Mindset Shift- Understanding and Addressing Texturism As a Beauty Professional

As a beauty professional, it’s essential to recognize the impact of texturism if you plan to specialize in working with transracial families. Texturism isn’t just about hair; it’s about how society has shaped perceptions of Black beauty, and how those perceptions influence the way we approach textured hair care. By actively changing your mindset and confronting texturism in all its forms, you can become a more inclusive, culturally sensitive professional who helps families navigate and celebrate the beauty of textured hair.

What is Texturism and Why It Matters

Texturism is a form of bias that favors looser, straighter hair textures over kinkier, coarser hair. While it can manifest in subtle ways, such as comments about “good hair” or the assumption that kinkier hair is “unmanageable,” the effects are far from subtle for the individuals impacted by these biases. For transracial families—where parents are often of a different race than their Black children—texturism can be especially harmful. Children can internalize negative attitudes about their hair if their caregivers, consciously or unconsciously, subscribe to these biases.

As a beauty professional, your role goes beyond just styling. You are in a position to educate, empower, and influence how parents see their child’s hair. Learning about texturism and changing your mindset is critical if you want to help these families break free from outdated beauty standards.

Recognizing Your Own Biases and Challenging Them

The first step in shifting your mindset is to acknowledge that texturism may exist in your own beliefs or professional practices. We’ve all been exposed to societal beauty standards that often prioritize straight, sleek hair over textured hair. But as professionals, we have a responsibility to challenge these biases in ourselves and our industry.

Ask yourself:

• Do I view certain textures as more “manageable” or “professional” than others?

• Have I recommended straightening treatments or relaxers to clients because I assumed it would make their life easier?

• Do I focus more on taming or controlling textured hair, rather than celebrating its natural beauty and versatility?

  
  

Once you start questioning these ingrained biases, you can work toward embracing all hair textures as equally beautiful and valuable.

Understanding the Cultural and Emotional Weight of Textured Hair

For Black individuals, hair is often deeply tied to cultural identity, self-expression, and history. During slavery and colonialism, Black people were often discriminated against for their natural hair. This legacy of discrimination continues to this day, with Black children and adults facing pressure to conform to Eurocentric beauty standards in schools, workplaces, and even within their own communities.

As a beauty professional, it’s important to understand that working with textured hair isn’t just a technical skill—it’s an opportunity to affirm a child’s identity and self-worth. When a Black child sits in your chair, they’re looking to you not just for a hairstyle, but for validation that their natural hair is something to be proud of.

Shifting the Conversation with Clients and Parents

Once you’ve recognized your own biases and learned about the emotional weight of texturism, it’s time to start shifting the conversation. Whether you’re working with a child or their parents, the language you use can either reinforce or dismantle harmful beauty standards.

For example:

• Avoid terms like "manageable" or "difficult" when describing textured hair. Instead, talk about how textured hair is unique, versatile, and requires specific care to keep it healthy.

• Highlight the beauty of natural hair textures and offer styling options that showcase a child’s coils, curls, or kinks rather than suggesting straightening or altering the texture.

• Encourage parents to adopt positive, affirming language when talking about their child’s hair. Remind them that their child’s natural hair texture is a part of who they are, and it’s important to celebrate that rather than trying to change it.

Embracing the Role of an Educator

Changing your mindset about texturism means accepting that your role extends beyond the chair. You’re not just a stylist or barber; you’re an educator. Parents of Black children in transracial families often come to you without the knowledge or cultural understanding to care for their child’s hair properly. This can be intimidating for them, but it’s also an opportunity for you to be a guide on their journey toward cultural competence.

You can help parents by:

• Providing hands-on lessons on how to wash, detangle, and style their child’s hair at home.

• Recommending culturally appropriate products that nourish and support healthy hair growth.

• Talking openly about the emotional and cultural significance of textured hair, especially if the family is in the early stages of learning.

Your expertise can help families not only care for their child’s hair but also nurture their child’s self-esteem and pride in their Black identity.

Setting an Example for the Industry

By embracing this mindset shift, you’re not just improving your own practice—you’re setting a standard for the beauty industry. Many cosmetologists and barbers still operate within a framework that devalues textured hair or treats it as a challenge to be overcome. By educating yourself and others about texturism and its harmful effects, you’re helping to create a more inclusive, affirming space for all hair types.

Challenge your colleagues, your clients, and your own practices to move toward a more positive and inclusive view of textured hair. Recommend styles and treatments that celebrate natural curls and coils. Advocate for inclusive beauty standards that value diversity in all its forms.

Practical Steps to Combat Texturism in Your Practice

1. Adopt texture-positive language: Use affirming words when discussing textured hair, and gently correct any harmful language you hear from parents or other clients.

2. Create a welcoming environment: Display images of people with various hair textures in your salon or barbershop. This helps normalize the idea that all textures are beautiful and worthy of celebration.

3. Offer educational services: Host workshops for transracial families where parents can learn about textured hair care. Show them how to detangle, braid, twist, or create other protective styles that highlight their child’s hair without altering its texture.

4. Promote role models with textured hair: Encourage parents to introduce their children to public figures, celebrities, or influencers who wear their natural hair with pride. Representation matters, and seeing others embrace their curls can inspire confidence in the child.

5. Stay updated on trends in Black hair care: Keep learning about the latest trends, products, and techniques specific to textured hair. By staying informed, you can continue to offer cutting-edge services that meet the needs of transracial families and celebrate Black hair in all its forms.

The Importance of Changing Your Mindset

Changing your mindset about texturism is not just about becoming a better stylist—it’s about becoming a more inclusive, culturally aware professional who understands the broader implications of beauty standards. By embracing textured hair and teaching others to do the same, you help create a world where all hair types are valued, and where Black children in transracial families can grow up feeling proud of who they are.

This shift in mindset not only opens up new professional opportunities for you, but it also strengthens the trust and respect between you, your clients, and the families you serve. In the end, it’s about more than hair—it’s about helping people, especially children, embrace their authentic selves with pride and confidence.