Louisiana appeals court rejects lawsuit, says state can keep license requirement to braid hair

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Court of Appeal rejected a lawsuit filed against the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology.

On June 20, 2019, three women, Ashley N’Dakpri, Evangela Robertson, and Lynn Schofield, filed a lawsuit against the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology to challenge the board’s requirement of getting an alternative hair design permit, the appeal states.

According to state law, the Alternative Hair Design permit requires 500 hours of instruction, including discussion of sanitation, prevention of infection, use of antiseptics, hair types and structures, scalp diseases, shampoos and conditioners, rinses and braiding techniques. The permit is required to legally braid hair professionally.

A 19th District Judicial judge dismissed the case in July 2023, stating N’Dakpri failed to give valid reasoning on why the requirement needed to be challenged. Three appellate judges agreed with the decision to dismiss the case.

The order from the Court of Appeal states, “While Ms. N’Dakpri testified that the 500-hour requirement is excessive and that she cannot afford to spend time away from her business to obtain the permit, she offered no evidence as to the specific amount of training that should be deemed necessary.”

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