Yet, despite the appetite for nurturing and conditioning our textured hair in the salon, those with curly, kinky and coily tresses can’t walk into a hair salon and expect there to be a hairstylist that understands our hair. Instead, we still face disparity and a lack of education in salon spaces. “If you don’t know about that aspect of Black hair, how can you learn to respect it?” Mensah asks.
Sadly, this is not an isolated experience – many Black hairstylists have had to take over in similar situations. “I hear it from models and actors all the time: the general vibe is that it’s their fault because the hair is just not ‘behaving’, so it’s straightened and broken. Textured hair shouldn’t be a specialised texture to work with.
However, with the surge of conversations following the Black Lives Matter movement during the pandemic, there are real changes that show the industry is heading in the right direction. Alongside courses, educational shows, seminars and films, Mensah recommends diversifying your toolkit. “Things like an Afro Pik, Afro Comb, Diffuser attachment, microfibre towel and wide tooth comb should all be a part of your stylist toolkit. Focusing on rich products that use ingredients like organic natural oils and vitamins to nourish the hair is a must.