business type because it answers all three licensing questions in published law. Its statute, Occupations Code Section 1603.0011(a)(9), defines the licensed act as weaving a person's hair by using any method to attach commercial hair to a person's hair or scalp, so the method never decides the question; the attachment does. Its specialty license is real and narrow: 300 hours, written and practical examinations, a $50 application fee, and a scope that TDLR's own guide limits to the weaving service alone, with cutting, coloring and every other cosmetology service outside it. And its braiding boundary is written into the exemption itself, at Section 1603.0013(7): attaching commercial hair by braiding, without chemicals or adhesives, is unlicensed natural hair braiding, and everything past that line is licensed work.

Texas also shows the establishment layer done completely. A weaving only shop can hold a Specialty Establishment license with a Hair Weaving specialty for $78, a full menu salon holds the Full-Service license at the same fee, and a solo suite takes a Mini-Establishment license for $70 with a Hair Weaving type of its own. The owner needs no practitioner license; every person installing hair needs their own. One researched state is not a national pattern, and this page does not pretend otherwise. It is the template the next states will be checked against: which license authorizes the work, whether a specialty exists, where the braiding exemption ends, and what the establishment rules require.

Choosing your state and your next move

If you already know your state and it is in the table, go straight to its guide. The Texas guide is live and complete: both license routes with hours, exams and fees, the braiding boundary in the statute's own terms, the specialty salon license, entity formation, taxes and the local layer for an extensions business in Texas. If your state is not in the table yet, the honest short answer is that the full cosmetology license is the route in most states, and your state board's scope definition is the document that settles whether any narrower option exists. Read it before you price a course, because a specialty license you do not need is wasted money, and a service menu built on an exemption that does not cover it is worse.

Then verify before you commit. Licensing figures decay: legislatures adjust hours and fees, boards rename licenses, and a page that was right last year can mislead this year. This table carries a review stamp for a reason. Use it to shortlist and to plan, and use the board page for your state, linked in the sources below, as the final word before you enroll in a course, sign a lease or advertise a service.

How this comparison stays accurate

Licensing figures decay, and scope definitions decay quietly: a board revises a guide, a legislature amends a definition, and the summary sites that copy each other never notice. Our control for that is boring and deliberate. Every figure in this table traces to a named official source listed below, every page carries the date its state sources were last reviewed, and any figure we cannot trace stays out of the table instead of being estimated. That is slower than copying a directory, and it is the entire point of this site.

Corrections are part of the system, not an embarrassment to hide. If a board changes a requirement, or a reader spots a figure that no longer matches the board page, the row is rechecked against the board source and updated, and the review stamp moves with it. If you are planning around a figure here, click through to the board source for your state and confirm it is still current before you spend money on it.

Each state guide that grows out of this table goes deeper than the row that links to it: the entity and tax setup, the local layer, the employment questions and the renewal calendar for that state and that business type, all from the same official sources. The table is the map. The guides are the territory, and they are published state by state in the build order our plan sets out, depth in one state before breadth across the rest.

Official sources behind the researched rows

Texas: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, "Who Regulates What?", tdlr.texas.gov; "Apply for a Hair Weaving Specialist License," tdlr.texas.gov; "Scope of Practice Guide, Hair Weaving Specialist," tdlr.texas.gov; and Texas Occupations Code sections 1603.0011 and 1603.0013. Read November 5, 2026.
California: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, "Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations" (2026), barbercosmo.ca.gov; and "License Requirements," barbercosmo.ca.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Florida: Florida Board of Cosmetology (DBPR), "Cosmetology – FAQs," myfloridalicense.com; and Chapter 477, Florida Statutes, sections 477.013, 477.0135, 477.019 and 477.0263, leg.state.fl.us. Read November 5, 2026.
New York: New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, "Natural Hair Styling," dos.ny.gov; "Cosmetology," dos.ny.gov; Natural Hair Styling Application (DOS-1321), dos.ny.gov; and General Business Law Article 27, sections 400 and 409, nysenate.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology, "State Board of Cosmetology," pa.gov; Cosmetology Law, sections 1, 8, 8.1 and 17 (Act of May 3, 1933, P.L. 242, No. 86, as amended by Act 100 of 2024), palegis.us; and 49 Pa. Code section 7.1, pacodeandbulletin.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Illinois: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, "Hair Braiding," idfpr.illinois.gov; "Cosmetology," idfpr.illinois.gov; and Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act (225 ILCS 410), sections 1-7, 3-1, 3E-1, 3E-2 and 3E-5. Read November 5, 2026.
Ohio: Ohio Revised Code sections 4713.01, 4713.28, 4713.41 and 4713.69, codes.ohio.gov; Ohio Administrative Code rules 4713-1-17, 4713-8-11 and 4713-13-02, codes.ohio.gov; and the State Cosmetology and Barber Board's Boutique Services Registration pamphlet, cos.ohio.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Georgia: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, sos.ga.gov; and O.C.G.A. sections 43-10-1 and 43-10-9, law.justia.com. Read November 5, 2026.
North Carolina: North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, "Licensure Requirements for NC applicants," nccosmeticarts.com; "Natural Hair Care Information Update," nccosmeticarts.com; N.C.G.S. Chapter 88B, sections 88B-2, 88B-7, 88B-10.1, 88B-20, 88B-21 and 88B-22, ncleg.gov; and 21 NCAC 14T .0606, reports.oah.state.nc.us. Read November 5, 2026.
Michigan: Michigan Board of Cosmetology, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, "Natural Hair Culturist Licensing Guide" and "Cosmetologist Licensing Guide," michigan.gov; and Michigan Compiled Laws sections 339.1201, 339.1203a, 339.1204, 339.1210a and 338.2225, legislature.mi.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
New Jersey: New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, "Licensing Requirements," njconsumeraffairs.gov; "Frequently Asked Questions," njconsumeraffairs.gov; N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1, regulations.justia.com; and N.J.S.A. 45:5B-3, 45:5B-11 and 45:5B-22.2, as amended by P.L. 2018, c.126, pub.njleg.state.nj.us. Read November 5, 2026.
Virginia: Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR), "Board for Barbers and Cosmetology," dpor.virginia.gov; Code of Virginia sections 54.1-700, 54.1-701, 54.1-703 and 54.1-704.1, law.lis.virginia.gov; and 18VAC41-20-20, 18VAC41-20-60 and 18VAC41-20-210, law.lis.virginia.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Washington: Washington State Department of Licensing, "Get your license: Cosmetology," dol.wa.gov; RCW 18.16.020 and 18.16.175, app.leg.wa.gov; and WAC 308-20-025 and 308-20-520, app.leg.wa.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Arizona: Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board, "Personal License" and "Fees," bcb.az.gov; and Arizona Revised Statutes sections 32-501, 32-506, 32-511, 32-512.01, 32-514 and 32-541, azleg.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Tennessee: Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, tn.gov, including the Department's Registered Hair Braider FAQs (updated November 2, 2026); Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 62, Chapter 4, law.justia.com; and Rules of the Board, Chapter 0440-01, publications.tnsosfiles.com. Read November 5, 2026.
Massachusetts: Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering, "How can I become a cosmetologist, electrologist, manicurist, aesthetician, or barber?" and "Apply for an aesthetics, cosmetology, or manicuring salon license," mass.gov; M.G.L. c. 112, sections 87T and 87V, malegislature.gov; and 240 CMR 2.00 and 3.00, mass.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Indiana: State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Cosmetology and Barber Licensing Information and Licensure Laws and Regulations, Indiana Code Title 25 Article 8 (IC 25-8-1.1-1, IC 25-8-2-5, IC 25-8-2-14.5, IC 25-8-2-20, IC 25-8-9-3). Read November 5, 2026.
Missouri: Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, pr.mo.gov; Missouri Revised Statutes sections 329.010, 329.040, 329.050 and 329.275, revisor.mo.gov; and 20 CSR 2085-3.010, Code of State Regulations, s1.sos.mo.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Maryland: Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists, "License Requirements," labor.maryland.gov; Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 5, sections 5-101, 5-301, 5-305, 5-501 and 5-605, mgaleg.maryland.gov; COMAR 09.22.01.12 fee schedule; and Maryland Department of Labor, "New license for eyelash extension technicians to launch in Maryland" (October 21, 2025), labor.maryland.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, Cosmetologist credential page and Professions List, dsps.wi.gov; Wisconsin Statutes sections 454.01, 454.04, 454.06, 454.08, 454.20 and 454.23, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov; and Wisconsin Administrative Code chapter Cos 3, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Colorado: Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure program pages, dpo.colorado.gov; Barber and Cosmetologist Act, CRS sections 12-105-104, 12-105-111, 12-105-112 and 12-105-118, law.justia.com; Barber and Cosmetology Licensure Rules, 4 CCR 731-1, sos.state.co.us; House Bill 26-1181, leg.colorado.gov; Department of Regulatory Agencies, 2025 Sunset Review of the Barber and Cosmetologist Act; and PSI Colorado candidate guides, psiexams.com. Read November 5, 2026.
Minnesota: Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Statutes sections 155A.23, 155A.25, 155A.27, 155A.2705, 155A.271, 155A.28, 155A.29, 333.01 and 333.02, revisor.mn.gov, and Minnesota Rules chapter 2105; Board of Cosmetologist Examiners practitioner, hair technician, salon and fee pages, mn.gov; Department of Revenue Personal Services sales tax guidance; and Department of Employment and Economic Development unemployment insurance rates. Read November 5, 2026.
South Carolina: South Carolina Code Title 40 Chapter 13, scstatehouse.gov, and Chapter 7, scstatehouse.gov; Board of Cosmetology, LLR, llr.sc.gov; and Board of Barber Examiners licensure, llr.sc.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Alabama: Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, "Important Law Update: Natural Hairstylists," License Types and Fees pages, aboc.alabama.gov; Code of Alabama sections 34-7B-1 and 34-7B-20, law.justia.com; and Act 2026-527 enacted fiscal note FN-SL91D57-3, alison.legislature.state.al.us. Read November 5, 2026.
Louisiana: Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology, lsbc.louisiana.gov; La. R.S. 37:563, 37:582 and 37:599, law.justia.com; and LAC 46:XXXI.101, 1101, 1105 and 1107, law.cornell.edu. Read November 5, 2026.
Kentucky: Kentucky Board of Cosmetology, "License Requirements," kbc.ky.gov, and "Salon Requirements," kbc.ky.gov; KRS 317A.010 and 317A.020, law.justia.com; and 201 KAR 12:082, 12:260 and 12:030, apps.legislature.ky.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, "Licenses," oklahoma.gov, and "Cosmetology examination," oklahoma.gov; House Bill 2141, enrolled (Laws 2024, c. 282), oklegislature.gov; and 59 O.S. section 199.1, law.justia.com. Read November 5, 2026.
Oregon: Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology, "Natural Hair Care - Certification Information," oregon.gov, and "Hair Design - Certification Information," oregon.gov; ORS 690.005, 690.015, 690.025, 690.046 and 690.055, oregonlegislature.gov; and practice clarification, "Hair Extensions & Attaching Hair Feathers" (April 12, 2012), oregon.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Connecticut: Connecticut Department of Public Health, "Hairdresser Licensure by Examination," portal.ct.gov; and Connecticut General Statutes chapter 387 (sections 20-250, 20-252, 20-253, 20-258 and 20-265h) and chapter 386 (section 20-234), cga.ct.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Utah: Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 11a, Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Act: definitions and the hair braiding definition (Section 58-11a-102), licensing requirement and the hair braiding and blow-dry exemptions (Sections 58-11a-301 and 58-11a-304), general requirements and credit transfer (Section 58-11a-302), the license and permit scopes and hours (Sections 58-11a-302.10, 302.12, 302.13, 302.17, 302.19 and 302.22), license display (Section 58-11a-305), and cosmetology apprenticeship (Section 58-11a-306) (le.utah.gov); Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Cosmetology profession page, Cosmetology License application page, fee schedule and cosmetology curriculum service counts, plus the Rule R156-11a repeal notice in the October 2026 Utah State Bulletin (commerce.utah.gov/dopl). Read November 5, 2026.
Iowa: Iowa Code chapter 157, sections 157.1, 157.2, 157.3, 157.10, 157.11, 157.12C, 157.12D (House File 711, 2025) and 157.13 (legis.iowa.gov); Iowa Code section 10A.532, natural hair braiding registration (legis.iowa.gov); Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, barbering and cosmetology license, establishment license, Natural Hair Braiding Registry and blow-dry stylist pages (dial.iowa.gov); and Iowa Administrative Code rule 481-507.5 (legis.iowa.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Nevada: Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 644A, sections 644A.030, 644A.040, 644A.080, 644A.085, 644A.090, 644A.150, 644A.300, 644A.305, 644A.315, 644A.320, 644A.360, 644A.370 and 644A.900 (leg.state.nv.us); and Nevada State Board of Cosmetology, hair braiding license page (nvcosmo.com). Read November 5, 2026.
Arkansas: Arkansas Code sections 17-26-102, 17-26-503, 17-26-504 and 17-26-505, the Natural Hair Braiding Protection Act, Act 409 of 2015 (webftp.blr.arkansas.gov); Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section fee schedule and FAQs (healthy.arkansas.gov); and 17 CAR section 54-202, registered hairstylist rules (codeofarrules.arkansas.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Mississippi: Mississippi Code sections 73-7-2, 73-7-13 and 73-7-71, as amended by House Bill 313 of 2024 (law.justia.com); Mississippi State Department of Health, Regulations Governing Registration of Individuals Performing Hair Braiding, Title 15, Part 19, Subpart 60, Chapter 5 (healthyms.com); Mississippi Administrative Code Rule 30-2101-2.14, Wigology License Renewal (regulations.justia.com); Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (msbcb.ms.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Kansas: Kansas Board of Cosmetology, cosmetology profession pages (kansas.gov/kboc); Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Hair Braiding Exemption infection control brochure (kdhe.ks.gov); and Kansas Statutes sections 65-1901, 65-1902, 65-1903, 65-1904, 65-1904a and 65-1928 (law.justia.com). Read November 5, 2026.
New Mexico: New Mexico Statutes sections 61-17A-2, 61-17A-4.1 and 61-17A-5, as amended by House Bill 281 of 2025 (law.justia.com); Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists rules 16.34.1, 16.34.5.10, 16.34.5.17 and 16.34.5.18 NMAC (rld.nm.gov); and Professional Credential Services, New Mexico cosmetology and barbering candidate information (pcshq.com). Read November 5, 2026.
Nebraska: Nebraska Revised Statutes sections 38-1016, 38-1042.01, 38-1075, 38-1061, 38-1062, 38-1017 and 38-1078 (nebraskalegislature.gov); Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Cosmetology and Esthetics licensing page and salon application (dhhs.ne.gov); and Title 172, Chapter 36, Nebraska Administrative Code, Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology (govdocs.nebraska.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Idaho: Idaho Code sections 54-5802, 54-5804, 54-5805 and 54-5810, Barber and Cosmetology Services Act (legislature.idaho.gov); Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board, license types and fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 (dopl.idaho.gov); and IDAPA 24.28.01, board rules (adminrules.idaho.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
West Virginia: West Virginia Code sections 30-27-3, 30-27-8, 30-27-10, 30-27-17 and 30-27-19 (code.wvlegislature.gov); Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, Consumer Information service lists and Title 3, Series 6 fee schedule (wvbbc.com). Read November 5, 2026.
Hawaii: Act 73, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, chapter 439A, and Act 87 of 2026 (S.B. 2876, C.D. 1), the natural hair braiding definition and registration (data.capitol.hawaii.gov); Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, February 25, 2026 testimony on S.B. 2876 and application forms index (cca.hawaii.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
New Hampshire: RSA chapter 313-A, Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics, including the definitions at section 313-A:1, cosmetologist qualifications at section 313-A:11, shop licensure at section 313-A:19 and the natural hair braiding exemption at section 313-A:25 XIII (gc.nh.gov); and NH Administrative Rules Plc 1002.07, fee table for the professions regulated by the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics (regulations.justia.com). Read November 5, 2026.
Maine: Maine Legislature, "Title 32, §14202: Definitions" (§14202), legislature.maine.gov; "Title 32, §14203: Exemptions from licensure; exceptions; practice outside licensed establishment" (§14203(1-A) hair braiding services exemption), legislature.maine.gov; "Title 32, §14226: Qualifications; cosmetologist" and "Title 32, §14226-A: Qualifications; hair designer" (§§14226, 14226-A), legislature.maine.gov. Read November 5, 2026.
Montana: Montana Code Annotated, Title 37, chapter 31, sections 37-31-101 (definitions, including natural hair braiding at subsection (17)), 37-31-102 (exemptions, subsection (5)), 37-31-302 and 37-31-304 (mca.legmt.gov); Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, Notice of Adoption, MAR Notice No. 2025-221, ARM 24.121.401 fees as amended effective November 22, 2025 (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov); and Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists licensing pages, including the booth rental license page (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Delaware: Delaware Code Online, Title 24, chapter 51, sections 5101 (definitions), 5103 (license requirement, exemptions and shop license), 5107 (qualifications), 5108 (examinations) and 5118 (licensure of cosmetology shops) (delcode.delaware.gov); Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Frequently Asked Questions (dpr.delaware.gov) and fee schedule (dpr.delaware.gov); and Board of Cosmetology and Barbering Rules and Regulations, 24 DE Admin. Code 5100, section 4.1.3 (artificial hair in the cosmetology apprenticeship curriculum) (regulations.delaware.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
South Dakota: South Dakota Codified Laws, chapter 36-15, sections 36-15-1.1 (natural hair braiding defined), 36-15-2 (cosmetology scope), 36-15-16.1 (braiding exemption), 36-15-17 (cosmetologist examination application, 1,500 hours), 36-15-45 (apprenticeship period) and 36-15-51 (salon and booth license types) (sdlegislature.gov); Cosmetology Commission, commission homepage and Frequently Asked Questions (dlr.sd.gov); and Administrative Rules of South Dakota, Article 20:42, chapter 20:42:07 (apprentices) (dlr.sd.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
North Dakota: North Dakota Century Code, chapter 43-11, sections 43-11-01 (definitions, cosmetology at subsection (10) and natural hair braiding at subsection (20)), 43-11-13, 43-11-15, 43-11-16, 43-11-16.1, 43-11-21, 43-11-26, 43-11-28 and 43-11-29.1 (legis.nd.gov); State Board of Cosmetology, establishment application SFN 11795 and endorsement application SFN 11800 (ndcosmetology.com); and North Dakota Administrative Code, chapters 32-03-01 (establishments) and 32-05-01 (licensees) (legis.nd.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Alaska: Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, Statutes and Regulations (Alaska Statutes chapter 08.13 and 12 AAC 09), sections 08.13.070, 08.13.080(g), 08.13.120, 08.13.160(d), (e) and (f), 08.13.185, and 08.13.220(6), (7) and (15), and 12 AAC 09.096, 09.160 and 09.164 (commerce.alaska.gov); Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, applications and forms, including the Hair Braiding License Application, form 08-4782, and the Student Record for Hair Braiding, form 08-4792 (commerce.alaska.gov); and 12 AAC 02.140, Board of Barbers and Hairdressers fees. Read November 5, 2026.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island General Laws, chapter 5-10, Barbers, Hairdressers, Cosmeticians, Manicurists and Estheticians, sections 5-10-1, 5-10-8 through 5-10-11, 5-10-15 and 5-10-29 (webserver.rilegislature.gov); Rhode Island Department of Health, Barbers, Hairdressers/Cosmeticians, Manicurists, Estheticians, and Instructors, 216-RICR-40-05-4 (rules.sos.ri.gov); Rhode Island Department of Health, Fee Structure for Commercial Licensing, Radiation Protection, and Administrative Services, 216-RICR-10-05-2 (rules.sos.ri.gov); Rhode Island Department of Health, Cosmetology Checklist, Board of Hairdressing & Barbering (health.ri.gov). Read November 5, 2026.
Vermont: 26 V.S.A. chapter 6, Barbers and Cosmetologists, sections 271, 273, 276, 276a, 280a, 281, 282, 283 and 285 (legislature.vermont.gov); Administrative Rules for Barbers, Cosmetologists, Estheticians and Nail Technicians, Code of Vermont Rules 04-030-030, Rules 2-4, 3-4, 3-8, 4-1 and 5-1 through 5-2 (law.cornell.edu); Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation, Barber & Cosmetology FAQs (sos.vermont.gov); and 3 V.S.A. section 125, Office of Professional Regulation fees. Read November 5, 2026.
Wyoming: Wyoming Cosmetology Act, W.S. 33-12-119 through 33-12-140, sections 33-12-120, 33-12-127, 33-12-130, 33-12-132 and 33-12-140 (wyoleg.gov); Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules, Chapters 1, 6, 7 and 13 (cosmetology.wyo.gov); Board braiding page and FAQ (cosmetology.wyo.gov); 2025 Session Laws Chapter 80, Senate File 113, Braider Opportunity Act (wyoleg.gov). Read November 5, 2026.

State sources last reviewed: November 5, 2026. Research notes for this comparison are kept with the site build records. If you spot a figure that has changed, the board page linked for that state is the authority to follow.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to install hair extensions?

In nearly every state, yes. Extension installation is licensed work inside cosmetology: the license attaches to attaching hair to a client, not to selling the hair. Texas, the first state researched for this comparison, defines weaving a person's hair by any method to attach commercial hair as barbering and cosmetology, and requires a license for it. There is no national rule, so check your own state in the table before you rely on any general answer.

Is there a separate license just for hair extensions?

In most states, no: the full cosmetology license is the only route, and extensions are one service inside it. Dedicated specialty licenses are rare. Texas is the researched example: its Hair Weaving Specialist license covers weaving only, on 300 hours of training instead of the 1,000 hours a full Cosmetology Operator license takes. Where a specialty license exists it is always narrower than cosmetology, never broader.

Can a braider install extensions without a cosmetology license?

Only up to the braiding boundary, and only where the state exempts braiding at all. In Texas, attaching commercial hair by braiding alone, with no chemicals or adhesives, sits inside the natural hair braiding exemption and needs no license. The moment an install uses adhesives, bonds or tape, or a weaving method other than braiding, the work is licensed. Cutting, coloring and chemical services are licensed everywhere this comparison has researched, whatever the braiding rules say.

Do you need a license to sell hair extensions?

No. The license attaches to installation work on a client. Selling hair, wefts and clip-ins is a retail sale, and retail sales are not a licensed beauty service in the states researched. What a retail sale does trigger is the ordinary business layer: a sales tax permit, tax collected on the products, and the entity and local setup every shop needs.

How many hours of training does an extensions license take?

It depends on the route your state offers. In Texas, the specialty route is 300 hours for the Hair Weaving Specialist license, and the full route is 1,000 hours for the Cosmetology Operator license, which covers extensions plus every other cosmetology service. In states with no specialty license, the full cosmetology course is the only route in.