Hair Braiding Schools in Indiana

Browse our directory of hair braiding schools in Indiana, or skip ahead to learn about the state's hair braiding licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Hair Braider in Indiana

Hair braiding is an art and a method of styling hair that has been around for centuries, especially in Africa where it has been handed down from one generation to the next almost as a rite-de-passage. Now hair braiding has spread to America, where it has been popular, particularly among African-Americans, for the past two decades. Hair braiding requires a steady hand and good eye, as well as a good deal of patience. But if you have these qualities, and you are seeking a career in the beauty industry that not everyone performs, and that offers individuals an attractive, distinctive, easily maintained, and durable hair style, becoming a hair braider in Indiana could be a great career choice for you!

State License Requirements

In the state of Indiana, hair braiders need to be licensed as cosmetologists by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. This requires 1500 hours of training at an accredited school of cosmetology, which can be a beauty school or a community college. The licensing exam you must take and pass consists of two parts: a knowledge (written) section, and a practical section. When you have passed the exam and paid the requisite fee, you will receive your license to practice.

Education Details

In your program, you will learn all of the hair care and styling skills used by cosmetologists. These include shampooing and conditioning, hair cutting and styling, perming, straightening, coloring, and highlighting, in addition to braiding. The braiding skills you will learn will be the five different forms of braiding: braiding, cornrowing, weaving, twisting, and locking. You will learn sterilization and sanitation techniques and regulations, customer satisfaction skills, and some of the business aspects of the cosmetology industry.

Indiana Hair Braiding Careers

According to O*Net, the average wage earned by hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists in 2013, the last year for which statistics were reported, was $22,600. Of course, this is just an average. The more years of experience you have, and the bigger your loyal client base, the larger the fee you can charge. Also, with a specialty skill such as hair braiding, you may be able to command a higher fee right from the start. The field of hairdressing, hairstyling, and cosmetology is expected to grow 8% to 14% between 2012 and 2022, so jobs for recent graduates of schools of cosmetology should be readily available which is another reason why hair braiding could be a good career choice.

The majority of hairdressers and hairstylists who work as hair braiders do so in spas and beauty salons. They may see relatively few clients during the course of a day, as hair braiding, especially braiding a full head of hair, is painstaking, time consuming work that can last several hours. Sometimes a salon or spa will give hair braiders a separate area to work in, where they may be able to concentrate better than out on the floor. Some hair braiding specialists go on to open their own salons dedicated to the art of hair braiding. If you choose to go this route, you will be running your own small business, and stand to earn more money as a small business owner, although, of course, you will have all the responsibilities of a small business owner to go along with it. One of the good things about working as a hair braider is that you usually work by appointment, and thus, have at least some control over your schedule. This will allow you to work either part time or full time, and work your other commitments in around your work schedule. Still, your clients will want you to be available when they are which means you will probably need to have at least some evening and weekend appointments. If practicing an age-old hairstyling technique is valuable to you, and you would like to find a niche in the beauty industry that will allow you to perform a distinctive and attractive service, and if you have patience and an eye for design and detail, a career as a hair braider in Indiana could be a great career choice for you!

Contact the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology

There is a need for expert hair braiders in the numerous salons throughout Indiana. This is supported by state board findings that show a slight increase in the number of professionals who specialize in it. Those interested in training in hair braiding consult these groups.

Professional Beauty Association
Intercoiffure