AlabamaAlabama law will let natural hair stylists work without licenses
Starting October 1, 2026, natural hair stylists may work without a board license, while eligible people and some high school students may choose to get one.
What it does
Starting October 1, 2026, people may provide natural hair styling without a state board license, and places offering only those services also do not need one. The exemption excludes cutting, coloring, and chemical treatments.
People who meet the license requirements may choose to get a natural hairstylist license. Students in public high school cosmetology programs may also choose to get one.
Argument forNatural hair stylists could serve customers without getting a board license, which may make it easier to offer braiding, locking, and similar services.
Argument againstPeople who want board screening of natural hair stylists may worry that providers and places offering only these services will face fewer licensing checks.
More detail
People may provide natural hair styling without a license from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It covers people who provide natural hair styling and places where only natural hair styling is performed. The exemption covers styling without cutting, coloring, permanent waving, relaxing, removing, or chemical treatments. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
Eligible people and some students may choose to get a natural hairstylist license. The option applies to people who meet the license requirements and students in the specified public high school program. A person must meet the chapter's requirements for a natural hairstylist license. Students must be enrolled in a public high school career and technical education cosmetology program. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 8Ready to Enroll
- Apr 8EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 8Signature Requested
- Apr 8Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 7Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Colman Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1220. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1200. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Third Reading in Second House. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1201. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Drummond 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Apr 7Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1200Major
- Apr 7Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1201Passed House
- Apr 7Colman Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1220Major
- Feb 19Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Boards, Agencies and Commissions)Minor
- Feb 18Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 12Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Boards, Agencies and CommissionsMinor
- Feb 12Pending Committee Action in Second House (Boards, Agencies and Commissions)
- Feb 10Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 340. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 340Passed Senate
- Feb 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)Minor
- Feb 4Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 27Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 27Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)Minor
- Jan 20Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on HealthcareMinor
- Jan 20Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Healthcare)Introduced
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