After years of Black women being told “we don’t do that type of hair,” New York now requires cosmetology schools to teach textured hair
New York state now mandates that cosmetology programs include comprehensive training on textured hair, ensuring stylists are prepared to serve all clients.
💇🏾♀️ “We don’t do that type of hair” just got a lot harder to excuse in New York.
As of September 1, 2026, New York cosmetology and natural hair styling programs are required to teach students how to work with all hair types and textures — including different curl and wave patterns, thickness, density, porosity, and curly, coily and kinky hair.
For Black women, this one hits different. Too many of us have walked into salons only to hear that a stylist “doesn’t do our type of hair” or simply was never trained to properly care for it.
Now textured-hair education is becoming part of the standard curriculum, not something treated like an optional specialty.
Because if you’re licensed to do hair, knowing how to properly care for the hair growing out of Black women’s heads shouldn’t be considered “extra.” 🖤
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