Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who represents Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods, has introduced a new bill to promote textured hair education in cosmetology schools across the nation. The bill, known as the Texture Positive Act of 2024, was introduced on Friday, June 28.
The Texture Positive Act of 2024 aims to increase the number of professionals skilled in handling textured hair, which includes coiled, curly, or wavy hair in its natural state. The act proposes a federal grant program that will provide funds to minority or women-owned businesses and nonprofits with experience in textured hair education. These organizations will collaborate with cosmetology schools to develop a more inclusive curriculum.
Rep. Velázquez believes that this bill will support individuals who feel marginalized in hair salons or the beauty, fashion, and entertainment industries due to the lack of professionals trained in textured hair. She stated, “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.”
The textured hair industry is currently valued at approximately $2.5 billion, yet cosmetology schools do not mandate training for this specific hair type. According to a 2020 Hair Bias Report by TRESemme, 86% of Black women surveyed reported difficulties finding consistent and quality service at salons. These challenges include finding stylists who can properly care for their hair texture and experiencing bias and discrimination in salons. Additionally, 65% of hairstylists expressed a desire for more training in working with textured hair.
Rep. Velázquez is confident that the Texture Positive Act of 2024 will foster new partnerships between experienced small and minority women-owned businesses and cosmetology schools, resulting in more professionals trained in textured hair.
