Over the last eight weeks,Washington, Vermont, and Maine signed landmark legislation into law requiring the inclusion of textured hair (defined as curly, coily, and wavy hair) education in all cosmetology schools in each respective state, going into effect over the next 12 months.

The new regions join a growing number of states that have passed similar legislation since 2021, including California, Minnesota, Connecticut, Louisiana and New York. Policymakers who championed the bill include Representative Melanie Morgan of Washington State, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas of Vermont and Senator Rachel Talbot Ross of Maine.

The milestone achievement is a proud accomplishment of the Textured Education Collective (TEC), an alliance of professional hair industry leaders founded by Aveda, DevaCurl™, L'Oréal USA, and Neill Corporation, under the Professional Beauty Association (PBA).

“The Professional Beauty Association celebrates the signing of Washington, Vermont & Maine’s landmark textured hair education bills,” said Myra Reddy, Government Affairs Director, Professional Beauty Association. “These continued victories fuel the Texture Education Collective momentum as we advocate for similar legislation across the nation, promoting consistent standards and excellence in beauty education from coast to coast.”

The new laws directly address a gap in representation for the 65% of Americans with textured hair who have historically been left out of cosmetology education and so frequently lack equitable access to professionally trained and licensed stylists. The program, furthermore, offers a broader scope of skills for beauty professionals, enhancing opportunities for career growth and success as they journey through the industry.

“Every aspiring professional deserves an education that reflects the full spectrum of hair types and textures, and every client deserves access to stylists who are trained to meet their unique needs,” said David Greenberg, CEO of L'Oréal USA, President of North America Zone. “L’Oréal USA applauds Washington, Vermont, and Maine for requiring textured hair education in cosmetology licensing. This is a meaningful step toward enhancing the skillsets of the professional beauty community, expanding the opportunity to meet and exceed the needs of a wider network of consumers.”

Washington's legislative victory makes it the first state in the Pacific Northwest to adopt this measure. With Maine and Vermont also on board in the Northeast, the legislative movement has been gaining momentum across the United States. Louisiana enacted a similar requirement in November 2021; and TEC was then founded to champion the passage of New York’s textured hair education legislation in 2023, followed by Minnesota, Connecticut, and California in 2024.