California this week became the fifth state in the U.S. to require that knowledge of textured hair care is included in the state's cosmetology licensing requirements and school curriculums.
The Golden State joins Louisiana, New York, Minnesota, and Connecticut in addressing a critical gap in cosmetology in the U.S., in which state cosmetology licensing requirements — and therefore cosmetology schools — have long omitted textured hair care as a topic that salon and barbershop professionals need to master in order to earn a license.
This gap has long persisted even though approximately 65% of Americans have textured hair — coiled, curly, or wavy, according to Aveda.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill championed by the Texture Education Collective (TEC), an alliance of professional hair industry leaders under the Professional Beauty Association, along with California Assemblywoman Dr. Akilah Weber.
"California is proud to be the home of approximately 200 cosmetology schools, more than any other state in the nation," Dr. Weber says.
"The enactment of this landmark textured hair education legislation means those schools can now train even more stylists to serve the diverse beauty needs of all Californians. We are proud to be leading the way and urge other states to join us."
Foundational members of the TEC are Aveda, DevaCurl, L'Oréal USA, and Neill Corp., the latter of which spearheaded the first such legislation in 2021 in its home state of Louisiana. New York followed suit in November of 2023, and then Minnesota and Connecticut in May 2024.
PBA's Government Affairs Director, Myra Reddy, says the group will continue to push for similar requirements across the U.S. until all 50 states are covered.
"This victory fuels the Texture Education Collective momentum as we advocate for similar legislation across the nation," she says.
Beauty professionals, business owners, educators, and others can lend their support for this mandate in their own states in two ways.
One to sign and share the TEC’s petition on the issue, which Reddy explains is used to convince state officials that enough of their constituents are invested in the matter to adopt it.
The other is for licensed beauty professionals to petition their state cosmetology board or state legislators to get involved.
“We need legislators who won’t just introduce this bill, but will advocate for it. Who will actively push that legislation across the finish line," Reddy told American Salon. "And beauty professionals have to serve as their guide."
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