Issue link: https://www.ahpindiestylist.com/i/1534976
18 AHP Indie Stylist Volume 6 Issue 1 ADVOCACY AHP Jersey, and New York followed suit, with California being the most recent to sign similar language into law in September 2024. Since legislative session kicked off for most of the country in January 2025, two other states have filed bills to join the movement: Ohio and Washington. Additionally, Illinois has proposed rules requiring education on all hair types and textures. In comparison, by this time last year, five states had introduced similar legislation. e bills would require or incentivize licensed hair professionals to learn how to care for, style, and perform services on textured hair. is includes cutting, styling, chemically treating, determining care products, and providing scalp care, as well as learning how to do natural, cultural, and protective hairstyles. Importantly, both of the active bills in Ohio and Washington also call Textured hair—which encompasses wavy, curly, and coily hair from 2A to 4C—is not always taught in cosmetology schools. Most cosmetology education focuses primarily on straight hair (types 1A through 1C), even though an estimated 65 percent of Americans have wavy, curly, or coily hair. 1 Recently, some states have realized it's time to correct this oversight. Since 2021, we have seen a growing trend of states requiring cosmetology schools to include textured hair education in their curriculum (particularly the missing education for types 3A through 4C), and we couldn't be more excited about it. e lack of textured hair education is deeply rooted in outdated beauty standards. AHP believes that no one deserves to be told their hair is "too difficult" to be worthy of adequate care. Some states have already shown they agree by passing bills into law that focus on textured hair education. ese bills came after the CROWN Act was first introduced in California in 2019, which set a foundation for protection against racial discriminations based on hair texture. 2 Louisiana was the first state to mandate textured hair education in November 2021, a charge led by the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology and a coalition of supporters. California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Textured Hair Education Expansion by Laura Puryear getty images