MINNEAPOLIS — Starting next week, Minnesota will mandate that cosmetologists receive training in caring for, cutting, and styling textured hair. This new requirement, which few states have implemented, was signed into law by the governor last month.
Valencia Montgomery Johnson, a cosmetology educator at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute in Minneapolis and a stylist in St. Paul, was instrumental in advocating for this change.
“We helped pass the texture education law,” Montgomery Johnson told KARE 11. “It makes me very happy knowing that wherever you go, you’ll find at least one stylist who feels confident and skilled enough to help any client who sits in their chair.”
Montgomery Johnson, a student at Aveda from 2015-2016, noted the curriculum has evolved significantly since her time there.
“When I was a student, the texture curriculum wasn’t the same as it is now,” she said.
Although Aveda expanded its curriculum to include more textured hair styles a few years ago, not all salons are equally inclusive. This gap can cause frustration for both stylists and clients.
“You can tell if a stylist had the education when they start working in a salon,” Montgomery Johnson said.
She supported the change by testifying at the state capitol.
The new law requires anyone seeking a license as a cosmetologist, hair technician, manager, or instructor to complete training on all hair types and textures. This includes coil, curl, or wave patterns, various hair strand thicknesses, and volumes. Additionally, they must have experience providing services to individuals with all hair types and textures.
The law goes into effect on July 1, with more details available on page 90 of the official document.
Montgomery Johnson hopes the new law will encourage more clients with braids and locks to visit Aveda, giving students more practice opportunities. She also mentioned that Aveda will soon update its mannequin heads to feature tighter curls.
Student Iz Dickey, who graduates next month, shared her experience.
“I didn’t know how to do braids or cornrows before coming here,” Dickey said. “There’s always more to learn, and I’m always willing to take feedback, especially from the people whose hair I’m doing.”
