How to Open a Hair Braiding Shop
There are many ways to braid hair, including box braids, wrap braids, feather braiding and weave braiding. It takes a great deal of practice to be able to not only make neat, consistent braids, but to be able to take care of them and remove them without damaging hair. Braids are a very popular hair style, and as a result of demand, there are thousands of braid shops located across the country--it can be a very lucrative business. In order to start a hair braiding shop, you will need to become educated about cosmetology and braiding.
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Instructions
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Attend a licensed cosmetology program in your state. You can either take a program for general cosmetology, which will cover basic hair, nail and aesthetics procedures, or one specifically for doing hair. Currently, few states have separate requirements for becoming licensed as a hair braider, and consequently there are few cosmetology programs that put an emphasis on learning how to braid hair.
If you need to learn how to braid, you can attend a workshop such as those offered by Braids by Breslin or Braids by SaBrina. Your braiding course should cover not only how to braid hair, but how to properly care for hair that is braided and remove braids without causing hair damage.
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Obtain a cosmetology license from your state. In some states, such as Florida, hair braiders must obtain a specific license. You will need to pass your state's cosmetology exam with a score of at least 70 percent and pay a fee to receive your license.
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Rent a building suitable for use as a braiding salon. In some states, licensed cosmetologists are allowed to operate from their home--check your state's guidelines to see whether this is an option for you. Thoroughly read your state's requirements for a salon to be licensed so you can rent a space that needs as little renovation as possible--this will save you money. In most states, each stylist is required to have at least 100 square feet of space to work in.
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Purchase wholesale braiding and hair supplies, such as combs, sanitation solution, chairs, dryers, shampoo bowls and hair care products from a company such as Marlo Beauty Supply or Salon Guys. You can also look in your local classified ads to see if any salons are going out of business that want to sell their equipment. Buying wholesale or liquidated equipment will save you a significant amount of money as opposed to buying retail.
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Have your braiding salon space inspected by your state's cosmetology board or board of professional regulation. The inspector will check to see whether your salon is properly set up, has the required sanitation supplies, mandated signage and whether you have enough equipment for the number of stylists you plan to have.
After you request an inspection, it may take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to receive one, depending on the area you're in. Inspections tend to happen faster in large- and medium-sized cities, since they typically have cosmetology and professional regulation board offices stationed close by.
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Advertise your hair braiding shop by listing your business in online and print directories, handing out business cards and placing fliers in complementary businesses such as clothing and shoe stores and nail shops. Setting up an informational website that lists the types of braids you specialize in, hours of operation, photos of your work and contact information is another good way to gain new customers. You may also want to offer special discounts to customers who find you via the Internet.
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