Your Path to a Natural Hair Career Starts Here
Whatever brings you to LYS, a license you have been putting off, skills you want to add, a career you are ready to build, or a passion you are finally making official, you belong here. Open enrollment, flexible scheduling, real client experience. Built for people with real lives who are ready to make it happen.
Why students choose LYS
Licensed, approved, and accountable
LYS School holds Illinois IDFPR Hair Braiding School License #260000004, CE Sponsor License #190000592, and Domestic Violence CE Sponsor License #290000066. When you train at LYS, you are training at a school the state of Illinois has approved and continues to oversee.
A decade of graduates building real careers
LYS has been training and licensing hair braiders in Chicago for over 10 years. More than 150 graduates have gone on to work in salons, build their own client books, and open their own businesses.
A school that feels like community
Founded by Yolande Sanvi and rooted in West African hair braiding traditions, LYS is more than a school. It is a space where students feel seen, supported, and celebrated. That is not marketing language. It is what our students tell us.
Complaints against this school may be registered with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 555 W. Monroe, 5th Fl., Chicago, IL 60661, (312) 814-6910.
If you are ready, LYS is ready for you
Our students come from every background and stage of life. Some are starting fresh with no experience, just a decision. Some have been braiding for years and are ready to make it official with a license. Some are already licensed in cosmetology and want to add natural hair to what they do. Some are building toward their own salon. Some just know that natural hair is their thing and they are ready to go all in. What they all share is a connection to natural hair and a readiness to take the next step. LYS is built to meet you wherever you are.
Your schedule, your way
LYS School is open 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week including weekends. You pick which days and hours work for you within those hours. There are no mandatory class times. Whether you are working a full-time job, running an existing client book, raising a family, or juggling all three, your schedule is built around your life, not the other way around. This is not a convenience feature. For most of our students, it is what makes attending LYS possible.
Starting your hair braiding career
Get licensed, get to work. The 300-hour Hair Braiding License is the fastest legal path to braiding professionally in Illinois.
You have been braiding. Now make it official.
You already have the skills and the clients. The license is what lets you work in any salon, rent a booth, and build your business on solid legal ground.
Adding natural hair to your existing services
Already licensed in cosmetology or another field? A hair braiding license lets you offer the natural hair services your clients are already asking for.
Building toward your own salon
LYS's curriculum includes 30 hours of business practices covering salon management, pricing, and client relations, because getting licensed is just the beginning.
Moving from braider to educator
Already licensed and want to teach? The LYS Teacher License pathway is one of the few approved options in Illinois.
Turning your passion into your profession
If natural hair is your thing and you are ready to make it your livelihood, LYS gives you the license, the skills, and the community to do it.
Do not see your situation here? If natural hair matters to you, there is probably a path at LYS. Contact admissions and let us figure it out together.
Choose your program
Not sure which program fits your situation? or take our 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Anyone who wants to braid hair professionally in Illinois, whether you are starting fresh, formalizing existing skills, or adding a credential to an existing career.
300 credited hours, completable in as few as 9 weeks on a full-time schedule or up to 42 weeks at a lighter pace. You set the timeline.
Open enrollment. You choose your own days and hours within school hours (9am to 5pm, Monday through Sunday). No mandatory class times. Most students build a schedule around their existing work or family commitments.
Illinois Hair Braider License issued by IDFPR. The license that lets you work legally in any Illinois salon, rent a booth, or run your own business.
You will practice on real clients as part of your training. And when you graduate, LYS does not hand you a diploma and wish you luck. We set up a dedicated session to walk you through the IDFPR license application. You will not figure it out alone.
Licensed hair braiders who want to become certified instructors at an Illinois-approved braiding school. If you have mastered the craft and want to pass it on, this is the credential that makes it official.
600 hours, or 500 hours if you have 2 or more years of professional braiding experience. LYS is one of the few schools in Illinois with an approved teacher training program.
Open enrollment with flexible scheduling. Contact admissions to map out a schedule that works around your current client book or salon commitments.
Illinois Hair Braiding Teacher License issued by IDFPR.
The 500-hour pathway for experienced braiders is one of the most practical accelerated options available in Illinois. If you qualify, you could be teaching in significantly less time than the standard route.
Licensed hair braiders, cosmetologists, and other beauty professionals in Illinois who need CE credits to renew their license, or who want to expand their knowledge in natural hair care.
10 hours per renewal cycle for hair braiders. 20 hours for teacher license holders. 1-hour Domestic Violence CE required for first renewal. LYS is an approved DV CE Sponsor.
Flexible. Courses available throughout the year with no fixed schedule required. Enrollment is simple: find a course, sign up, and attend.
IDFPR-approved CE credit toward your Illinois license renewal.
LYS holds CE Sponsor License #190000592 and Domestic Violence CE Sponsor License #290000066. That means all of your renewal requirements, regular CE and the DV requirement, can be handled in one place.
High school students and teens ages 16 to 19 who are serious about natural hair and want to start building toward a professional career, not just explore a hobby.
Varies by program. Contact admissions for current details.
Coordinated with school schedules. LYS works with students, parents, and schools to build a schedule that fits around existing academic commitments.
Pathway toward the Illinois Hair Braider License.
Parent or guardian involvement is required and welcomed. LYS coordinates with schools and youth organizations to make this accessible, because starting early is one of the best decisions a young person passionate about natural hair can make.
Teens ages 14 to 17 who want to spend their summer learning real braiding techniques in a structured, hands-on environment. A great fit for young people who love natural hair and want to explore it seriously.
Multi-week intensive. Contact admissions for current session details and availability.
Summer sessions only with limited enrollment. Contact admissions early to secure a spot. Registration is straightforward: find the session that works, sign up, and you are in.
Certificate of completion. This is not a licensure program. It is a foundation for students considering a future in natural hair care.
LYS Summer Camp is not arts and crafts. Students learn real techniques, work with real hair, and come away with skills they can actually use and a foundation for pursuing a license when they are ready.
Current LYS students and graduates who want to go deeper into locs, one of the fastest-growing areas of natural hair care and one of LYS's greatest areas of expertise.
Contact admissions for current course structure and availability.
Available to current students and graduates alongside your existing schedule or after graduation. Enrollment is simple: contact admissions, confirm availability, and get started.
Locs specialization certificate.
LYS specializes in Sisterlocks, microlocs, and traditional locs rooted in West African hair traditions. This is rare. Most programs in Chicago touch on locs briefly. LYS goes deep.
Estimated pricing shown for programs where tuition is being finalized. Final tuition confirmed with admissions. All programs subject to availability.
What you need to enroll
Requirements vary by program. The following apply to most LYS programs. Admissions will confirm the specifics for your situation when you apply.
- At least 16 years of age (parental consent required for students under 18)
- High school diploma or GED, or currently enrolled in high school for youth programs
- Valid government-issued photo ID: State ID, Driver's License, or Passport
- Social Security card
- First-day deposit (amount varies by program and payment method)
The Hair Braiding License and Teacher License programs follow Illinois state admission rules per 68 Ill. Admin. Code Section 1175. Admissions will screen all applicants prior to enrollment.
How enrollment works
We have made it as straightforward as possible. Here is what the process looks like from first contact to first day.
Explore your options
Browse the programs above, take our 2-minute quiz, or just call us. There is no pressure and no commitment at this stage, just information to help you make the right decision.
Connect with admissions
Fill out the Apply form or Contact form. An admissions advisor will reach out to talk through your goals, your eligibility, and what a realistic schedule looks like for your life. You can also call us directly or schedule a school tour to see the facility and meet the team before you commit.
Submit your application and documents
Complete your application online or in person. Bring your ID, Social Security card, and any program-specific documents. Admissions will let you know exactly what is needed.
Confirm your payment plan
Review tuition, fees, and payment options with admissions. Choose the plan that works for your situation and pay your first-day deposit to secure your spot.
Map out your schedule and start
Complete your forecasting sheet, a simple planning document where you map out every day and hour you plan to attend. Because you choose your own hours, this is how both you and LYS stay aligned on when you will finish. Attend orientation. Start your program.
Open enrollment: There are no fixed start dates at LYS School. Once your enrollment is complete and your deposit is confirmed, you can begin. No waiting for the next cohort. No arbitrary deadlines. Start when you are ready.
Note: Continuing Education courses and workshops have a simpler enrollment process. Find the course or workshop that works for you and sign up directly. No admissions consultation required.
Paying for your program
LYS School's flexible scheduling means most students can continue working while enrolled. That matters when you are thinking about how to pay for it. Whatever your financial situation, we have tried to build options that make this possible, not just for people who can write a check today.
Pay in full
No setup feePay your required fees in full at enrollment. No payment plan setup fee applies. The most straightforward option for those who can do it.
In-house payment plan
8.5% setup feeAn 8.5% setup fee applies to required fees and is rolled into your balance, not collected upfront. Your first-day deposit is $300 (cash or Zelle). Full balance is due before course completion, ideally by the time you reach 200 credited hours.
Buy now, pay later
8.5% setup fee (upfront)Use Klarna, Affirm, or Afterpay. The 8.5% setup fee is collected upfront at enrollment. First-day deposit is $175 (cash or Zelle). Repayment terms are set by your chosen provider.
WIOA funding
May cover 100%LYS is an approved WIOA training provider. For eligible students, WIOA can cover the full cost of the program including tuition and fees. You apply independently through your local Illinois workNet Center before your start date.
Questions we hear a lot
No. LYS School offers open enrollment with no cohorts, no waiting lists, and no arbitrary deadlines. Once you complete the enrollment process and your first-day deposit is confirmed, you can begin. Contact admissions to talk through timing.
Yes, and most LYS students do exactly that. Because you choose your own days and hours within our 9am to 5pm schedule (7 days a week including weekends), you build a schedule that works around your job, your family, and everything else going on in your life. There are no mandatory class times. You map out your schedule on a forecasting sheet at enrollment and attend when you said you would.
It depends on where you are right now. If you want to braid hair professionally in Illinois and do not yet have a license, the Hair Braiding License (300 hours) is the starting point. If you are already licensed and want to teach, the Teacher License is the next step. If you need CE credits for license renewal, we have approved courses you can sign up for directly. Not sure? Take our 2-minute quiz or call us. We are good at helping people figure this out. Take the quiz
Yes. Illinois requires 300 credited hours of approved training for the Hair Braiding License regardless of prior experience. What LYS can offer is a schedule flexible enough to work around your existing client commitments, so you do not have to choose between your current income and getting your license. If you have hours from another approved school, contact admissions to discuss transfer credit.
The required fees for the Hair Braiding License program total $2,325. That covers tuition ($2,025), application fee ($50), registration fee ($50), and technology fee ($200, which includes your digital textbook). Optional add-ons include a physical textbook ($150) and school kit ($200). Payment plans are available. Use our tuition calculator to see your full breakdown. Use the tuition calculator
Yes. LYS is an approved WIOA training provider. WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) is a federal program that can cover the full cost of training for eligible individuals, including people who are unemployed, underemployed, or making a career change. You apply through your local Illinois workNet Center before your enrollment start date. LYS does not administer WIOA applications. You apply independently. Visit illinoisworknet.com to find your nearest center and start your application. Visit illinoisworknet.com
Absolutely, and for the Hair Braiding License and Teacher License programs, we encourage it. You can schedule a school tour or informational session to see the facility at 2356 W. 63rd St., meet the team, and see the student salon where you will be practicing. Call us or fill out the contact form to set that up. For Continuing Education courses and workshops, enrollment is straightforward. Find the course or workshop that works for you and sign up directly. Contact us
After passing your graduation exam, LYS sets up a dedicated session to walk you through the IDFPR Hair Braider license application. You will not be handed a diploma and left to figure out the state licensing process on your own. Once you submit your application to IDFPR, you will wait to hear back. The initial license fee is $30. Most of our graduates are licensed and working shortly after graduation. View full admissions details
Ready to make it happen?
Open enrollment. Flexible scheduling. Real client experience. A school that has been doing this for over a decade. If you are serious about natural hair, the next step is talking to us.
Prefer to talk first? Call us at (773) 912-4010