HAIR ELEMENTS PRODUCTS PRESENTS

THE CULTURE CORNER

No Hierarchy. Just Styles.

Episode 01: The Document vs. The Narrative

Featuring Allen Y. Bird

Listen to the full conversation exploring cosmetology education, experience, specialization, and the legacy of the professional beauty industry.

Full Culture Corner Interview

THE CULTURE CORNER

No Hierarchy. Just Styles.

THE DOCUMENT vs. THE NARRATIVE

Education Is Not Experience. Licensure Is Not Specialization.

An Industry Perspective by Allen Y. Bird
President, Bird Global Industries, Inc. | Hair Elements Products

New York's cosmetology curriculum changes have sparked a conversation throughout the beauty industry. The law calls for education across all hair types and textures, and understandably, people are paying attention.

But there's a question worth asking:

Does learning about every hair texture mean a stylist is qualified to perform every hairstyle?

As someone who has spent decades in this industry, I believe we need to look beyond the headlines and understand what the law actually says.

Let me be clear: I support educating cosmetologists about all hair types and textures. That knowledge is important, and our industry should continue raising its standards.

But education and experience are two different things.

What Does the Law Actually Say?

New York's legislation addresses cosmetology education concerning "all hair types and textures." It also calls for licensing examinations to include, "where applicable," questions concerning varying hair types and textures.

That's foundational education and testing.

What it doesn't automatically create is years of hands-on experience or mastery of every styling technique.

The legislation's sponsor memorandum also discusses the importance of consumers finding professionals with the necessary skills and experience, while feeling welcomed, valued, understood, and seen.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S6528?utm_source=

I agree with those goals.

But here's my question:

Where does the law create experience?

A classroom can teach you the fundamentals. A licensing examination can assess knowledge. But becoming exceptional at a particular craft takes time, practice, mentorship, and real clients.

Every seasoned stylist knows that.

Hair Texture Is Not a Hairstyle

This is where I believe the conversation needs more clarity.

Understanding coily hair doesn't automatically make someone a loc specialist.

Knowing curly hair doesn't mean a professional has mastered every natural hairstyle.

And having a cosmetology license doesn't mean someone has the same experience as a stylist who's spent 20 years perfecting pixie cuts, relaxers, color, braids, or silk presses.

HAIR TEXTURE IS NOT A HAIRSTYLE.

Some of the most successful professionals in our industry built their careers by becoming exceptional at a particular service.

That's specialization.

It's what separates one stylist's artistry from another's. It's what builds reputations, loyal clientele, and businesses that last for generations.

We should celebrate that expertise, not create expectations that diminish its value.

Give Our Industry Some Credit

Here's something else I want us to remember.

Textured-hair education didn't suddenly begin with this legislation.

Cosmetology educators, industry professionals, and educational resources such as Milady have addressed textured-hair concepts for years.

Does that mean every school or professional received the same quality of education? Of course not.

There's always room for improvement.

But let's not overlook the educators, salon owners, and experienced professionals who have spent decades teaching, mentoring, and advancing this industry.

Give our cosmetology industry some credit.

And while we're having this conversation, let's recognize another important part of our history.

Black American beauty professionals didn't wait for every salon to specialize in the services their communities needed.

They developed expertise.

They opened salons, trained other professionals, created products, built clientele, and established businesses that became pillars of their communities.

Over generations, those efforts helped create a Black American beauty ecosystem rooted in entrepreneurship, education, culture, and economic opportunity.

That's more than hair.

That's a legacy worth recognizing and protecting.

Respect the Consumer. Respect the Professional.

Every consumer deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their hair texture or background.

And consumers should absolutely have the freedom to choose where they spend their money.

But professionals also have a responsibility to be honest about their abilities.

If a stylist says, "That's not my specialty, but I can refer you to someone who does it exceptionally well," that isn't automatically discrimination.

Sometimes, that's professionalism.

Of course, refusing service because of someone's race is a different matter and should be taken seriously. Specialization should never be used as an excuse for discriminatory treatment.

But we must recognize that consumer agency does not erase professional agency.

A great salon doesn't have to offer every service. It needs to understand its strengths, respect its clients, and deliver quality work.

The Bottom Line

Let's teach every texture.

Let's continue improving cosmetology education.

Let's make sure consumers feel welcomed and respected.

But let's also honor the years of experience, specialized training, and professional excellence that have shaped our industry.

Because at the end of the day:

EDUCATION IS NOT EXPERIENCE.

LICENSURE IS NOT SPECIALIZATION.

SPECIALIZATION IS NOT, BY ITSELF, DISCRIMINATION.

RESPECT SHOULD BE UNIVERSAL.

EXPERTISE NEVER WILL BE.

And that's a conversation worth having.

Let's Talk About It

To our legacy stylists, salon owners, and beauty professionals:

Do you believe the industry is doing enough to recognize the value of specialization and experience?

I'd love to hear your perspective.

THE CULTURE CORNER
No Hierarchy. Just Styles.

Presented by Hair Elements Products
hairelementsproducts.com | @hairelementsproducts