Velázquez Introduces Bill to Promote Textured Hair Education and Training
Washington D.C.— Today, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) introduced the Texture Positive Act of 2024, which will incentivize educational training in cosmetology schools across the country to increase the number of trained professionals with knowledge of working with textured hair. The term “textured hair” means hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy in its natural state.
The textured hair industry in the United States is worth around 2.5 billion dollars, yet cosmetology schools are not required to train their students to care for it. The Texture Positive Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to allow states to award grants to minority or women-owned businesses and nonprofits that have experience with providing textured hair education, to partner with cosmetology schools, and implement a more inclusive education and training program.
“Far too many people with textured hair feel marginalized when they enter a salon or work in the beauty, fashion, and entertainment industries because few cosmetic professionals are properly trained on how to care for textured hair,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “This lack of trained professionals not only hurts communities of color that tend to have textured hair, but it also does a disservice to professionals’ post-cosmetology school careers when they enter the workforce and lack the techniques to service diverse clientele. I am proud to introduce the Texture Positive Act of 2024, which will help foster new partnerships between experienced small and minority women-owned businesses and cosmetology schools to produce more trained professionals in textured hair.”
The textured hair industry in the United States is worth around 2.5 billion dollars, yet cosmetology schools are not required to train their students to care for it. The Texture Positive Act of 2024 creates a federal grant program to allow states to award grants to minority or women-owned businesses and nonprofits that have experience with providing textured hair education, partner with cosmetology schools, and implement a more inclusive education and training program.
In 2020, a Hair Bias Report study conducted by TRESemme revealed that 86% of Black women surveyed had challenges finding consistent and quality service at salons. These challenges ranged from difficulty finding a stylist who can care for their hair texture to facing blatant bias and discrimination in the salon chair. The study also found that 65% percent of the hairstylists expressed wanting more training on working with textured hair — it was 70 percent for white stylists.
The Texture Positive Act of 2024 is co-sponsored by: Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL), Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Don Davis (D-NC), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Alma Adams (D-NC), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA).
The Texture Positive Act of 2024 is endorsed by SAG-AFTRA, Youma’s Beauty, Professional Beauty Association (PBA), The Personal Care Products Council, and Color of Change.
“The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) grateful to Congresswoman Velazquez and her staff for the introduction of the Texture Positive Act of 2024. This legislation recognizes and validates the need for texture hair care education and training. Our members throughout the country appreciate the attention to this long-standing challenge and embracing the beauty, health, and safety for all individuals with textured hair. The Texture Positive Act of 2024 aligns with PBA and the Texture Education Collective’s work to bridge the texture hair care education gap for students, and licensed beauty professionals. Thank you for highlighting education, training, and access to services equally for all individuals with textured hair,” said Myra Reddy, Director of Government Affairs for Professional Beauty Association (PBA).
“The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) and our member companies strongly support the Texture Positive Act of 2024. This legislation is crucial for creating an inclusive future in the beauty industry by making texture hair care education accessible to all students and stylists. By equipping all professionals with the skills to care for textured hair, we celebrate and embrace the diversity of all hair textures and types,” said Tom Myers, president & CEO, PCPC.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said, "Most people don’t realize I went to cosmetology school when I was just beginning my professional career as an actor and wanted a backup plan in case things didn’t work out. That was in the 1970’s and I can tell you back then the only hair I studied was Caucasian hair. Well, I did become a success in Hollywood as an actor and now President of SAG-AFTRA, the largest and most powerful entertainment union in the world. During the TV/Theatrical contract negotiation of ‘23, we fought for hair practitioners on sets to be experienced in multiracial/ethnic/aged hair to equally serve ALL our members who are in the cast. But the problem goes deeper than production because this kind of mindless racism begins at the cosmetology level and that is the point at which hair diversity must be taught, learned and practiced as students move on to professional careers. It’s high time the cosmetology industry raised its awareness that human hair comes in many different textures and inclusivity is where it’s at in the 2020’s!"
“We at Youma's Beauty spent the summer of 2023 going from cosmetology school to cosmetology school with the goal of integrating inclusive hair education into their curriculum through our natural hair sensitivity and technical training workshop. Although students approved and were interested because this skill would universally advance their careers (the more types of hair you can do, the more money you make), cosmetology schools were not. So, we picked up the phone and contacted Congresswoman Velasquez's office and here we are a year later with The Texture Positive Act, which enables inclusive hair education for cosmetology students' career success and empowers Black-owned businesses like ours in the process. We are proud to have worked with Congresswoman Velázquez in the crafting of the bill. What a dream come true. God is Great. We pray that Congress will do the right thing and vote for the Texture Positive Act of 2024.” -Moussa and Youma Niangadou, Founders of Youma's Beauty
For a copy of the bill, click here.