Understanding Hair Diversity
Hair comes in an array of colors and textures, each as beautiful as the next. While certain hair textures are often associated with specific ethnicities or races, it's important to recognize that no color, texture, or combination of the two, is exclusive to any particular group.
Hair textures are categorized into four main types (1-4), each with further subcategories (a, b, c), resulting in a total of twelve unique categories. From straight to tightly coiled curls, each hair type requires specific care to maintain its health and beauty.
Did you know?
The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, is a vital initiative advocating an end to race-based hair discrimination. This legislation addresses biases often focused on natural and protective hairstyles such as afros, bantu knots, braids, and locs. Unfortunately, Black women, in particular, have faced societal pressure to conform to Eurocentric standards, leading to some disconcerting statistics. Black women are:
- 80% more likely to alter their natural hair to meet societal expectations in the workplace.
- 83% report facing harsher judgments on their looks compared to their counterparts.
- They are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work due to their hairstyles.
- Their job performance ratings are consistently lower based on their natural hair choices.
Progress and Impact
As of June 2023, 23 states, including California (the first to do so in 2019), have enacted the CROWN Act or similar legislation, with over half of the states actively working towards its implementation (Arkansas included). Encouragingly, more than 40 municipalities have independently adopted the CROWN Act, demonstrating a grassroots commitment to ending hair discrimination.
Hair Care Recommendations
At The Product Store Next Door in Fayetteville, AR, we stand at the forefront of promoting hair diversity and inclusivity. By providing a range of products catering to different hair types and textures, we empower individuals to embrace their natural beauty. Toward that aim, we'd like to provide some recommendations of products you might find helpful.
This luxurious, sulfate free shampoo gently removes heavy buildup from haircare products without stripping the scalp of its natural oils. This allows hair to absorb and retain natural oils that nourish it and make it easier to manage.
Paired with the cream shampoo, this conditioner helps hair to retain natural oils to keep it healthy, reduce breakage, leaving it feeling softer and more manageable.
"The most beautiful makeup for any woman
is her natural hair and natural beauty."