A New Jersey technical school will ensure all cosmetology students are trained in “the theory and practice of styling Black and other textured hair” after a state discrimination investigation, New Jersey’s attorney general said Monday.
“New Jerseyans should be confident that cosmetology programs in our state are adequately preparing all students to be able to cut and style all hair types and textures,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. Gloucester County Institute of Technology agreed that at least 20% of the mannequins used to train students will have Black hair, state authorities said.
Under the agreement between Gloucester County and the state, the school will “instruct all students in the theory and practice of styling all hair types and textures, regardless of the race/ethnicity of the student, and will instruct students on DCR’s guidance on race discrimination in hairstyles.”