MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • Podcasts
  • Beyond Beauty
  • Video
MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

{headline}

{headline}

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

{headline}

{headline}

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The 'Behind Her Eyes' Filming Locations Are Just as Mesmerising As The Netflix Thriller

The 'Behind Her Eyes' Filming Locations Are Just as Mesmerising As The Netflix Thriller

  1. Home
  2. Beauty

Aussie Hairdressers Call For Mandatory Afro And Curly Hair Training At TAFE

It’s currently not on the syllabus - by Samantha McMeekin
  • 24 Jul 2020
Aussie Hairdressers Call For Mandatory Afro And Curly Hair Training At TAFE

On the 13th of June, Australian hairdresser Chrissy Zemura posted a change.org petition to include Afro and textured hair education in Certificate III Hairdressing. It now has close to 20,000 signatures. 

Having worked as a hairdresser for eight years, Zemura has seen many heartbroken women with Afro and curly hair mistreated by stylists who don’t know how to deal with their texture.

“In Australia, so many black women, Indigenous people and people of colour are deprived of skilled hair care,” she wrote. “Beauty standards have whitewashed us into believing only straight hair is beautiful.” 

chrissyzemurahair View Profile
View Post on Instagram
Neat & Tidy TWA on @iamsabaah from @viviensmodelmgmt for @shine4diversity campaign 'HAIR WE ARE' as seen in @Marieclaireau & @buzzfeed Head to @organicsuku to see how I achieved this look 💓💓

EdwardsAndCo similarly noticed a lack of education this year, when requests for afro hairstyling tutorials came flooding in through their social channels. Australian hairdressers were finishing apprenticeships not knowing how to service all clients.

“I have taught myself how to style Afro hair because I am a hairdresser and it is my responsibility,” said Natalia Humphrey, a hairdresser at the salon. “As hairdressers, we need to have enough respect to take the time to learn how to service afro hair until the time comes that it is a mandatory requirement of a hairdressing apprenticeship”

Inspired by Zemura’s petition, EdwardsAndCo have since been working to shine a light on the issue, “it's important for us to keep the conversation around racial discrimination going and never allow things to ‘go back to the way they were’ just because the media stops reporting,” Humphrey tells Marie Claire. “The key thing I want people to take away is that it is their responsibility to take action on racial injustice, even if you think it doesn’t affect you personally.”

_edwardsandco View Profile
View Post on Instagram
THE BEAUTIFUL @mumma.fro 😍 Look out for Nina in episode 2 of #SDEDWARDSANDCO going live this Friday! Cut by @natalia_edwardsandco and colour by @jaye_edwards at our Fitzroy Salon 💚

Using their platform of over 135k Instagram followers, EdwardsAndCo handed over to client Nina Ryan, to speak on the topic and share her hair story.

“My own experience and encounters with hairdressers and salons alone was enough for me to completely get behind this initiative with EdwardsAndCo,” she says. “Growing up bi-racial in an almost exclusively White arena gave me an acute awareness of my differences, which were particularly highlighted on the occasions of going to the hairdresser.”

“[I had] salons turn me away because they weren't confident, comfortable or experienced enough to 'tackle' my hair.”

_edwardsandco View Profile
View Post on Instagram
Episode 2: Afro Styling with @natalia_edwardsandco and @mumma.fro As you may or may not know styling afro hair is not included in the Certificate III Hairdressing course in Australia, meaning Natalia, as well as every other Australian hairdresser finished their apprenticeship not knowing how to service clients with afro hair. At EdwardsAndCo we thought about how we could use our platform to take action and help create long lasting change, which is why we have invited Nina to help us shine a light on this issue, giving her the opportunity to share her story and experiences with the community. It's also important for us to keep the conversation around racial discrimination going and never allow things to "go back to the way they were" just because the media stops reporting. Please do your part by heading to the petition on change.org to have afro and textured hair education included in the Certificate III Hairdressing. It's currently sitting at almost 20,000 signatures with a goal of 25,000. Sign the petition here: http://chng.it/Wt6WqqmL7q Big thank you to @mumma.fro and @brazenmodels for being apart of this ❤️ #SDEDWARDSANDCO

By joining forces with Edwards&Co, Ryan hopes to help get the curriculum at TAFE updated, and gives a shout out to Zemura in the video for starting the initiative.

As of one week ago, Zemura posted an update on the petition saying she had met with Wendy Blair from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, as well as NSW TAFE and SkillsIQ representatives. 

“TAFE NSW is now considering sourcing mannequin heads with curly and Afro hair to facilitate training,” she wrote. “I am grateful to the entire industry for getting behind this campaign and being truly supportive of this change. I will be working with SkillsIQ on the changes to be introduced in the curriculum.”

chrissyzemurahair View Profile
View Post on Instagram
Yesterday I had the pleasure of doing some Kinky, Coily, Curly education with @mouseybrowne (head to her page to see her in action) Thank you so much @thejournalmag for continuously supporting and giving us the platform to do this! Had so much fun! Can not wait to do more. Who wants more education?!

Hopeful that change will eventuate, Ryan tells hairdressers in the meantime not to see textured hair and Afro hair as a monumental challenge. “At the end of the day it is just hair after all!” she says. “Don't be afraid to have a consultation with a client because they most likely have a pretty good idea what does or doesn't work for their hair type.”

Humphrey seconds this sentiment saying, “there is no secret to afro hair, there are tips such as cutting dry, or using super hydrating products, but that is just common sense.”

“Everyone who walks into a salon has the right to be serviced. Until the time comes that it is a mandatory requirement of a hairdressing apprenticeship, we need to have enough respect to teach ourselves the skills and there is so much information available online.”

  • Beauty
  • Hairstyles

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

6 issues for $35 -

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
6 issues for $35

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

The Most Shocking, Candid And Revealing Royal Interviews Of All Time

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Channel Nine Already Have Plans To Turn Melissa Caddick's Life And Death Into A Drama TV Series

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

Everything The Current 'MAFS' Cast Has Said About This Year's Cheating Scandal

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

6 Dr. Seuss Books Will No Longer Be Published Due To "Hurtful And Wrong" Racist Depictions

{headline}

{headline}

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Netflix's 'Operation Varsity Blues' Is Offering A New, And Wild, Look At The College Admissions Scandal

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Britney Spears Shares Rare Photo With Teenage Sons Sean And Jayden Federline

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

Julia Roberts And George Clooney Will Reunite On Screen For New Rom-Com, 'Ticket To Paradise'

{headline}

{headline}

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Shop With Purpose This Mardi Gras Week Thanks To The Pride Collections Giving Back

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

Rapper T.I. & His Wife Tiny Have Been Accused Of Sexual Assault By 11 Different Women

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

The Biggest Beauty Trends To Come Out Of Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2021

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Anya Taylor-Joy Celebrated Her Golden Globes Win In Two Dazzling Custom Dior Gowns

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

Dr Trisha Admits That Working On 'MAFS' Made Her "Feel Sick" For Compromising Others Mental Health

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The Best Accessory At The 2021 Golden Globes? Sarah Paulson's Custom Prada Cast, Of Course

The 'Behind Her Eyes' Filming Locations Are Just as Mesmerising As The Netflix Thriller

The 'Behind Her Eyes' Filming Locations Are Just as Mesmerising As The Netflix Thriller

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

6 issues for $35 -

Shop This Offer
6 issues for $35