Hair, Hair

The Lord of Truth lets us know about one of the hairy issues being confronted by state legislatures...

To hear one side tell it, African hair braiding is an art passed down through generations, a form of expression that shouldn't be hampered by bureaucratic licensing.

The other side argues the practice needs to be regulated so braiders will learn to prevent the spread of scalp diseases.

Now, state lawmakers across the country are trying to untangle the issue. Tennessee state Sen. Steve Cohen filed a bill at the request of a constituent who braids.

"The cosmetologists want to keep the hair braiders down," Cohen charged. "It's not a health and sanitation issue. It's control. It's power."

In Mississippi, however, many cosmetologists say it's unfair to exempt a small group from licensing.

"We are not against braiders," said Charlie Hilliard, president of the Mississippi Independent Beauticians Association. "We are for training."

Arizona, California, Kansas and Maryland already exempt hair braiders from cosmetology licensing, and Michigan has a voluntary licensing system, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Justice, which has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Mississippi's braiding regulations.

Off the top of my head, I tend to agree with the braiders. Why let the government create more problems for the small businessman, who have enough trouble keeping regulators out of their hair?

Yes, these are some of the worst puns ever, but what do you expect from a bald guy?