AUSTIN, Texas — There's no Texas law that legally prevents discrimination against black hairstyles.
- Some businesses have policies regarding hairstyles
- Critics say it targets people of color
A handful of states have laws on the books, and some hair experts say they want the Lone Star State to join in.
Hairstylist Amandine is proud of her natural hairstyle, and as her own boss she can wear it how she wants, but said some of her clients aren't so lucky.
"She’s calling me back and she says her boss says her hair is natural, so he even offered to pay to get her extensions back on," Amandine said of a customer.
Jesse Webb has three decades of hairstyling experience and said policies against natural hair have been unfairly targeting people of color for years.
"If I’m qualified, I have the knowledge, I have the intelligence, my hair doesn't affect any of those things," Webb said.
The term "professional" is often linked to typical European features, but changing what's viewed as unprofessional can be troublesome, time-consuming, and expensive.
Less than a year ago, Christian Karega created a natural hair care line for people to embrace their locks.
Recent laws passed in California protect employees sporting their natural hair, and Karega would like to see that change move to Texas.
"The choices that women make about their hair are complex and deeply personal and they deserve to be respected, honored, and appreciated," Karega said.