Across the UK, women with afro-textured hair say they are travelling hours to find salons able to cater to their needs, highlighting what many describe as a longstanding gap in the hair and beauty industry.
The BBC reports that despite a 2021 directive from the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (Habia) requiring all hairdressers to be trained to work with afro hair, the reality has not matched the policy.
Afro-textured hair, which is naturally dry, delicate, and prone to damage, requires specialist knowledge to maintain, yet many stylists across the country remain untrained.
In its investigation, the BBC contacted 259 colleges in England to ask whether they taught an inclusive curriculum covering afro hair care. Of the 237 that replied, only 82 confirmed they did.
For customers like Jade Hancock, the impact is deeply personal.
She recalled calling ahead to a salon and being assured her curly hair would not be an issue. But when she arrived, she says she was met with visible hesitation.
“I felt embarrassed, I felt ashamed, I felt really out of place,” Hancock shared.
Stylists argue that the change must begin with education. Cross-cultural stylist and lecturer Erica Liburd told the BBC:
“We always talk about inclusivity… but when it comes to hair that’s not straight, nobody thinks that’s an issue. It needs a start at the college and it filters down, so all of the people that are training now, going into the salon, sharing their experience, and then it will filter that way.”
Campaigners say that until afro hair care is treated as an essential part of training rather than a specialist niche, customers will continue to face long journeys, limited options, and experiences that leave them feeling excluded.
