LYS School of Braiding, Weaving & Locs
(773) 912-4010

Illinois IDFPR-approved · 300 hours

Get your Illinois Hair Braiding License in as few as 10 weeks

Train hands-on at Chicago's licensed braiding school — 300 state-credited hours, real clients in our student salon, and a schedule you build around your life.

  • Open enrollment — start when you're ready
  • Braid real clients in our student salon
  • WIOA funding for eligible students

Free · 15–20 minutes · online

LYS student braiding cornrows on a live client under instructor supervision
335+
Graduates since 2016
300
State-credited hours to license
35 hrs
Until you braid real clients
7 days
A week, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM — you pick
WIOA
Funding available for eligible students

Affordable investment

$2,325 total required fees

That covers tuition ($2,025), application ($50), registration ($50), and technology including your digital textbook ($200). Eligible students may receive WIOA funding covering some or all of the program cost.

WIOA Funding

LYS is an approved WIOA training provider — eligible students may receive funding covering some or all of the program cost.

In-House Payment Plan

Start with a $300 first-day deposit and pay the balance down while you train.

Buy Now, Pay Later

Split your payments over time with Klarna, Affirm or Afterpay.

An 8.5% payment-plan fee (currently $198) applies to the in-house payment plan and Buy Now, Pay Later financing, calculated on required fees only. Optional materials such as the school kit or physical textbook cost extra. Third-party financing approval and provider terms also apply.

300-hour curriculum

What you'll actually learn

13 chapters in a daily rotation — theory in the morning, hands in hair by the afternoon. Type 3A–4C textures, start to finish.

35hours

Foundations & safety

History of braiding, disinfection and sanitation, bacteriology, scalp disorders and diseases, hygiene, professional ethics.

35hours

Client care & consultation

Tools, face shapes, growth patterns, sectioning, safe braid removal, scalp care, and teaching clients pre- and post-care.

200hours

Technique, hands-on

Single braids and knotless with extensions, cornrows, twists and knots, multiple strands, locing, weaving and sew-ins, product knowledge.

30hours

Business & the law

The Illinois Barber, Cosmetology & Hair Braiding Act, salon management, pricing and salesmanship, Workers' Compensation.

Student work

Done by students, on real clients

Student performing a locs retwist on a live client in the LYS student salon

Photo 1 of 3

Finished knotless box braids — student work

Photo 2 of 3

Close-up of student hands sectioning locs

Photo 3 of 3

Slide 1 of 3

Student work

From sectioning to a finished set

Client hair sectioned and prepped before braiding
Step 1 — Step 1 — Sectioning & prep. Clean parts, proper tension, real consultation.
Knotless braids in progress showing feed-in technique
Step 2 — Step 2 — Technique. Feed-in method, consistent sizing, scalp safety.
Close-up of clean box parting on finished knotless braids
Step 3 — Step 3 — Finish. Neat parts, even lengths, a set that lasts.

Schedule

Built around the life you already have

We're open 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, 7 days a week. You choose your days and hours, then map them on a forecasting sheet at enrollment so you know your finish date before you start.

1
Phase 1 — first ~100 hours
Commit to a weekday or weekend track while you build the theory foundation.
2
Phase 2 — remaining ~200 hours
Practical work and daily chapter tests, with more flexibility to add days.

Full-time finishes in 10 to 12 weeks. Part-time, up to 25.

Questions people ask on the call

Visit us

2356 W. 63rd St, Chicago

Rooted on the South Side since 2016. Book the virtual session first — then come see the salon in person.

Open 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, 7 days
(773) 912-4010 · enroll@lysschool.com