Gloucester County Institute of Technology Agrees to Implement Inclusive Hair Styling Curriculum

New agreement sets a standard for cosmetology schools in New Jersey, ensuring the inclusion of Black and other textured hair types in educational programs.

Today, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) announced a ground-breaking agreement with the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) to better serve the diverse hair needs of New Jersey residents. The agreement requires GCIT to instruct students in the theory and practice of styling Black and other textured hair, aiming to set an equitable educational standard for cosmetology programs across the state.

Who:
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division on Civil Rights, and Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT).

What:
A signed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance mandates GCIT's Cosmetology Department to maintain a diverse array of mannequins and teach all students—regardless of their ethnicity—the skills required to style Black and other textured hair types.

When:
The agreement was announced today.

Where:
The agreement applies to the Gloucester County Institute of Technology in New Jersey.

Why:
The objective is to combat historical race discrimination in hairstyling education and provide a comprehensive educational model that prepares students to serve a diverse client base.

How:
The school has committed to keeping at least 20% of its mannequins with Black hair textures. GCIT will also ensure that staff instructs students in DCR’s guidance on race discrimination in hairstyles.

“New Jerseyans should be confident that cosmetology programs in our state are adequately preparing all students to be able to cut and style all hair types and textures,” said Attorney General Platkin.

This agreement is part of the Department of Law and Public Safety’s Racial Justice Initiative and aligns with the aims of the Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair Act, or CROWN Act, a state law enacted in 2019.

Sundeep Iyer, the Division on Civil Rights Director, added, “In many parts of our State, it can be difficult for Black residents and other people of color to receive appropriate hair styling services. It is therefore critical that styling Black and textured hair be part of the foundational training that all cosmetology schools provide to all students.”

The agreement has set a precedent for cosmetology schools in New Jersey, urging them to create more inclusive programs that can better serve a racially and ethnically diverse population. By doing so, the agreement not only enhances the skill set of upcoming professionals but also addresses long-standing inequities in the cosmetology industry.