MENU
SEARCHAs New York passes legislation than evens the educational playing field for textured hair, Vagaro's VP of Marketing Charity Hudnall shares her personal story and her opinion on how things might change.
This blog orinially appeared on Vagaro.com.
Growing up with my naturally textured hair was a reminder of my uniqueness. When you are a young child, you don’t think much about it. But, as you get older, it seems that society teaches you to see yourself—and those around you—differently. Beauty brands have come a long way since then. Women like me weren’t always seen in ads, commercials or magazines.
But, just as women with anything but long, straight and silky hair weren’t conveniently advertised as beautiful, access to services for my naturally curly hair were also not conveniently found.
I find Vagaro’s recent survey about textured hair both insightful and exciting. It caught my attention because, on the surface in the United States, we can seem to be so progressive and accepting of all people, no matter their nationality, color, size or shape. But if you take anything more than a cursory glance, it’s clear to see there is still a lot of work to be done around the topic. That’s why the initiative behind the new bill to level the educational playing field in an industry that plays such a huge part in self-care and how we define beauty is, well, exciting. It feels like we’re continuing to take small steps forward to change the narrative and societal standards.
Each improvement and every win absolutely matters.
The bassing of bills like S6528A indicate progress in the industry, but it’s crucial for that momentum to continue in the right direction to make the salon, spa and beauty world not only diverse, but truly inclusive—especially for Black customers who seek self-care and beauty services and who have been historically overlooked.
But what does that mean for salon than currently specialize in textured hair? Does this take away a niche market? My guess is no. The African American beauty salon, as an institution, is not just a place where you can get the services you need; it is also an experience. African American barbershops are the same way. They’re more than just a business where you can get a service done. For many African Americans, these shops represent community, camaraderie and the preservation of a proud and shared culture, where we can talk about issues and experiences that are unique to us. There’s an entire history behind them.
But as America continues to blend in nationalities and cultures, some will purely identify with a blended experience. I am a mixed-race woman, and growing up, there weren’t many of us. Now, however, mixed race people not only are everywhere you look, but we also represent a wide array of beauty. Among people of color, there exists a multitude of different hair textures, some more wavy and some more curly. So now that it seems more states will start to implement similar textured hair policies for beauty education, there will be more opportunities for every single one of us.
And, that’s exactly why I don’t view this as an either/or situation. It’s a step toward an ideal circumstance where our community simply has more choice. It means more freedom when deciding where to go for a self-care day—like those who may not have natural, textured hair—who can already walk into essentially any hair salon and be able to get pampered.
Ideally, it will mean that gone are the days for people like myself and my loved ones who may not feel like they belong, who may have been ‘othered,’ or even turned away from certain hair salons. Personally, if I’m having a bad hair day and need a quick fix, it will be nice to have the choice to head to the nearest shop with the soonest appointment, regardless of my race. Or, if I want to share a more holistic experience with members of my community, I can still choose to specifically visit an African-American owned salon and do just that.
While this is a great step toward progress, in my opinion, it’s an even greater step toward inclusivity and the luxury of choice.
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
