| Today, the State Senate passed legislation that requires professionals working with hair to receive education and training in working with textured hair. State Senator Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor), Senate Chair of the Public Health Committee, led its passage. This bill, which if made law will amend regulations to require education and training in working with curl and wave patterns, hair strand thickness and volumes of hair, would take an important step in considering the needs of all clients of these businesses.
“Many BIPOC individuals cannot simply walk into a barbershop or hairdresser and receive the care they need for their hair, as training on treating and caring for textured hair – meaning curly, wavy or coiled hair – is not required in Connecticut,” said Sen. Anwar. “This bill will change that, ensuring all professionals working with hair can provide the best services for their customers without question.”
“Connecticut residents from every community should feel confident they will receive safe and competent services when they visit barbers, hairdressers and cosmeticians,” State Senator Patricia Billie Miller (D-Stamford), chair of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, said. “This bill ensures Connecticut remains a leader in fostering a more inclusive beauty industry and guarantees that hair stylists are trained to care for hair that is coiled, curly, or wavy. I was proud to vote for this legislation and look forward to its final passage.”
Senate Bill 178, “An Act Requiring The Education and Training of Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians To Include Working With Textured Hair,” would add to current standards on the Connecticut Examining Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians education and training in working with textured hair, meaning hair that is coiled, curvy or wavy.
Building on the progress made by the CROWN Act, passed by lawmakers in 2021 and making it illegal to discriminate against individuals because of their natural hairstyles, this bill will provide further equity and opportunity for state residents to provide proper care and service on their hair. Black residents of Connecticut are more likely to have textured hair, and in the past have faced discrimination due to denial of service by untrained hairdressers.
In public testimony, the office of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities noted this legislation does not only reduce instances of potential discrimination but also will reduce the chances that service providers experience complaints of discrimination by providing them education in this form of care.
Testimony submitted members of the Texture Education Collective, an alliance of professional hair industry leaders advocating for increased inclusion for all hair textures and types, found that in surveys, 75% of hair stylists desire additional training in styling textured hair, 66% of high-fashion BIPOC models have reported experiencing hairstylists unable to cater to their hair textures and 65% of the world’s consumer population has textured hair.
The bill previously passed the Public Health Committee by a 34-3 vote. It heads to the House floor next for further action.
Caption: Senator Anwar leads Senate Bill 178’s passage on the Senate floor Wednesday. |
