Testimonials and Support

I agree with this 100%, every cosmetologist should know all hair types, I have felt bad having to turn away people due to not knowing that type of hair very well.

Angie H. 

When I went all we were taught was relaxers and was told all hair is the same. Well that’s false. I’m biracial myself and didn’t get the super textured hair but would’ve liked to have been more educated on it. When I went out and worked people came to me cause they assumed I knew how to because of my ethnicity and well basically just assumed. It needs to be taught. All hair is not the same, different methods need to be used so it should be taught.

Talisha S. 

Everyone should get the service they deserve.

Kate L. 

I went to cosmetology school in 1999. Unless you were a black student they didn’t teach you textured hair. Despite us being in the same class they said it wasn’t something we should concentrate on, because “our” future clientele wouldn’t be textured hair cause we were white. I have really struggled learning the specifics on technicals because of this. Everyone should be able to service all hair types and clientele.

Teddi L. 

Because all hair is important. We are hair stylists and no hair type should be an issue.

Michele N. 

Cosmetologists should know how to do all types of hair. Barbers as well.

Rajaun H. 

It's needed, make the school education as diverse as our world. Cosmetology school is so one sided and biased.

Monic S. 

I wanna go to cosmetology school and would love to learn how to work on ALL TYPES of hair

Hannah R.

We should uplift each others beauty. Always.

Vanessa P. 

WHY is this not already taught? I am furious. How am I supposed to believe this isn't a racist issue?

Kassadie H. 

There is no excuse for it not being taught already

Mariah B.  

I’m tired of being turned down by hairdressers due to incompetence. I’m White, but my nephew is Black. I learned the hard way that not every licensed cosmetologist is familiar with all types of hair. The disappointment on his face after we got turned down by a barbershop downtown killed me. No child should ever feel out of place or unwelcome simply because of their beautiful and unique qualities.

Eva L. 

Because 1) Black hair matters too and 2) if they don't teach this, salons are missing out on awesome ways to work with beautiful hair

Sarah C. 

This is a no-brainer! Failure to include the entire range of human hair characteristics and needs in cosmetology curriculum would be like medical schools skipping the teaching of sickle cell anemia diagnosis and treatment. FYI: Sickle Cell Anemia primarily presents in those of African descent, although it is also found in smaller numbers of other ethnic groups. Inclusivity is LOVE.

Dee R. 

Now it all makes sense why going to professional, licensed cosmetologists resulted in such damage--and these are people with textures like mine. I view salons without diverse clientele as saying, "You are not welcome here." Fortunately, I’ve found a salon owner who has independently mastered every hair texture in its natural or chemically treated state and has innovated new regimens and processes. Clients travel from around the world for her hair care. That's how needed this education is.

Antonia M. 

this is important to the Black community

Kai P. 

This is such an important thing to be taught. My friend is 27 years old and just this year has learned how to do her own hair. It has been a source of anxiety and confusion for her for her while life. Its sad though that she constantly has to do her own hair because no one around her knows how to do her hair probably. If there were people trained to work on her hair she would not have gone through this.

Brooke H. 

Its time for all cosmetology students to learn about and how to take care of and style black hair and what to use with every texture

Kimarie W. 

If a licensing board requires practitioners to have a skill, whether it be as complex as surgery or as straight forward as shining shoes, the board must require that all services they supervise can be used by all. Failing to require the ability to work with all hair types is racist and reeks from the smell of 300+ years of white domination in N. America. Please move your profession, and your expectations of your colleagues and yourselves, into this century.

Lisa H. 

It's only fair and reasonable to expect cosmetologists to be able to work with all types of hair.

Pamela B. 

I can't believe this is not already a requirement! Wow.

Kerry D. 

This fights another example of institutionalized racism.

Willi C. 

I signed because school is supposed to prepare you for life behind the chair? I had more hours in perms, finger waves and pin curls than anything else and since I’ve been out of school I have not done one of the above. We had a girl come into the salon with hair we haven’t ever learned about or worked with and it was so embarrassing

Victoria M. 

Black beauty is valuable and it matters

Megan K. 

As a student and then when I was an instructor there was never enough information given on this subject. It was largely ignored by school that are predominantly white.

Simone M.

Personally ostracization by salons. Oh no, we don't do that is just one example response That made me feel horrible and ugly as a young black girl who needed help getting her hair done. my mom made be call over a dozen numbers from the phone book trying to find someone to do my hair. I found no one. Which made me fail worse because it meant I was an unimportant category.

Jaclyn T.  

The fact that this has to be a petition is ridiculous. Teach ALL hair techniques not just white hair. Sheesh.

Karen A. 

Black women are constantly judged on their hair...straightened, natural, curly, weaves, dreadlocks, thick, thin, frizzy...whatever. We should expect that a professional would have taken classes in dealing with special techniques needed to care for each specific type of hair and the treatments needed for women and girls, in particular, to care for and style their hair.

Vicki W. 

It's the decent thing to do. I had no idea that black hair wasn't included in cosmetology education.

Danielle S.

the public expects licensed cosmetologists to be experts in their field--OF COURSE they need to be trained in black hair...it's called "competency" if you work with the public...ALL the public

Theresa N. 

I have been turned away at times from hair salons where I have been told that they don’t do my type of hair or that I should relax my hair for it to be more manageable. Or even charge me extra for My texture which is not much different for someone that simply has curly hair. It’s discriminatory.

Tiffany G. 

I signed because in order for there to be acceptance that there are different ethnicities in this country and we need to be accepted. We need to be comfortable expressing our culture in all professions. And we need hair people in the Live Film and Television Unions to have trained hair techs that can do all types of hair. Period.

D.Hill H. 

professional hairdressers should know how to handle Black hair

Elizabeth S. 

I signed because all hair types should mean ALL hair types. Not including the styling of natural black hair almost seems disrespectful and is not inclusive. Black is beautiful!

Laurell B. 

OMG - black hair is so beautiful! Fixing it is an ART!

Diana T. 

I had no idea that caring for Black Hair textures aren't being taught in cosmetology schools! We need this now.

Dawn B. 

Agree 100%. Cosmetology students should study and be able to style all types of hair.

Julie N. 

Students should learn how to work with ALL hair textures otherwise they are being set up for failure along with paying back their student loans.

Carrie H. 3 weeks ago

In a salon, you should always be able to get your hair done, no matter your hair texture. If we can't learn to style all hair textures, we're indirectly discriminating against those who don't have the straight or wavy hair taught to style in current cosmetology courses.

Diana E. 

I’m a Blacktress with 4c natural hair that I work hard to keep healthy. I expect the same level of professional care as any actor on set.

April M. 

As a graduate of cosmetology school, I know firsthand that this is true and how much you do not learn and are unable to do because of this limited coursework. All textures should be represented and students should learn how to properly treat and handle ethnic hair, as well as style it. It will open more opportunities for them after graduation, as well as make them more well-rounded and educated cosmetologists.

Gina B. 

Hair styling is an important trade and its practitioners need to be able to work on all types of hair. Black hair matters!!

Derik H. 

It should be a requirement in order to be licensed. Women of color spend the most money getting their hair done, so why would you limit yourself and we have the best hair due to versatility. Also, as a performer, it is annoying working with hair stylists who don't have the slightest clue about how to style ethnic hair, especially in this day in age. It is extremely frustrating and perpetuates our placement in society in regards to image. Respect women of color and our hair!

Anastacia T. 

Because I’m biracial and I think it is important to teach and represent all textures of hair. It’s treated and cared for completely different

Jessie D. 

Black people are people. As such they deserve access to the same privileges other races get when it comes to hair care. It’s ridiculous that I even need to say this. They deserve the option of any beautician. Period.

Rayne O. 

HELLO Cosmetology Schools. It's time to grow up and teach ALL kinds of hair, and that includes BLACK hair.

Susan M. 

Because 10 year old me got her feelings hurt when the others scorned natural hair My mama knew how to do natural hair; I sign because maybe the others would be more exposed to its beauty if they saw the desecration of the Miladys Standard.

Kinaya B. 

I have been in beauty school for over a year and never got to learn or experience anything with black women hair. If we are learning to do hair, we NEED to learn how to do ALL KINDS OF HAIR

Aja H. 

The importance of being prepared to serve all Clients is critically important. And, the instruction honors the diversity of customers frequenting salons!

Jeanne S. 

I’m a cosmetologist and a barber. Neither school showed me How to work with the hair type and not only is it super important to know what to do it’s super embarrassing that we don’t. Change needs to happen.

Allison B. 

i signed because i am currently in cosmetology school and would love to be taught how to work with all types of hair and work with different textures because everyone woman deserves to feel beautiful

payton p. 

Much needed change. I was one of those who had to alter my hair in order to be more professional. There would be a clear difference to the way people treated me with curls vs chemically straitened.

Alexandra s. 

I have had terrible experiences in salons resulting in great loss of hair and scalp damage. Now I only go to black hairstylists who work independently. I should have just as much ability to go to a salon as any straight-haired person.

Arielle L. 

Because it's important our hair matters. It would also help the students learn about their own hair etc.

Bessie H. 

I agree with Lord and Amadio that teaching cosmetologists to make black hair imitate white hair is coded racism.

Pat M. 1 month ago

Being a current cosmetology student of African American decent I had higher expectations of the program being that it would be for all textures and I realized when it was too late.

Natasha A. 

Because these hair dressers/ beauticians have no idea what to do with curly Textured hair or how to keep it healthy, they have no advice on how to keep it healthy at home either, and if they do it’s wrong!

Jessica E. 

I went to school with black stylists who had to pay for to get their 1600 hours and pass the state boards all while learning and doing hair we were not being taught. This is not an equitable program. We should be learning how to serve all clients safely and effectively.

Autumn M. 

It can only help everyone in the industry to learn hair diversity.

Leza B. 

I signed this petition not only because it is crucial that cosmetologists understand the makeup and texture of African/Black hair types, but to also to teach women and men with textured hair how to maintain and most importantly embrace their natural hair. No person should be turned down by a salon/cosmetologist because they are not knowledgeable and cannot handle curly, coily, or kinky hair. Please educate these cosmetologists on diversity of textures. Thank you.

Amouri T. 

I’ve been on one too many sets where the stylist couldn’t do my hair or makeup. Sometimes, I’m only one of two people they have to style.

Linseigh G. 

It shouldn’t be difficult for people of color to find a stylist. They shouldn’t have to go to niche salons or to friends just to get their hair done. I imagine a world where a black woman can confidently walk into any major salon chain in their area, and know the stylists can do her hair well too! This is so important!!

Amanda H. 

If you don't want to learn how to do textured hair correctly, you shouldn't be doing hair. I wish it was gone over in depth in school

Sydney W. 

Hello, I signed because I have always had horrible experiences when I walk into most hair salons in Seattle WA. Being turned away because I have "Black" hair cause a lot of issues in my ability to love my identity. I sign today so my three daughters can find more salons that will do their hair when they are older.

Chyeé H. 

As a professional hairstylist, I can witness to what little education we received on black hair. If you wanted to learn, you had to seek it out yourself.

Lynn B. 

As a cosmetologists I WISH I was taught in school! Our education is quite expensive and its sad you dont learn about ALL HAIR TYPES! It is so embarrassing having to turn someone away because you weren't taught about their hair type. You aren't taught how to cut it, how to style it, what product to use/ recommend. NOTHING!

Mariannah B. 

Diversity in modeling and casting is not going to be fully achieved until everyone behind the scenes knows how to work with the different hairstyles and overall other cultures that come with it.

Abbie M. 

Stop promoting straight hair as the ideal & normalizing white supremacy!

Jennifer O. 

Because I’m black an no one use to know how to do my hair properly. I’m tired of seeing models and celebrities with horrible looking hair because no one was taught how to do it

Jasmine H. 

Black people should be able to be served effectively in any salon. I was woefully undereducated on Black hair needs in cosmetology school; this has been a disservice to clients and has hobbled me professionally.

Este B. 

As a Cosmetologist, we did not learn how to effectively cut, color, or care for ethnic hair. I went to school in a predominantly black community. Many of the women that I went to school with were black women learning how to do white hair. We all paid for the same education. This is wrong. Black women and girls deserve the same education and pride in their esthetic beauty. Black is beautiful.

Sarah B. 

I’ve been a cosmetologist for 7 years and I recently completed New Jersey’s teacher training program, there are SO many gaps in our curriculum. Our students and future stylists deserve better.

Tiffany H. 

Because it's a privilege not to have to worry if a hairdresser was trained on my hair type.

Alysha S. 

It is incredibly disheartening to get out of school and have little to no knowledge on an ENTIRE GROUP of hair types and textures! There are also not enough, easy to attend classes after graduation for non-white textured hair. I would have LOVED to have the education so I can help ALL clients equally, not have to learn as I go and look like an incompetent fool.

Bethany H. 

This shouldn't have to be petitioned, yet it's another on the list of small, "thousand cuts" indignities that impact Black + brown folks seeking services. Everyone deserves to look beautiful and get their textured hair treated well by stylists educated on all kinds of needs and techniques. Overhaul these narrow standards for competency already.

Nikk C. 

If you’re going to teach hair TEACH ALL HAIR

Olivia H. 

I’m in cosmetology school and feel there is a SERIOUS lack of education of learning on black hair.

Kayla C. 

Wow!!! Things have not changed, I remember scouring that text book when I took cosmetology in high school (decades ago) ! I am shocked but not surprised that nothing has changed. My stylist searched and purposely (and paid) took extra classes to learn how to work on multi texture hair.

M J. 

I'm currently in cosmetology school and I'm not going to lie one of the biggest disappointments for me is knowing we don't get black/textured hair mannequins. If we are going to school to learn about caring for hair then we should learn to care for ALL hair.

Hannah C. 

I believe all education should be fully inclusive. I don’t understand how we have kept so much history out of our schools. Teaching about black culture, history, and hair styles would bridge a major gap in our country.

Karrilyn C.