Sign the Petition - Support NYS Bill A7924-A
Preserving the Legacy of Natural Hair Care
Beauty is Political. Hair is Health. Licensing is Justice.
The $11.8 Billion Gap
The natural hair industry is a powerhouse, yet it remains underserved and under-regulated. The NHBC is a 501(c)(3) organization closing the gaps in education, safety, and legislation to turn industry harm into professional excellence.
Advocacy & Activism
Equity & Access
Spearheading legislation to protect the legal rights of hair professionals.
Ethical Education
Cultural Competency
Modernizing curriculum to honor and preserve the traditions of natural styling.
Business Development
Economic Empowerment
Building career pathways through licensing, certification, and entrepreneurship.
Health & Safety
Health First
Setting public health standards for scalp care, sanitation, and ergonomics.
Landmark Advocacy | NYS Bill A7924-A
The Natural Hair Care & Braiding Act Status: Active Legislation (Updated Feb 2026)
The NHBC is spearheading Beauty Justice by shifting the focus from mere "styling" to a comprehensive framework of wellness, health, and professional standards specifically tailored for afro-textured hair.
Health-First Definition
Moves beyond aesthetics to mandate Scalp Analysis and the use of clean, botanical products—explicitly prohibiting harsh chemicals that alter hair structure.
Mandatory Safety Training
Requires formal education in infection control and Proper Tension Techniques to prevent traction alopecia and permanent hair loss.
A Tiered Professional Pipeline
Creates legal pathways for growth through Paid Apprenticeships and "Senior Specialist" designations for advanced expertise.
Universal Texture Competency
Upholds the mandate that every licensed professional is trained to care for "curly, coily, and afro-coily" hair types.
Built by Professionals. Powered by the People.
Choose Your Role in the Movement
Natural hair care is a cultural legacy and a professional powerhouse. Whether you invest your resources or your talent, you are the engine behind our Four Pillars: Advocacy, Ethical Education, Business Development, and Safety.
Join as a Member
Invest in the infrastructure of our industry. Your membership directly funds the development of national standards, professional curricula, and the advocacy needed to protect our craft.
Gain professional credibility and access to industry-leading resources.
Lead as a Volunteer
Lend your superpowers to the mission. From grassroots outreach to educational content, our volunteers are the feet on the ground ensuring our standards are respected, and our history is preserved.
Drive direct community impact and gain advocacy leadership experience.
“Since beauty culture legislation is almost a certainty in every state, it is necessary for operators to have a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of every branch of the trade, for today beauty culture is not work for a novice, or an unprepared individual.”
- Madame C.J. Walker
The Architects of the Movement
The NHBC is led by the pioneers who successfully authored the 1993 Natural Hair Care & Braiding Act. We aren’t just part of the movement—we built the foundation.
Step Into Black History with the NHBC
Join us in Albany at the 55th Annual NYSABPRL as we advocate for the Natural Haircare and Braiding Act (Bill A7924-A). In partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice, we are fighting for Beauty Justice: a new industry standard that prioritizes health, protects braiders from toxic exposures, and creates equitable licensing pathways for Afro-textured hair.
"The Politics of Black Beauty "
Join us every first Monday of the month on SiriusXM's Urbanview Ch. 126 at 10:30 AM EST