New York just made history: as of September 1, every hairdresser trained in the state has to learn how to care for all hair types, not just straight or wavy hair. New Jersey passed a similar law earlier this year. Together, they're proof that this kind of reform is possible, and there's no reason the rest of the country should wait to catch up.

For years, people with textured hair have walked into salons and been turned away, overcharged, or given care that left their hair damaged, simply because the stylist in the chair was never taught the basics. Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, who sponsored New York's law, put it plainly: "No New Yorker should ever walk into a salon and be turned away or receive substandard care because of their hair texture."

Every American deserves that same guarantee, no matter what state they live in. New York's law proves this reform doesn't have to be expensive or complicated: it didn't add a single extra training hour, it simply built new instruction into programs schools already run. Students still take the same licensing exam, they just now have to prove they can handle every texture, not only some.

State legislatures across the country should follow New York and New Jersey's lead and pass their own textured hair training requirements for cosmetology students, so every stylist graduates ready to serve every client who sits in their chair, no matter their hair type.

Sign the petition to urge state lawmakers nationwide to require textured hair training in cosmetology programs, so no one is ever turned away from a salon because of their hair.