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Big Steps

London salon group Blue Tit are making it their mission to ensure all their stylists are educated on Afro and textured hair as part of their Diversity Roadmap. HJ spoke to Sharley Butcher, Afro and Textured Hair Educator at the group, to see how they’re progressing

Why did you decide to join Blue Tit in 2020?

When I saw the job post for an Afro and Textured Hair Educator and I saw Blue Tit’s Diversity Roadmap on their social media I thought, ‘Afro and textured hair education has been lacking within the industry for years and I want to change it from the inside out’. I felt like the role was made for me, to be honest!

Do you feel like 2021’s changes to the NOS (National Occupational Standards) for Hairdressing has helped the industry become more educated on Afro and Textured hair?

Yes, definitely. At a training level, learners are now required to work with Afro and textured hair. However those trainees are going to take many years to become experienced stylists. I believe that salons now need to have a training system in place that’s compulsory and in-depth, to account for all the stylists that have missed out on this education.

What would you respond to a salon that says that the majority of their clients have European hair and that there’s not really a business incentive or the clientele existing in their local area for them to invest in education?

I do understand, but it’s not just about seeing a return on money. It’s about being able to offer services to clients that might come to your salon in the future. On the other hand, if you’re a salon in a diverse area and you’re only catering to people with straight hair and you’re leaving a large proportion of people out, that isn’t right in my opinion.

Why is Afro / texture education an investment in your future as a hairdresser?

I have a lot of curly-haired clients who don’t have Afro hair, and they too have struggled to find a hairdresser who has experience of their hair type. It’s not just an issue for people with Afro hair. A lot of clients with Afro or very curly/coily hair are genuinely traumatised by their salon experiences! Win over a curly-haired client and you’ve got a loyal client.

This article appears in February 2022

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This article appears in...
February 2022
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