I am petitioning to change our cosmetology school to offer a larger variety of shorter, but more in depth programs where you can specialize in one area. this will allow students to begin working in the industry sooner with more experience in their individual field with the option to return to school to gain additional licenses in other specialties in the future.

Each of these programs would be 600 hours. upon passing your test you are able to perform these services in California.

Haircutting license: Learn to cut all lengths, including clipper cuts.
Chemical license: Learn to work with color, perms, and relaxers.
Hair Styling license: Learn to work on set, do event hair, and braiding.
Nail Tech: Learn all things related to nails.
Esthetician: Learn makeup and all things related to skin.

On 10/11/2021 Gov. Newsom signed a bill that reduced the entire cosmetology school program from 1,600 hours to 1,000 hours with the option to specialize in hair only for 600 hours.

As it stands our curriculum is already heavily flawed and this change isn't helping guide us in the right direction. 1600 hours is not enough time for any student to learn hair cuts, color, perms, relaxers, styling, braiding, updos, makeup, waxing, facials, and nails, and no cosmetologists continue to practice all of these things in the salon after graduating.

This bill was passed on the guise that it would create more equity for marginalized people. 600 hours makes getting into the field more accessible for low income people and people of color, however this training is not sufficient to get started in this industry. SB 803 was lobbied by big corporations like Amazon salon, Ulta, and Great clips who are all looking for cheap labor.

Lastly we need to push for our schools to raise the bar on Black hair education. We have seen schools add textured hair education into their modules, but most of the education is how to press, relax, or "fix" kinky hair, rather than care for it and wear it the way it grows out of the head. All of these courses should cover all types of hair and skin and equip students to feel confident working with all clients. It's time to desegregate our salons. There are many Black people who do not attend or finish cosmetology school because the education in schools is not relevant to the work they do in the salon and they lack the resources to get licensed.