STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5114
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 24, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to defining
natural hair braiding and threading, and exempting natural hair braid-
ing and threading from certain licensing requirements
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 400 of the general business law,
2 as amended by chapter 343 of the laws of 1998, is amended and two new
3 subdivisions 5-a and 5-b are added to read as follows:
4 5. The practice of "natural hair styling" means providing for a fee,
5 or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, any of the
6 following services to the hair of a human being: shampooing, arranging,
7 or dressing[, twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braid-
8 ing] the hair or beard by either hand or mechanical appliances. Such
9 practice shall not include cutting, shaving or trimming hair except that
10 such activities are permissible to the extent that such activities are
11 incidental to the practice of natural hair styling. Such practice shall
12 not include the application of dyes, reactive chemicals, or other prepa-
13 rations to alter the color or to straighten, curl, or alter the struc-
14 ture of the hair. [Techniques which result in tension on hair roots such
15 as certain types of braiding, weaving, wrapping, locking and extending
16 of the hair may only be performed by a natural hair styling or cosmetol-
17 ogy licensee who has successfully completed an approved course of study
18 in such techniques.]
19 5-a. The practice of "natural hair braiding" means providing for a
20 fee, or any consideration or exchange, whether direct or indirect, any
21 of the following services to the hair of a human being: twisting, wrap-
22 ping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding hair by hand or with
23 mechanical devices, including clips, combs, crochet hooks, curlers,
24 curling irons, hairpins, rollers, scissors, blunt-tipped needles,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05857-01-1
S. 5114 2
1 thread, and hair binders. Natural hair braiding includes the use of
2 natural or synthetic hair extensions, natural or synthetic hair and
3 fibers, decorative beads, and other hair accessories; minor trimming of
4 natural hair or hair extensions incidental to twisting, wrapping, weav-
5 ing, extending, locking, or braiding hair; the making of wigs from
6 natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, and hair extensions; and
7 the use of topical agents such as conditioners, gels, moisturizers,
8 oils, pomades, and shampoos in conjunction with performing the practice
9 of natural hair braiding. Natural hair braiding is commonly known as
10 "African-style hair braiding" but is not limited to any particular
11 cultural, ethnic, racial, or religious forms of hair styles. Natural
12 hair braiding is distinct from the practice of cosmetology and natural
13 hair styling. Natural hair braiding does not include the application of
14 dyes, reactive chemicals, or other preparations to alter the color of
15 the hair or to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair; or
16 the use of chemical hair joining agents such as synthetic tape, keratin
17 bonds, or fusion bonds.
18 5-b. The practice of "threading" means a method of removing hair from
19 the eyebrows, upper lip, or other body parts by using cotton thread to
20 pull hair from follicles. Threading may include the use of over-the-
21 counter astringents, gels and powders, and the use of tweezers and scis-
22 sors incidental to threading. Such practice shall not include the use of
23 chemicals, heat or any type of wax.
24 § 2. Section 416 of the general business law is amended by adding a
25 new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
26 3. This article shall not apply to the practices of natural hair
27 braiding or threading.
28 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
