More States Pass Legislation Requiring Textured Hair Education in Cosmetology Schools

Washington, Vermont and Maine passed legislation into law requiring the inclusion of textured hair education in cosmetology schools. The law goes into effect during the next 12 months. They join California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Minnesota and New York, which passed similar legislation since 2021.

Under the law, textured hair is defined as defined as curly, coily and wavy hair. The new law addresses a gap in representation for the 65% of Americans with textured hair. These consumers have historically been left out of cosmetology education and so frequently lack equitable access to professionally trained and licensed stylists, according to advocates.

Passage of the bills was accomplished through the efforts of the Textured Education Collective (TEC), an
alliance of professional hair industry leaders founded by Aveda, DevaCurl, L’Oréal USA and Neill
Corporation, under the Professional Beauty Association (PBA).

“The Professional Beauty Association celebrates the signing of Washington, Vermont and Maine’s
landmark textured hair education bills,” said Myra Reddy, government affairs director, Professional
Beauty Association. “These continued victories fuel the Texture Education Collective momentum as we
advocate for similar legislation across the nation, promoting consistent standards and excellence in
beauty education from coast to coast.”

Policymakers who championed the bill include Representative Melanie Morgan of Washington State, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas of Vermont and Senator Rachel Talbot Ross of Maine.

A Broader Scope of Skills

The program enhances skills for beauty professionals, enhancing opportunities for career growth and success as they journey through the industry, according to supporters.

“Every aspiring professional deserves an education that reflects the full spectrum of hair types and textures, and every client deserves access to stylists who are trained to meet their unique needs,” said David Greenberg, CEO of L’Oréal USA, president of North America Zone. “L’Oréal USA applauds Washington, Vermont and Maine for requiring textured hair education in cosmetology licensing. This is a meaningful step toward enhancing the skillsets of the professional beauty community, expanding the opportunity to meet and exceed the needs of a wider network of consumers.”

Washington’s legislative victory makes it the first state in the Pacific Northwest to adopt this measure. With Maine and Vermont also on board in the Northeast, the legislative movement has been gaining momentum across the US, according to advocates. Louisiana enacted a similar requirement in November 2021. TEC was then founded to champion the passage of New York’s textured hair education legislation in 2023, followed by Minnesota, Connecticut and California in 2024.