(a) As used in this section:

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 62-4-135

  • Board: means the state board of cosmetology and barber examiners created by §. See Tennessee Code 62-4-102
  • Cosmetology: means any of the following practices:
    (A) Arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, cutting, singeing, bleaching, coloring or similar work on the hair of any person by any means. See Tennessee Code 62-4-102
  • Hair braiding: means techniques that result in tension on hair strands, such as twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding of the hair, by hand or mechanical appliances for compensation, without cutting, coloring, relaxing, removing, chemically treating, or using other preparations to straighten, curl, or alter the structure of the hair. See Tennessee Code 62-4-102
  • Natural hair stylist: means a person licensed to practice natural hair styling. See Tennessee Code 62-4-102
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of commerce and insurance, or the commissioner’s designee; and
(2) “Department” means the department of commerce and insurance.
(b) Before engaging in hair braiding, a person shall:

(1) Attend sixteen (16) hours of training in health and hygiene, either in person or online, as approved by the commissioner, receive a certificate indicating attendance from the training, attest to the one-time training at biennial registration, and retain and display the certificate on request;
(2) Biennially register with the department, providing a name, address, and phone number at which the person can be reached, and pay a registration fee of thirty dollars ($30.00);
(3) Use only disposable instruments or implements that are sanitized in a disinfectant approved for hospital use or approved by the federal environmental protection agency; and
(4) Post a notice at the place of operation indicating that the person is not licensed by the state board of cosmetology and barber examiners.
(c) A person providing hair braiding services pursuant to this section shall not refer to themselves as a licensed natural hair stylist unless the person otherwise meets the requirements under § 62-4-110(f).