Texture on set: a hair industry reckoning and a call for collective change

For decades, textured hair has been relegated to an afterthought in the fashion and Beauty industries – a frustrating reality for stylists and clients alike. Now, a groundbreaking one-day event, Texture On Set, is demanding a fundamental shift.

A movement built on years of exclusion

Hosted by award-winning hairstylist Naeemah LaFond, the event, in its third year, brought together over 300 industry leaders – from editorial teams to celebrity stylists – alongside powerhouse partners like Olaplex, Oribe, and Dyson. But Texture On Set isn’t simply a networking opportunity; it’s a deliberate act of restorative justice, a recognition of decades of systemic neglect.

LaFond, fueled by years at Forbes and further refined at Princeton, described the consistent feedback from models – the anxiety, the repeated dismissal – surrounding the lack of qualified professionals equipped to handle their unique hair textures. “It wasn’t equitable,” she stated, and Texture On Set is her answer to that inequity.

Beyond education: cultivating a new standard

The day’s program wasn’t solely focused on technical training. Jean Paul Dia, a curl specialist and Olaplex Ambassador, led a tutorial emphasizing the inherent humanity of models and the extensive journey they undertake to realize editorial visions. Stacey Ciceron, an Oribe Global Ambassador, demonstrated the versatility of styling techniques, showcasing how a single ponytail could be transformed across different hair states – dry versus wet – revealing the nuance required for textured hair.

But perhaps the most impactful element was the historical context provided by Michela Wariebi, a makeup artist and historian, who illuminated the complex and often painful legacy of Black hair. “It’s very hard to be fully culturally competent without understanding the background of how we reached where we are,” Wariebi explained, detailing the ways in which hair has been used as a tool of subjugation, but also as a potent vehicle for resistance and revolution. From 16th-century innovations to present-day styling, Black hair has consistently defied expectations and asserted identity.

Adding to the depth of the event was a masterclass by Chuck Amos, a legendary hair stylist whose work has defined iconic looks across the industry, including Beyoncé’s ‘Dangerously In Love’ cover. The closing awards ceremony recognized key figures – Sondrea Demry, Ursula Stephens, and Itaysha Jordan – who built the infrastructure for events like Texture On Set to exist.

LaFond’s vision extends far beyond a single day. She’s advocating for a unified, industry-wide effort to address past transgressions and actively dismantle existing biases. “We all need to come together to figure this out,” she asserted. “It’s not about one brand or one person using their voice. It’s about all of us collectively, saying, ‘This has to change in the industry.’