Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 73 - PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS (§§ 73-1-1 — 73-79-1) › Chapter 7 - COSMETOLOGISTS (§§ 73-7-1 — 73-7-71) › HAIR BRAIDING (§ 73-7-71) › Section 73-7-71 - [Effective 1/1/2025] "Hair braiding" defined; persons practicing hair braiding for compensation required to register with Department of Health; department not authorized to license or regulate the practice of hair braiding; department directed to develop brochure containing information about infection control techniques; brochure to include self-test questionnaire; persons engaging in hair braiding for compensation may be exempt from cosmetology licensing by completing self-test and keeping it at place of business; department may conduct inspections of premises to determine whether self-test is available on site; section inapplicable to licensed cosmetologists, barbers, or wig specialists

(1)
For the purpose of this section, the term "hair braiding" means the use of techniques that result in tension on hair strands or roots by twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding of the hair by hand or mechanical device, but does not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of the hair or to straighten, curl or alter the structure of the hair.
(2)
No person shall engage in hair braiding for compensation in the State of Mississippi without first registering with the State Department of Health. The department may charge each registrant a fee of not more than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) to cover the department's costs in registering the person and providing the person with the brochure prepared under subsection (3) of this section, which fee shall be uniform for all registrants. Any increase in the fee charged by the board under this subsection shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section
41-3-65
. The purpose of this registration is only to maintain a listing of those persons who engage in hair braiding for compensation in the state, and does not authorize the department to license or regulate the practice of hair braiding in the state, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(3)
The State Department of Health shall develop and prepare a brochure containing information about infection control techniques that are appropriate for hair braiding in or outside of a salon/barber shop setting. The brochure shall be made available through the department's website or by mail, upon request, for a fee to cover the department's mailing costs. The brochure shall contain a self-test with questions on the information contained in the brochure. For a person engaged in hair braiding to be exempt from the cosmetology and barbering licensure law, Section
73-7-1
et seq., the person shall complete the self-test part of the brochure and keep the brochure and completed self-test available at the location at which the person is engaged in hair braiding.
(4)
Representatives of the department may visit any facility or premises in which hair braiding is performed at any time during business hours to determine if the brochure and completed self-test are available at the facility or premises.
(5)
This section does not apply to cosmetologists, or barbers licensed to practice in Mississippi in their respective fields.
Laws, 2005, ch. 492, § 32; Laws, 2008, ch. 509, § 2, eff. 7/1/2008.
Amended by Laws, 2024, ch. 437, HB 313,§ 26, eff. 1/1/2025.
Reenacted by Laws, 2020, ch. 473, SB 2311,§ 42, eff. 7/1/2020.
Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 510, HB 289, 42, eff. 7/1/2016, rep. 7/1/2020.
Amended by Laws, 2013, ch. 523, HB 1164, 26, eff. 7/1/2013.
This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.