Washington, Vermont, and Maine have officially joined a growing list of states that require cosmetology schools to teach textured hair education, reinforcing a nationwide push toward more inclusive beauty standards. Under newly passed legislation, all state-approved cosmetology programs must now provide structured instruction in cutting, styling, and caring for textured and natural hair-skills that have historically been marginalized or ignored in many training programs. Supporters argue these changes will advance both consumer safety and racial equity, ensuring that people with curly, coily, kinky, and tightly textured hair can access knowledgeable, professional care. With these additions, nearly 10% of U.S. states now legally compel cosmetology schools to expand their curriculum, underscoring mounting pressure on the beauty industry to reflect the country’s racial and ethnic diversity in its educational requirements.
New Inclusive Education Standards in Washington, Vermont, and Maine
Lawmakers in Washington, Vermont, and Maine have enacted statutes that weave textured hair education into the core requirements for cosmetology licensing. Drawing inspiration from earlier reforms in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Louisiana, the new rules mandate both theory and practical training on wavy, curly, coily, and tightly textured hair.
State regulators emphasize that these changes are meant to correct a systemic training gap that has left many licensed professionals underprepared to safely serve Black clients and others with textured hair. Historically, straight hair has been treated as the “default” in many cosmetology programs, with textured hair instruction relegated to brief overviews or omitted entirely. The updated laws directly challenge that model.
To comply, schools are already revising course structures, investing in updated mannequins and supplies, and collaborating with specialized educators in textured and natural hair care. Early implementation plans show several shared priorities across the three states:
- Curriculum integration of textured hair care across cutting, coloring, chemical services, and protective styling.
- Licensing exam updates that add written questions and practical components specific to curls, coils, kinks, and waves.
- Faculty development to ensure instructors can competently teach a full range of hair textures.
- Consumer protection goals aimed at reducing breakage, scalp damage, chemical burns, and discriminatory service denials.
| State | Effective Date | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 2025 | Licensing exam reform |
| Vermont | 2025 | Rural school support |
| Maine | 2026 | Instructor upskilling |
These efforts mirror a broader trend. According to policy trackers monitoring beauty industry legislation, several additional states are actively considering similar bills that would require texture-inclusive instruction as a condition of licensure.
Why Textured Hair Education Is Central to Equity and Client Safety
The new training mandates are designed to do more than fill technical knowledge gaps-they challenge the long-standing notion that only straight hair is “standard” in professional beauty education. When cosmetology programs ignore or minimize textured hair, the consequences reach far beyond aesthetics: clients can experience damage, limited style choices, biased treatment, or subtle pressure to alter their natural hair to fit Eurocentric norms.
By placing coils, curls, kinks, and waves at the center of required training, the laws seek to:
- Normalize textured hair as a fundamental component of cosmetology, not an elective specialty.
- Reduce racially biased outcomes in salons, such as refusal of service or misdiagnosed scalp and hair conditions.
- Improve safety for clients receiving color, relaxers, keratin treatments, and other chemical services on textured hair.
- Ensure that all licensed professionals are capable of serving a diverse clientele with confidence and respect.
In practice, schools in Washington, Vermont, and Maine will add or expand dedicated modules that include:
- Texture-inclusive theory covering curl patterns, density, porosity, elasticity, shrinkage, and moisture balance.
- Hands-on practice with live models who have natural, relaxed, and loc’d textured hair, in addition to mannequins.
- Health-focused instruction on scalp wellness, traction alopecia prevention, product ingredients, and chemical safety for textured hair.
- Cultural competency training centered on bias, respectful communication, and inclusive consultation strategies.
| Training Focus | Bias Reduced | Client Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Texture science | Stereotyping textured hair as “unprofessional” or “unmanageable” | Personalized, accurate service plans |
| Protective styling | Pressure on clients to straighten or chemically alter natural hair | Style choices that respect culture and hair health |
| Consultation skills | Unequal treatment in booking, pricing, and time allocation | Clear, respectful, and transparent salon experiences |
In recent years, surveys from major beauty organizations have shown that a significant share of stylists report little or no formal training on textured hair, even as more than half of the global population has some degree of curl or wave. The new legislation aims directly at closing that gap.
Operational and Regulatory Hurdles for Cosmetology Schools and State Boards
While the policy goals are clear, implementing texture-inclusive standards presents real logistical challenges for cosmetology schools and oversight bodies.
For school administrators, the most immediate issues include:
- Finding and training qualified educators with expertise in natural, relaxed, and protective styling techniques.
- Redesigning lesson plans and clinic procedures to embed textured hair education across the entire program, not just in a single unit.
- Sourcing appropriate tools and products, including diverse mannequin heads, combs and brushes for various curl types, and texture-safe formulations.
- Balancing time and budget constraints alongside existing accreditation standards and federal financial aid requirements.
These challenges can be especially pronounced in smaller or rural schools, where access to specialty educators, updated curriculum materials, or industry partnerships may be limited. Some programs are turning to hybrid solutions-combining in-person workshops with online training modules and virtual demonstrations-to expand access to textured hair education without extending overall program length.
State boards and licensing agencies face their own set of pressures. They must:
- Revise written and practical exams to include textured hair competencies.
- Train examiners on consistent, unbiased scoring of braiding, twisting, loc maintenance, silk pressing, and other texture-focused services.
- Update inspection and enforcement protocols to verify that schools comply with the new mandates.
- Address concerns from institutions that worry about increased costs, schedule changes, or the need for additional staff.
Because each state is moving at its own pace, the result is a patchwork system in which standards and timelines vary widely. Some regulators are considering phased rollouts, pilot programs, or targeted technical assistance to help schools modernize without disrupting graduation and licensure timelines for current students.
Practical Strategies for Instructors and Salons to Expand Textured Hair Services
Educators in Washington, Vermont, and Maine are already rethinking how they teach hair from day one of cosmetology training. Rather than isolating textured hair into a single class, many programs now thread it through every stage of the curriculum-including consultations, cutting, color, chemical services, styling, and finishing.
Recommended strategies for instructors include:
- Embedding textured hair content across all core units so students routinely see curls, coils, and waves represented in demonstrations, case studies, and assessments.
- Hosting recurring hands-on clinics that feature diverse mannequins and live models, paired with clear grading rubrics for textured hair services.
- Building vendor-neutral product libraries so students can evaluate moisture levels, hold, slip, and ingredient lists without being tied to a single brand.
- Partnering with local barbershops, braid studios, and natural hair salons to offer guest lectures, advanced workshops, and job shadowing opportunities.
Salons are also encouraged to align with the new standards by:
- Auditing their current service menus to identify gaps in offerings for clients with curly, coily, and tightly textured hair.
- Investing in staff education on cutting and styling natural hair, loc maintenance, and protective styles such as twists, braids, and knotless installations.
- Collaborating with brands that prioritize texture-safe formulations, inclusive shade ranges, and science-backed education focused on hair and scalp health.
- Updating visual branding-such as website imagery, social media, and in-salon signage-to feature a genuine range of hair types and textures.
Directors of cosmetology schools who have begun this transition report that the most sustainable programs balance advanced technical education with strong communication and cultural competency skills. This blend helps future professionals serve clients more holistically, from the consultation chair to aftercare recommendations.
| Focus Area | Key Action | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Instructor Training | Annual texture-specific certifications and workshops | Consistent, up-to-date skills across instructor teams |
| Student Assessment | Practical exams focused on curls, coils, and protective styles | Verified readiness for real-world salon environments |
| Salon Services | Dedicated textured hair service menu and pricing structure | Broader client base and new revenue streams |
| Client Experience | Inclusive visuals, language, and intake forms | Stronger trust, loyalty, and client retention |
Looking Ahead: Textured Hair Education as a New Industry Baseline
As the beauty sector continues to confront long-standing inequities in training, hiring, and representation, the decisions in Washington, Vermont, and Maine stand out as a significant recalibration of what “basic” cosmetology education should include. By mandating textured hair education in cosmetology schools, these states are formally recognizing that culturally competent, texture-inclusive service is not a niche specialty, but an essential part of professional practice.
With additional states exploring similar legislation and major brands investing in texture-focused education initiatives, momentum is clearly building. In the coming years, schools, stylists, clients, and advocacy organizations will be closely tracking how these new standards play out: from exam rooms and classrooms to salon chairs and barbershop stations.
If implemented effectively, this wave of reform could redefine minimum competency for cosmetology licensure and establish a new national benchmark for equitable, inclusive beauty education-one that finally reflects the full diversity of hair that professionals encounter every day.
