SAN DIEGO — California is home to the highest number of cosmetology schools in the country, and now its schools will become more inclusive.
The governor approved a law that requires beauty schools to teach how to care for textured hair, which is considered wavy, curly or coiled hair.
Ruthie Quiachon, better known as “Q the Barber,” said owning The Clipper Game Barbershop on Federal Boulevard and Euclid Avenue is about more than just fades and facial trims.
“I love the community aspect of being a barber,” said Quiachon.
She’s built a community of barbers and clients, and many of them have textured hair.
“There isn’t any program at the schools that say, 'we’re going to specifically focus on textured hair',” said Quiachon. “Right now, they’re not getting the experience, and it’s hurting them in their shops.”
Q said she had to teach herself how to cut textured hair.
“What it really comes down to is the community outreach for people with textured hair,” said Quiachon.
That outreach is getting the governor’s support. He just signed Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber’s Textured Hair Education bill (AB 2166) that requires California licensed barbering and cosmetology schools to educate students on to care for wavy, curly or coiled hair.
“Essentially, we’re saying at the state is that there’s not one standard of beauty. There’s not one standard of the importance of who should be trained. We all are beautiful regardless of how our hair texture is, and the people that we go to do our hair, should know how to do a wide variety of different hair textures,” said Weber.
2019 Crown Act
This bill was born out of the 2019 Crown Act, which prohibits discrimination based on one's hairstyle.
The La Mesa district legislator said 65 percent of Americans have textured hair. This law will expand access and give stylists confidence.
“It also prevents those stylists from having to go and pay extra money to learn how to do textured hair,” said Weber.
Q said she’s had her eye on the need for textured hair education.
“I walked into a barber shop the other day and there was a gentleman in there,” said Q. “He actually said to me, ‘I’ve been cutting since 1955’ ... and he asked me, he said, ‘Can you teach me how to cut textured hair?’ And I said, ‘I can absolutely teach you how to cut textured hair,’” said Quiachon.
The barber hopes that sharpening one’s skill will build inclusion and empower a network of strength.
“Being a barber is not just about cutting hair. I can make you look great, but it’s also about community,” said Quiachon.
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology school supports the bill.
The bill requires all schools to ensure students receive valuable education in providing services on textured hair, which will lead to increased consumer protection.
The Texture Education Collective (TEC), an alliance of professional hair industry leaders under the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), partnered with Dr. Weber in authoring the bill. TEC was founded by Aveda, DevaCurl, L'Oréal USA, and Neill Corporation.
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