Louisiana hair braider’s appeal on rules denied [Video]

An appeals court has rejected a Gretna hairstylist’s lawsuit challenging the state’s hair braiding rules. The First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Ashley N’Dakpri, the owner of Afro Touch Braiding in Gretna, did not prove in her lawsuit that the rules in place for hair braiding were preventing other hairstylists from being able to enter the profession. To be a licensed braider in the state, you must have at least 500 hours of training. A nonprofit called the Institute for Justice plans on appealing the decision to go to the Louisiana Supreme Court. “Obviously Friday’s ruling is incredibly disappointing, but we remain committed to making sure that braiders in Louisiana can work without spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of unnecessary hours at beauty school, particularly when their job doesn’t involve dangerous things like chemicals,” said IJ Attorney Keith Neely in an issued statement. “All Americans have the right …