An Act To Permit Hair Braiding without a Barbering or Cosmetology License
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0847
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: HASKELL, ROTUNDO, BRAKEY, LIBBY, BURSTEIN, HAMANN, JORGENSEN, SANBORN, SIROCKI, TIMBERLAKE
Amends: 32 MRSA §14202, 32 MRSA §14203

Legislative Document 
No. 847 
S.P. 296 
In Senate, March 10, 2015 
An Act To Permit Hair Braiding without a Barbering or 
Cosmetology License 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator HASKELL of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative ROTUNDO of Lewiston and 
Senators: BRAKEY of Androscoggin, LIBBY of Androscoggin, Representatives: BURSTEIN 
of Lincolnville, HAMANN of South Portland, JORGENSEN of Portland, SANBORN of 
Gorham, SIROCKI of Scarborough, TIMBERLAKE of Turner. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §14202, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 397, §6, is amended 
to read: 
5.  Establishment; shop.  "Establishment" or "shop" means a beauty shop or salon, 
cosmetology shop or salon, barber shop or salon or hair styling shop or salon, or any 
premises, structure, building or part of a building where any activity licensed under this 
chapter is practiced.  A place where only hair braiding services are provided is not an 
establishment or shop. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §14202, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 286, Pt. M, §2, is 
amended to read: 
5-A.  Limited barbering.  "Limited barbering" means any one or any combination of 
the following practices, when done for hire or compensation, upon the head of the human 
body for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of disease or physical or mental 
ailments: 
A.  Shaving, trimming or cutting the beard or mustache or removing superfluous hair; 
B.  Massaging of the scalp, face and neck and giving a facial and scalp treatment with 
creams, lotions, oils and other cosmetic preparations, either by hand or mechanical 
appliances, but such appliances may not be galvanic or faradic; 
C.  Shampooing or applying hair tonics and conditioners; 
D.   Cutting, arranging and styling the human hair; or 
E.  Cutting, fitting or styling hairpieces or wigs. 
The practice of limited barbering does not include hair braiding. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §14202, sub-§§8 and 9, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 397, §6, are 
amended to read: 
8.  Practice of barbering.  "The practice of barbering" means any one or any 
combination of the following practices, when done for hire or compensation, upon the 
upper part of the human body for cosmetic purposes and not for the treatment of disease 
or physical or mental ailments: 
A.  Shaving or trimming the beard, manicuring the fingernails, or cutting, arranging, 
waving or styling the hair; 
B.  Giving facial and scalp massage or treatments with cosmetic preparations, either 
by hand or mechanical or electrical appliances; 
C.  Singeing, dyeing, tinting, bleaching or shampooing the hair or applying cosmetic 
preparations to the hair, scalp, face, neck or upper part of the body; 
D.  Removing superfluous hair from the face, neck or upper part of the body; or 
E.  Cutting, fitting, coloring or styling hairpieces or wigs. 
The practice of barbering does not include hair braiding. 
9.  Practice of cosmetology.  "The practice of cosmetology" means the performance 
by any person for hire or compensation of any one or more of the following practices: 
A.  Beautifying, massaging, cleansing, stimulating, toning, manipulating or 
exercising the skin of the human body by the use of cosmetic preparations, tonics, 
lotions, creams, antiseptics, or clays or any device, electrical or otherwise, for the 
care of the skin; 
B.  Applying makeup or eyelashes to any person; 
C.  Manicuring or pedicuring the nails of any person; 
D.  Arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, trimming, removing, 
singeing, bleaching, coloring, relaxing or similarly treating the hair of any person; 
E.  Arranging, brushing, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, shampooing, cutting, 
trimming, singeing, bleaching, coloring, tinting, dyeing, straightening, relaxing or 
similarly treating a wig, wiglet or hairpiece made of human hair, animal hair or 
synthetics; or 
F.  Teaching or demonstrating cosmetology, hairdressing or beauty culture. 
The practice of cosmetology does not include hair braiding. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §14203, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Hair braiding.  A person who provides only hair braiding services is not subject 
to licensure under this chapter. 
SUMMARY 
This bill exempts hair braiding from licensure under the laws governing barbering 
and cosmetology.