Can you call yourself a hairdresser if you can't do textured hair?

Published 27th Nov 2020 by laurahusband
Can you call yourself a hairdresser if you can't do textured hair? Can you call yourself a hairdresser if you can't do textured hair, asks hairdresser and salon owner Anne Veck. The reality of diversity within the hair industry has been pushed to the forefront this year. Though huge strides have been made by many brands, on the frontline in salons up and down the country, there is still work to be done. Anne who owns Anne Veck Hair believes that in 2020 there is no excuse for hairdressers not being trained in textured hair.

Can you call yourself a hairdresser if you can't do textured hair?

Anne hopes her journey will inspire more salons to get on board the texture train – because it’s not stopping. Worryingly it is reported that 41% of children with Afro hair want to change it from curly to straight and that one in six children are having a bad experience at school because of their textured hair. These findings from the Hair Equality Report 2019 are important to understand as a hairdresser, because it is likely that these experiences will stay with a person into adulthood. When Anne opened her salon, Anne Veck Oxford, in 1991, she became increasingly uncomfortable and frustrated to admit that she couldn't deal with every type of hair. “Imagine always hating your hair because of how people treated you at school, and then looking for a local hair salon as an adult, only to find they don’t cater for you. It’s completely demoralising and unacceptable. We as salon owners need to do more. I strongly believe that if you call yourself a hairdresser you need to be competent in all hair types.”

Anne Veck Textured hair 1

Feeling confident providing textured hair services can take time

Having said that, Anne understands it is a journey – not only to acquire a new skill, but to get to a place where stylists feel confident enough to charge for that service. “Change won’t happen overnight. My first step was to buy an NVQ book on Afro Caribbean hair. From there I attended an Afro hair event at Alexandra Palace and eventually did an exchange of trade with my friend and Afro hair expert, Samantha Golding, owner of SG Hair in Birmingham. Once I had started to expand my knowledge, I created a programme of repeat training in the salon as well as organising external courses with stylists such as MK and Charlotte Mensah.” Anne recognises that for a lot of stylists it’s not that they aren’t capable of learning how to cut textured hair but they have a lack of confidence to commit to a new skill. And this is not necessarily the fault of the stylist or the salon.

Anne Veck Textured hair 2

A petition to educate stylists on textured hair

When awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement surged during lockdown, many sectors were put under the spotlight. In the hair industry a large proportion of that focus was on the lack of education for textured hair, currently being delivered in colleges. In response, West London hairdresser Jemima Bradley, launched a petition that called on the UK hair industry to better educate new stylists in Afro hair and to make textured hair compulsory within NVQ training, for a 'more equal, more educated' sector. The petition currently has more than 18,500 signatures and is rising daily. The lack of uptake for textured hair services in UK salons is not just an ethical issue. British citizens with African and/or African-Caribbean ancestry are the largest ethnic minority population in the country and mixed-race people are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups. With the UK textured hair industry worth an estimated £88 million and black women spending on average three times more than white women on hair care, Anne believes it makes good business sense to ensure salon services are inclusive. She says: “At a time when some salons are having to pull themselves back from the brink, expertise in textured hair is a lucrative service that will only add to a salon’s longevity and success. Just be sure to educate teams on charging the right price for the service – this comes with confidence but it is so important to get right.”

Anne Veck Textured hair 3

How can hairdressers educate themselves on textured hair?

So where do hairdressers start if they want to be educated on textured hair? There is a wealth of information online and in print, but Anne is a strong advocate of learning from the experts. “Clients with textured hair are already well educated on what works for them. They expect stylists to be knowledgeable in all hair types. Therefore, it’s important that salons seek out the right educators to support their journey. Don’t be too proud to ask for help.” “I benefitted enormously by partnering with Afro hair experts and would recommend doing a skills swap, which is something we’ve done and will continue to do. I would also insist that apprentices get to train with textured hair and are assessed on it before qualifying. Practice, practice, practice so that when it comes to charging for your services, you're confident about it.”

Professional Products designed for textured hair are essential

With almost two million black people living in the UK, stylists need to feel the big brands are moving with the times too. Anne explains why products are an essential part of managing textured hair. “Afro hair requires lots of moisture and without the correct cleansers, treatments and styling products, textured hair can’t be managed effectively. Lots of encouraging progress has been made, but it would be good to see more professional brands catering for all hair types, while also supporting the education of textured hair.” Anne’s journey has helped her to establish a successful salon that offers an extensive range of services and is inclusive in its approach. This unique selling point ensures that her stylists are fully trained and confident to work with a variety of hair types which helps them to stand out over competitors. More recently, Anne’s work with textured hair has been recognised in HJ’s British Hairdressing Awards 2020, sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional as a finalist within the Afro Hairdresser of the Year category. “If this year has taught us anything, it’s that hair salons must be ready and willing to adapt while responding to the needs of society. We’ve seen first-hand the value of community support and how knowledge and skill sharing can keep the industry moving forward. I will continue to bang my drum on the necessity of textured hair services in salons because it’s just not an option to think otherwise.”  
laurahusband

laurahusband

Published 27th Nov 2020

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