"Hairstylist" does not mean "only some types of hair - stylist."

As a receptionist at a salon in a predominantly white area of Minnesota, something I've noticed, and strongly believe should be talked about, is the lack of education on Afrocentric hair in many cosmetology schools. The avoidance of teaching future stylists (and in turn, the future stylists they teach) these skills only perpetuates racism, segregation, and discrimination towards a group of people who have been bullied, oppressed, and violently disenfranchised for their hair (and more) for hundreds of years.

A small bit of history on African hair and its significance to cultures, sourced from Chime (HairCrush) on youtube: THE HISTORY OF BLACK HAIR: In Africa, different ethnic groups donned a variety of hairstyles that were significant to indicating identity and status within tribes. As people were taken from their land to be made slaves, slave owners eradicated the identity and culture within slaves' hair by shaving the heads of both men and women; which was viewed as an unspeakable crime in many tribes. To this day, embracing natural hair and the hairstyles achievable with natural hair is an important part of identity and pride for many black people. And still, these styles on black people are a "reason" for discrimination due to implicit bias, prejudice, and racism. In a hair salon setting, having to turn away clients solely because there are no available stylists who are familiar with their type of hair is absolute discrimination, almost as if the salon education industry has a sign that says, "whites only," unless you're in an area where it's common to do different types of hair. Cosmetology schools not educating their students on all hair types continues systematic racism and discrimination.

Working closely with hairstylists and beauty service providers, it is clear that one of the biggest reasons this profession is chosen and important to them is because they are able to help people feel their best, most beautiful, and most like themselves. Choosing a hairstyle, headwear, or lack thereof, for yourself is empowering and hairstylists are some of the people that will help you get there. There is no reason that this experience should only be achievable to people with a certain type of hair. Salons are a place for pampering, self-love & care, and community; anyone who comes into a salon should be able to feel comfortably and adequately cared for. This is why education on all hair types needs to be standard in cosmetology curriculums, not just in locations where it is common to do a certain type of hair. Because there is no National Board of Cosmetology, we have to start within our own communities. For me, that's the MN Board of Cosmetology.

Let's listen to POC and their experiences, learn and educate ourselves, and make change. We all deserve to feel beautiful anywhere we go.