New York law requires hairdressers to learn how to work with all hair types

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Starting September 1, New York requires cosmetology students to be trained and tested on all hair textures, including kinky and curly hair, as part of their licensing process. This mandate aims to ensure equitable hair care services statewide and prevent discrimination based on hair type without increasing training time or costs.

Starting September 1, New York state law mandates that cosmetology students receive training to work with all hair types, from the kinkiest to the straightest textures. The legislation aims to ensure equal access to hair care services regardless of hair texture.

Sponsored by Assembly Member Michaelle Solages and signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2023, the new requirements integrate instruction on hair and scalp properties, along with specialized care and styling techniques for textured hair, into existing cosmetology and natural hair styling curricula. Schools were given a three-year period to prepare for compliance, and the overall number of training hours necessary to obtain a license remains unchanged.

Under the law, students must demonstrate proficiency in working with diverse hair textures on their state licensing examinations. Solages emphasized that the measure is intended to prevent situations where clients are turned away or receive inadequate care solely because of their hair type. “No New Yorker should ever walk into a salon and be turned away or receive substandard care because of their hair texture,” she said in a statement earlier this year. “Now, with the adoption of this legislation, they won’t have to.”

The changes are designed to enhance professional skills and broaden the scope of services available to clients, without increasing costs for training programs or license applicants.

New York’s update follows similar action by New Jersey, which enacted legislation in January requiring cosmetology students to receive education on textured hair. New Jersey’s law includes curly hair topics in both written and practical components of state licensing exams and mandates that schools employ appropriate training tools to support the expanded curriculum.

Together, these efforts reflect a growing recognition of the need for professional hair care education to address the full spectrum of hair types within diverse populations.

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