EHB 1874
SignedHouse
Textured hair training
Requiring training for cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers on the care, styling, and treatment of textured hair.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers in Washington to receive training on how to care for, style, and treat textured hair. It defines textured hair in law and directs the Department of Licensing to establish training standards that include technical skills, product knowledge, and cultural competency.
- Adds a new legal definition of 'textured hair' that includes curly, coiled, kinked, spiral, and wavy hair patterns, as well as historically styled forms like cornrows, locs, and braids.
- Requires the Department of Licensing to adopt rules mandating training on textured hair care for cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians, and hair designers as part of initial licensing education or continuing education.
- Specifies that the required training must cover: (a) techniques for cutting, styling, and chemically treating textured hair; (b) products and tools designed for textured hair; (c) hair and scalp health best practices; and (d) cultural and historical context of textured hair in diverse communities.
- Amends the definition of 'curriculum' to allow up to 10% of training hours to be completed in salon/shop settings under supervision, supporting hands-on textured hair practice.
- Clarifies that the training requirement applies to both school-based and apprenticeship training programs.
Who is affected
- Cosmetology, barbering, esthetician, and hair design students and licensees — Will be required to complete new training on textured hair care as part of their initial licensing education or continuing education; schools must update curricula to include this training.
- Cosmetology and beauty schools — Must revise their training programs to include required textured hair training modules and ensure instructors are equipped to teach this content.
- Clients with textured hair (especially from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color) — May benefit from increased access to trained professionals who understand how to safely and effectively serve clients with textured hair.
- Washington State Department of Licensing — Will need to update licensing rules and oversight processes to ensure compliance with the new training requirements.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Requires training on hair and scalp health best practices for textured hair — directly reducing risk of client harm (e.g., breakage, scalp injury, chemical burns) from untrained stylists, especially in communities where textured hair is the norm.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 3(5)(a)-(d) (textured hair training requirements)Formally recognizes textured hair styles in law, countering decades of racial bias in licensing standards and professional training — this symbolic change supports equity in access to services and helps dismantle structural inequities in the beauty industry.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (definition of 'textured hair' including cornrows, locs, braids, etc.)Mandates education on the cultural and historical significance of textured hair in diverse communities — empowering stylists to provide respectful, inclusive service and reducing microaggressions that deter clients from seeking care.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3(5)(d) (cultural competency and historical education)Ensures licensees learn about products and tools specifically designed for textured hair — increasing service quality and client retention, especially for Black-owned salons and independent stylists who serve high-need populations.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 3(5)(b) (products/tools training for textured hair)Applies to both formal schools and apprenticeships — expanding reach to non-traditional learners (e.g., career-changers, low-income individuals) who may rely more on apprenticeship pathways, promoting broader access to equitable training.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3(5) (training applies to school-based and apprenticeship programs)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill’s definition of textured hair includes historically stigmatized styles (e.g., cornrows, locs, braids), reinforcing legal recognition of cultural identity and reducing potential discrimination in licensing or service delivery — but does not create new legal remedies or enforcement mechanisms beyond training requirements.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2 (new definition of 'textured hair')Mandates culturally responsive education for beauty professionals, improving service quality for clients with textured hair — but places no requirement on schools to hire diverse instructors or ensure curriculum authenticity, limiting depth of impact.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 3(5)(d) (cultural competency training requirement)Requires schools and apprenticeship programs to revise curricula and instructors to include textured hair training — which may strain small schools with limited resources or instructor expertise, potentially increasing compliance costs for low-revenue schools.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(5) (training requirements for textured hair)Expands hands-on training flexibility by allowing up to 10% of curriculum in salon/shop settings — but this provision is neutral in effect, as most schools already use clinical or externship settings; no new financial burden or benefit is created.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2 (10% salon/shop training allowed under 'curriculum' definition)The Department of Licensing is expected to incur minimal administrative costs to update rules and provide guidance — but no new enforcement staff or oversight infrastructure is mandated, limiting systemic impact on state or local operations.
Local GovernmentRef: Fiscal Impact statement (minimal costs to DOL)
Who Is Most Affected
Clients with textured hair — especially from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color — are most directly impacted. They gain safer, more competent, and culturally respectful services, reducing past experiences of mis care or refusal of service.
Beauty schools must revise curricula and possibly retrain instructors — a modest administrative burden, but one that may disproportionately affect smaller, under-resourced schools lacking existing textured hair expertise or materials.
Current and future licensees gain new skills that expand their service offerings and client base — especially beneficial for stylists in diverse communities or those seeking to specialize in textured hair services.
The Department of Licensing must issue new rules and monitor compliance, but fiscal impact is minimal and no new enforcement capacity is required — low burden, high symbolic value.
Small salon owners and independent contractors benefit from trained staff who can serve a larger, underserved client base — potentially increasing revenue and client loyalty, though no direct financial support is provided.