“Licensing a Legacy: African Hair Braiders’ Vision for Reforming Professional Licensure in New York City,” is a participatory research project conducted by African Communities Together and TakeRoot Justice. The report shows that hair braiders face significant barriers to obtaining the Natural Hair Styling license which New York requires for them to pursue their profession. The report documents the largest known survey of New York’s professional hair braiders, a sector that employs thousands of women, most of them immigrants from Africa. The report reveals for the first time what African women hair braiders think about their profession, particularly the barriers to obtaining the State-mandated professional license and details recommendations for how to eliminate the barriers.
