Fabric of Hair Investigates: Is there a Lack of Training on Natural Hair Textures in Cosmetology.🧐
The Hairstyling Industry Has a Racism Problem, and It Starts With Beauty School.
As summations unfold on race around the world, people of color have attested that in the beauty industry there are bias and systematic discrimination in mostly white salons.
This is due to apathy of formal education on tightly curled, coiled or zig-zag hair types.
The lack of experience, or attentiveness to this hair type , is particularly critical when it comes to hair textures worn naturally.
A growing community among African American women and men who want to celebrate both Black culture, and personal identity.
Many stylist in the hair education system that are non-Black. Will state over and over ”They didn't learn Black hair”.
They've been educated that Black hair is difficult.
In modern cosmetology schools they include educators with experience on a range of textured hair, but they're often encumbered by other priorities.
While some textbooks do include a portfolio on all hair types, often students report that highly textured hair is often barely mentioned during educational training. Mannequins of color with textured hair are not accustomed and rarely available.
Unfortunately it is attainable to be awarded a cosmetology license, a process practiced by many US states, without ever touching a Textured hair type.
Cosmetology programs typically only teach styles and looks for people of European descent.
This tactic has served and upheld segregation against African Americans. If the salon stylists do not know how to do Black hair, then the business will not have to serve Black people.
This is bigger than texture hair types. It’s about the larger message that’s communicated when the beauty industry pretends like a whole demographic of people with a particular hair type, has no existence in this space.
Then this problem trickles down into the community, basically teaching Black people with natural textured hair that they are not beautiful.
This is a huge contribution to Black people growing up and suffering from severe self-esteem issues.
So we need our beauty schools to have inclusion and accountability. This is not a Black or White issue.
It’s about everyone being included.
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