In times of pandemic, salon closures and the passage of royal legislation, we continue to see more people wearing and celebrating their natural hairstyles.
While many in the hair industry are excited about the increase in representation, saying more stylists are needed, there isn't enough textured hair education included in state licensing programs and calling for further changes. I'm also looking for
NBC 5 spoke with stakeholders to explain why the fight to promote non-discrimination and greater inclusion of a style popular among Black people benefits people of all races and backgrounds.
“When I was growing up, my mom was white, my dad was black, and obviously I always had curly hair, but my mom had straight hair, so I had no idea,” Seth Cannon said. .
“And in college, I just let it be. What changed everything was that I was in therapy, right? I lost my father when I was a kid, and I ended up in foster care and stuff like that. “She told me that in therapy, it's about becoming who you need to be,” Cannon continued.
That advice inspired Cannon to open Flourish Curls, a place where clients learn how to create and love their natural hair.
She says it's a process that starts with plenty of counseling and questions to get to know the client's hair story.
“Tell me about your insecurities about your hair,” she said.
Dr. Jennifer Tiller says that before she discovered Flourish, she struggled to find the right products and often felt like she needed to straighten her curls. Especially as one of the few black female doctors.
“So before I went to an interview for a new position, whether it was graduate school or residency, I would straighten my hair,” Dr. Tiller said.
But thanks to the proliferation of expressiveness and the passage of royal legislation banning discrimination based on natural hair and protective hairstyles, stylists are seeing a surge in the number of people hungry to understand textured hair care. I am witnessing it.
Tiller said she's happy now that she has an easy routine to maintain and can drive to Flourish, which is nearly 30 minutes away. She has regular appointments with her stylist, many of which are months in advance, and knows she's in high demand.
“And it's saved me time at this point where I don't have to worry about my hair growing naturally out of my head,” Tiller said.
Like Tiller, Chantel Fein enjoys her newfound freedom by wearing her hair in afro puffs or braids.
Change is truly freeing and light. You can be yourself with a natural look.
Chantelle Fein
Her knitter, Vana Collins, says the movement's momentum is also spurring innovation, including her line of oil products, Tough Babies.
“So I always had clients who had issues with edges and hair loss, like itching on the crown of the head or around protective styles,” Colin said.
She set to work creating and testing hair oils to alleviate their problems.
“And I just did some research to come up with a hair care product line of exciting hair oils,” Collins said.
Stylists say it's not just women and people of color that are driving demand for their services and products.
“This is the most unique thing about understanding what texture actually means. Texture has nothing to do with race,” Autumn Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough is a third generation hair care innovator. In February, she invited stylists and community members to a screening of her Netflix documentary series, The Black Beauty Effect.
The third episode of the series features her grandfather, Comer Cottrell Jr., the founder of Jheri Curls.
Yarbrough's parents created the “Just for Me” relaxer system. And Mr. Yarbrough founded his NU Standard Beauty, a system that provides textured hair for everyone.
She celebrates progress but says there's still a way to go
“We have unfinished business,” she said.
and to ensure that people of all backgrounds can benefit from increased diversity in product research and development.
Understand hair texture and make sure it is part of your education in the professional community.
Autumn Yarbrough
There is also a widespread need for more stylists who can create textured hair.
“We're in a situation where too many people are natural and don't have a stylist who specializes in it,” Cannon says.
New York is the first state to require cosmetology students to learn how to care for all hair types. In North Texas, Cannon says it's all about the skill development of individual stylists. She says many people invest thousands of dollars to learn new skills.
Her classes quickly fill up with stylists from all backgrounds. She also hosts classes to learn how to style her own hair and how to care and maintain children's hair.
“We have an Indian stylist, a Hispanic stylist. There's curly hair everywhere,” Cannon said.
After all, hair is fabric and hair color doesn't matter. We are at the end of life and everyone needs help and we all need someone to take care of us,” she said.
Beauty company L'Oréal is promoting more textured hair care education nationwide with its Texture of Change campaign. Retailers estimate more than 60% of the world's population has coarse hair, but hair inclusion advocates argue it's not taught in most beauty schools. are doing.
The parent company of the Milady beauty textbook used in Texas said its latest edition focuses more on diversity and inclusion.
Everyone has different hair conditions, such as straight hair, curly hair, locs, waves, braids, perms, and wigs. Unfortunately, the diversity of hair types and textures isn't always highlighted in mainstream media and marketing. LaToya Stirrup, co-founder of Kazmaleje, explains how the company is inclusive of all hair types and helps women, men, and children alike love whatever hairstyle they choose. He talks about how he is trying to break the mold.
