100 Voices And 100 Words - Calling For Law To Change

Paulette Hamilton MP 100 Words says:

I absolutely support World Afro Day’s ‘100 Voices, 100 Words’ Campaign to change the Equality Act to protect afro hair.As Birmingham’s first black MP, and as a mother to four daughters, I know the impact this campaign could have on my local community and on people with afro hair across the UK.

The report of the Workplace Hair Acceptance survey showed that 1 in 3 company decision makers said that it was possible that their workplace would deny a black woman a job because of her natural afro hair – this is completely unacceptable. In 2024, it is difficult to believe that people with afro hair can still experience discrimination, harassment and assault in UK workplaces, schools and children’s homes and it is high time we protected this characteristic, and fixed the law, not our hair.

Mel B, 100 words says:

My hair has always been a personal statement – all my life. I grew up a mixed race girl in working class Leeds in the 1970s. Kids at school had no idea what to call me. I was different. And I had my big wild curly hair that stood out. It wasn’t neat and tidy. There was too much of it to fit into elastic hair bands and I wore it out. I got called names. I got singled out. But it was my hair and I wasn’t going to change it – for anyone. The very first video shoot I did as a Spice Girl for Wannabe, the stylists took one look at my hair and told me it had to be straightened. My big hair didn’t fit the pop star mold. But I stood my ground – backed by my girls – and I sang and danced as me with my big hair, my brown skin and I was totally proud of who I was. I had no idea the impact that video had on thousands of little brown and black girls all over the country. Women still come up to me to this day and tell me they stopped straightening their hair. They let their curls shine out in playgrounds everywhere as they finally got to have a place in a ‘girl band’ in the playground. That makes me so proud. I love my curls. I have three children with big curly hair and all of them take pride in their their hair, their identity and their culture. I also know that sometimes they have faced issues with their hair – as I did. We are who we are and no one should try to discriminate or change us. So yes. I’m proud to support World Afro Day in its call for the Equality Act to protect against Afro hair discrimination in the UK.

Michelle De Leon Founder WAD says:

“Eight years of talking, listening, researching, creating events and resources for schools, workplaces and the public has led me to the conclusion that the scale of transformation needed can only be achieved through legal change. Laws are actually there to tell people what is right and what is wrong and to protect minority groups from oppression, discrimination and injustice. We simply do not have the right laws in the UK to stop generations of Afro hair discrimination from continuing. I hope that Britain can lead the world in doing what is right, so that people of African descent can live as free as anyone else.”

Celebrities
Organisations
Academics

Mel B
Actress /Singer

Fleur East
Singer/Presenter

I strongly believe that everybody should be treated equally, irrespective of how their hair grows out of their head. It’s ridiculous that anyone should be treated differently or unfairly due to their hair type. Our hair strands should not impact our life’s plans. The twists and turns of each coil or curl shouldn’t negatively shape our life’s path. Our curl pattern should not evoke a pattern of behaviour that discriminates against us. The way our boss thinks, should never be coloured by the way our hair kinks. Our value should not be determined by the volume of our hair, but rather by the depth of our character.

Beverley Knight
Singer/Actress

I love the fact that over the past decade, there has been a shift towards Black women and girls feeling confident enough to wear our hair the way it grows out of our heads. For years I ruined my hair and my health by relaxing my hair to make it straight. All to confirm to a beauty ideal that denies, rejects and stigmatises the beauty of natural Afro hair. No more.

Sean Fletcher
Broadcaster

I believed that as young man starting out in my journalism career, that certain Afro hairstyles, like dreadlocks were unacceptable so I cut mine off. Now I realise that we should feel free to be ourselves in any work environment and that our hair should be protected from discrimination. So I am fully supporting the call from World Afro Day to update the law to include Afro hair as a protected characteristic.

Reanna Bleu
Actor

Freedom. our hair is our crown. it’s a symbol of love always!

Sharon D Clarke MBE
Respect our Crowns

From I first sat in a makeup chair in the late 80’s and the Hair and Makeup woman paled at my natural hair, turned to her colleague and said “What am I supposed to do with that?!” Nothing has changed.
Boys told they can’t wear they’re hair in cane row for school, a protective style that dates back to 3000 BC.
Your hair looks like Cynthia from Rugrats
When you’re sat in the make up chair and your hair is yanked like it’s Santa’s fake beard and not actually attached to your scalp.
People just boldly walking up and touching your hair.
Being TOLD by a white male head of department You’ll never get those dreadlocks under a wig! He said nothing as I proceeded my prep and got said Locs under the wig.
Younger Sisters reaching out to say that the company wants to cut their hair because it won’t fit under wigs, no discussion as how to prep their hair has been had.
Oh, you changed your hair, I didn’t recognise you/ couldn’t tell you apart from…
Being left to your own hair devices because Hair and Makeup have gone white as a sheet looking at your hair.
Do you wash your Dreadlocks?
Can you wash your hair?
So many of us are still hearing hair horror stories about places we worked at years before. Nothing has been learnt, nothing has changed.
To have a yet another generation going through this hair madness, is frustrating, depressing and Wrong. Let’s Change It!

Dr Zoe Williams
TV Medic

In 2024 we should be living in a world where we celebrate every aspect of our wonderful bodies, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, age or disability. Yet it shocks and saddens me to still hear stories of afro hair discrimination. Hair is a part of our bodies that naturally grows in many different ways. It is part of our uniqueness, our identity and our culture. I have supported World Afro Day since its inception, and whilst progress is happening, I cannot accept the fact that people are still turned away from school, work and other opportunities for wearing afro hair styles. Hair discrimination has to stop!

ZeZe Millz
Broadcastor, Cultural Commentator

I am proud to be supporting the ‘100 Voices, 100 Words Campaign’ in marking World Afro Day as we celebrate the beauty in afro hair textures – and why we need to eradicate hair discrimination – both within the workplace, schools, and all walks of life! I enjoy expressing myself in my afro varying hairstyles and know first-hand what it feels like to be in spaces where I have been made to feel ‘less than’ due to my hair texture. This cannot continue for future generations – now is the time for the law to be passed to stop this!

Kym Mazelle
Singer

I remember as a child in the 60’s, USA Gary, Indiana, everyone wore their “Hair” what grew out of your head periodt! Tight curled to your scalp (called nappy or kitchens) looser curl, press & curl, french braids, single, double, tripled or head full of plaits. I remember wanting to wear an afro when I was about 8 or 9 years old listening to Nina Simone’s “Young Gifted & Black” watching The Jackson Five cartoon, on Saturday mornings. We all looked so good, I was so proud. Now they’re laws against our nation having pride in wearing our own hair. So much so that the hair industry is booming with alternative hair wear. As a result shame, fear of acceptance, mental health issues have formed in our subconscious’ “When We Wear Our Natural Hair.”

Patrick Hutchinson
Author, Personal Trainer, Public Figure & Co Founder of pHKind

It cannot be underestimated the importance for Black children to express themselves through their natural afro hair. It is crucial for their self-esteem, cultural identity, and overall well-being. Many schools, however, still in 2024 lack understanding and implement policies that unfairly target and restrict Black hairstyles, causing unnecessary stress and discrimination. Education in schools is vital to address this issue. Staff need training on the cultural significance of afro hair, its care requirements, and the negative psychological impact of restrictive policies. All students should be free to wear their hair naturally and proudly. By embracing and respecting afro hair, schools can create a more inclusive environment where Black children feel valued, confident, and free to be their authentic selves, helping to build strong self-esteem.

Vernon François
Celebrity Hairstylist

It’s crucial to address Afro hair discrimination because hair is more than just appearance – it’s identity, culture, and pride. For too long, Afro hair has been marginalised, leading to exclusion and harm. Changing the law to specifically protect Afro hair is a vital step toward equality, ensuring that everyone can express their true selves without fear or prejudice.

Eryca Freemantle
Global Business Strategist. Executive Coach.

It’s crucial for our Black community to witness the law evolve to combat hair discrimination in the UK. Our hair is not just a style—it’s a profound expression of our cultural heritage and identity. Yet, we face systemic bias that forces us to conform to Eurocentric norms, diminishing our dignity and self-worth
These discriminatory practices, whether in schools or workplaces, perpetuate a cycle of marginalization that hinders our opportunities and erases our unique identities.
Legal reform is essential to affirm our right to embrace our natural hair without fear, ensuring we are respected and valued in every aspect of society.”

Fola Evans-Akingbola
Hair on Set – Director/actress

I’m proud to support World Afro Day in its call for the Equality Act to protect against Afro hair discrimination in the UK. Our hair is an important part of our identity and cultural heritage. It is essential that people can go about their everyday life and be treated equally and with respect. Change has been a long time coming and I’m excited that the tide is finally turning on this issue. I hope that one day we won’t even have to talk about Afro hair discrimination because it will no longer be happening.

Darcy Dixon
Actor

Not feeling like I have to “look better” or less appealing to go for a job interview. Being accepted as I am.

Marverine Cole
Broadcaster

The law in the UK must change to combat discrimination against people with natural afro hair to ensure true equality and justice. Afro hair discrimination is a manifestation of systemic racism that marginalises individuals based on their natural appearance. In order to dismantle the bias, legal protections would affirm the right to express one’s cultural identity without fear of prejudice.
Such laws would promote inclusivity in workplaces, schools, and public spaces, empowering people with afro hair to thrive, without facing discriminatory barriers. They would also signal a commitment to embracing diversity, and fostering a society where everyone is valued and respected for who they are.

British Beauty Council

Since its formation, the British Beauty Council has been dedicated to tackling prejudice and achieving equity for all corners of society. It played an important role in securing the implementation of strengthened national guidance against afro hair discrimination for education providers across England, in 2022. This was formulated with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and the Prime Minister’s Office. The Council supports the widening of hair protection laws and the addition of these to the 2010 Equality Act – everyone should feel comfortable to wear their hair however they please, without fear of discrimination.

Dija Ayodele
Founder, Black Skin Directory

Focusing on or penalising an individual for their natural hair is a distraction from their talents, skills and capabilities. The sooner Afro Hair is specifically named and protected in law from discrimination in schools and workplaces, the better it is for our entire society.

Shirley Mcdonald
Institute of Trichologists

I strongly believe that Afro hair protection laws are crucial for equality and cultural respect. They allow individuals with Afro-textured hair to express themselves freely, without fear of discrimination. These laws empower communities to celebrate their heritage and embrace their natural beauty, promoting social justice and inclusivity.’

Keeks Reid
Beauty Director, Cosmopolitan

As someone that has written about hair, and specifically Afro hair, for my entire career, I am such an advocate for addressing the discrimination those with Afro-textured hair face on a daily basis. The freedom to wear your hair however you please, especially the way it naturally grows out of your scalp, should be available to all without judgement or discrimination and not a privilege.

Ruby Hammer MBE
British Beauty Council Ambassador

As an ambassador, and someone who deeply values diversity and inclusion, I believe it is essential to speak up and highlight changes that can be made to support inclusivity and representation for all. For me, the best way to showcase and celebrate heritage or identity is to empower individuals to express their own unique styles and natural beauty, confidently. I believe Afro hair protection laws are essential for creating more inclusive environments, whether that’s school, the workplace, or society in general, where everyone can feel accepted, valued and free to be their natural selves, without fear of discrimination or prejudice.

Antoinette Ale
DEI Committee, British Beauty Council

Everyone should have the freedom to wear their hair the way they choose, regardless of race, style, or texture. Afro hair, in particular, has faced so much discrimination, and it’s necessary that we take concrete steps to protect it. This proposal to ensure that hair discrimination does not continue to affect Afro hair is a critical step toward equality and equity in the UK. It is about recognizing and respecting the beauty and diversity of Afro hair, and ensuring that all hair types are treated with the dignity they deserve.

Dr. Mary Sommerlad
Consultant Dermatologist

The UK Equality Act must explicitly prohibit discrimination against Afro-textured hair. As a Consultant Dermatologist, I frequently encounter individuals pressured by their employers to straighten their Afro textured hair, which can cause permanent damage and psychological distress. Pressure to straighten hair to conform to European hair expectations devalues Black identity.This starts in childhood, with Black children often disciplined and even excluded for wearing their natural hair; some cases have been reported in the media. The beauty industry labels Afro hair as “unruly,” driving further discrimination. Even high street hairdressers frequently refuse service, reflecting pervasive societal bias. These microaggressions are discriminatory and perpetuate systemic racism.

CEW UK

As the leading professional membership organisation for the beauty industry, CEW UK is committed to championing diversity and inclusion. We believe Afro hair protection laws are essential for ensuring equality and respecting cultural identity. These laws allow individuals with Afro-textured hair to express themselves freely and confidently, without facing discrimination or prejudice in educational settings, the workplace, or in daily life. CEW UK is committed to fostering a more inclusive beauty industry where every individual feels accepted, respected, and valued.

BABTAC

The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology

The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) [and BABTAC Beauty Collective] wholeheartedly supports any campaign that advocates for diversity and inclusivity, especially at a time when it is more important than ever to protect cultural identity and nurture respect for all communities who make up our diverse population. We should be celebrating our diversity and fostering more understanding and acceptance of all our cultural differences, so that all people can embrace their heritage and express and celebrate their natural beauty, without fear of prejudice or discrimination. Implementing the Afro protections laws are an essential part of supporting positive change and we are proud to support World Afro Day in this important cause.

Sharon D. Lloyd
Co-Founder, FACE and Deputy Director of the Centre for Equity and Inclusion at London Metropolitan University

Having experienced the impact of hair discrimination firsthand through my daughter’s school, I know how deeply it can affect a child’s self-belief—something we’ve worked so hard to instil in her. The school’s unwavering belief that they had done nothing wrong was both shocking and disheartening. This outdated mindset has no place in the 21st century. Changing the law to combat hair discrimination is crucial to protect our children’s identities, ensuring they grow up in a society that respects and values all cultural expressions. This is a change we must make for future generations.

Michelle De Leon
Founder/CEO World Afro Day and TV Producer

Eight years of talking, listening, researching, creating events and resources for schools, workplaces and the public has led me to the conclusion that the scale of transformation needed can only be achieved through legal change. Laws are actually there to tell people what is right and what is wrong and to protect minority groups from oppression, discrimination and injustice. We simply do not have the right laws in the UK to stop generations of Afro hair discrimination from continuing. I hope that Britain can lead the world in doing what is right, so that people of African descent can live as free as anyone else.

Denese Chikwendu
Co-Director of World Afro Day and Senior Programme Manager

Changing the UK Law to protect Afro hair from discrimination will enable every child, young person and adult with Afro textured hair to live a life of liberty; knowing that the hair they have been born with cannot be used as a weapon against them. This change will prompt a ceasefire that is long overdue. The ammunition that is fired to those of us with Afro textured hair causes unnecessary harm through oppressive practices and policies, some of which are embedded in our education system and the workplace. To have the UK law changed will create peace for future generations.

Sonny Hanley
Head of Department

I fully support the call for the Equalities Act to include protection against Afro hair discrimination. As someone with afro hair and who has worn it in many different styles throughout the years, I class it as part of my cultural identity, and along with that a sense of pride for me, my family, my ancestors and my heritage. Afro hair can be seen as a beacon to promote diversity and inclusion, and the discrimination against it only perpetuates societal inequalities by reinforcing stereotypes and social hierarchies. No one wants to feel marginalised at work or in society because of the way they choose to wear their natural hair.

Modupe
ITV Embrace co-chair

For too long people have felt that their hair has been policed by polices and laws which we have not questioned and have accepted but we have had enough. It is ok to style our hair the way we want as it is an expression of our identity. We don’t want to worry about if we have the right hairstyle for school, college, university or the workplace. Change needs to happen so we all feel included, accepted, appreciated and seen.

Yvonne Ottley
Director

Want our next generation of young women to be able to go to work and live life freely without hair discrimination.

Maria Rooney

Children’s Social Worker

I have a mixed race son who was repeatedly targeted, discriminated against & harassed by the head & teachers at his school because of his hair. I raised concerns & made complaints about potential race discrimination regarding their uniform & appearance policy as it was also affecting other black/mixed race children in the school who were being excluded and put in isolation & detention because of their hair which was unfair. I had to have several meetings with the school including a Stage 3 Complaint Panel Hearing where my complaint was upheld & their policy finally got changed but it was a 3 year battle as the head & teachers had no cultural awareness or understanding or knowledge of hair discrimination towards children in schools.

Juanita Rosenior
Managing Director, TGRG

For far too long we’ve been ridiculed, traumatised and penalised for what comes naturally to us. Here is the first step towards not our own acceptance but changing the world’s recognition of us.

Steve Uzoma

When UK law names and protects Afro hair from discrimination, it will create a place where people with Afro hair and their families and friends can proudly be themselves. They will not have to worry about how they might be treated or be excluded from society.

Karine Laudort

Implementing legal protections against discrimination for Afro hair would mark a crucial advancement in affirming cultural identity, heritage, and equal rights. Afro hair is intrinsically linked to cultural identity and heritage. Legal recognition of natural hairstyles such as afros, locs, braids, and twists acknowledges and honors their cultural significance. This step could enhance self-esteem and acceptance among those who have historically faced pressure to adhere to Eurocentric beauty norms.
Moreover, explicitly including Afro hair in anti-discrimination legislation would offer clearer safeguards against hair-based discrimination in educational institutions, workplaces, and public areas. This measure would help prevent situations where individuals are penalised, marginalised, or made to feel inferior due to their natural hair texture or protective styles.

Simone Williamson

The fact that this battle continues is necessary yet embarrassing. Hair discrimination equates to race discrimination and so it’s only logical that we are protected. Having this law firstly acknowledges there is a problem and secondly, discriminators can now officially be held accountable.

Sam Fray
Talent Development Leas

Its about leaving a legacy so my children’s children no longer feel ashamed of their beautiful crowns

Penny Rabiger
Education consultant

It’s time that human adults and children with Afro hair are recognised in law as just that – human, and therefore eligible to be treated equitably by the law. It’s really that simple.

KULDEEP KAUR CHANNA
SENIOR PRODUCER

Having UK law recognise and protect Afro hair from discrimination would be incredibly meaningful. It would be a significant step forward in educating those who question why such a law is necessary, providing a safe space for these conversations to take place. The goal is for people to ask these questions, gain understanding, and grow together. Ideally, in the future, we will reach a point where people look back and wonder why such a law was ever needed—because by then, no one will be discriminated against for the natural hair they were born with. Unfortunately, we are not there yet, so this law is crucial in strengthening the cause and in helping to educate and empower everyone.

I recall working with a young white woman who complained that a Black man with dreadlocks had inappropriate hair for a professional environment. That was his natural hair! This law would help change these outdated views and foster a more inclusive and understanding society.

Esther Kuku
Director of Communications and Engagement

This is vital. Afro hair has been seen as lesser than for decades. My daughter has been subject to inappropriate comments about her hair at school. I’ve seen one particular case where someone was not succesful in a recruitment process and then had comments made about their hair and not being the right fit afterwards. It’s unacceptable. To me it will mean a move closer to a clear understanding that hair discrimination is unacceptable.

Evelyn Forde MBE
School Leader, former President ASCL

There are many things that we often say define us, and for those of African descent, our hair is one of our defining features which we are rightly proud of. We are tired of having to conform to the stereotypical view that ‘neat/tidy’ hair somehow equates to being professional and we are tired of having to explain our wonderful different hairstyles. We teach our children to be positive and confident and to be proud of their heritage so to then reprimand and/or exclude a young person because of a particular hairstyle is totally at odds with this and totally unacceptable. I’m in absolute support of the need to change the law to end hair discrimination.

Paulette Watson MBE

As a Black woman with locs leading in STEM and AI, I have faced firsthand the biases and barriers that Afro hair can present in professional and educational spaces. Hair is an integral part of our identity and should never cause discrimination. We must ensure the Equality Act protects against Afro-hair discrimination in the UK. Updating the law affirms the right to self-expression, eliminates unnecessary barriers, and fosters true inclusion. It’s time to end the policing of Afro hair and create environments where everyone can thrive without compromising who they are.

Frances Akinde

I’ve worked in education for over 20 years and throughout that time I’ve always embraced my natural hair, whether long, short, braids, or twists. Despite being told that natural hair might make my role as a school leader more challenging, I love its versatility and believe it’s important to show my students what natural hair looks like. My natural hair is professional, and as a Black school leader, I’m a role model, demonstrating that Black students don’t need to change themselves to fit in. Now, as an inspector and advisor, I continue to wear my natural hair with pride.

Dr Youmna Mouhamad

Growing up as a minority has unique challenges. Children have to build their identity and self-confidence despite feeling unseen, unheard, and facing racism. That’s why authentic representation is so important. For the black community, that included the representation of women, men, and children with Afro-textured hair. It affirms that our identity and culture are not only recognized but welcomed. To achieve this, discrimination against Afro-textured hair must be addressed and eliminated.

Ross McGill
MD, @TeacherToolkit

I have been a big fan of WAD for several years and have seen the movement spread across the world. Having been a school leader for 20+ years, I have (sadly) seen much of the prejudice and injustices highlighted in research and the media in schools I have worked in. Hair, whatever colour, style, whether shaved or extended, should never be a barrier!

Cherron Inko-Tariah
Editor in Chief

Our hair is our crown and should not be up for discussion and debate. A UK law protecting Afro hair from discrimination will certain put some safe guards in place to minimise the prejudice.

Yemisi Beimah
PA

Afro’s are part of who we are.

Errol De Leon
Maths Lecturer

As a Black person navigating the professional world, I’ve seen how existing equity laws often fall short in addressing our unique challenges. Despite these laws, I’ve watched qualified Black colleagues be sidelined while less qualified peers advance, simply because the laws fail to tackle the systemic biases embedded in workplaces. I’ve also faced situations where educational opportunities were limited because the system didn’t account for the historical and socioeconomic barriers Black students face. To truly level the playing field, equity laws need to be reformed to recognize and address these deep-seated inequalities, ensuring fairness is not just a promise but a reality.

Cheryl Bacchus
Primary school teacher

The acceptance and embracing of afro hair has come a long way for the better. However, the discrimination of our hair is so deep rooted that often the criticisms come from each other as though we have been brainwashed. I see it amongst the kids especially junior school aged. We seem to have indirectly passed on the negativity but we are getting better about what and how we share information with our kids.

Yemi Ojo
Social work team manager

It would mean that black children can grow up with pride in their hair. They would not need to use harmeful chemicals to straighten their hair.

Towella Ngambi
Lecturer

Feel more comfortable at work and more confident to be the real me

Fiona Dingiswayo
Care Home Deputy Manager

That we must comfortable and love our as it is a part of you.

Sandjea-Marie Abena Adassa
Consultant

That I am seen, valued, and accepted as I am!

Tanya De Leon
Trainee Dental Nurse

Growing up, I was aware of black hair being monitored, regulated, and, at times, ridiculed at school. This issue doesn’t just happen at schools it continues in the workplace. When black people were initially going into professional roles, it was an unspoken rule that if you were a black male, you could not grow your hair out, and if you were a black female your hair had to look as close to white hair as possible. It’s shocking to me that in this modern time, which claims to have moved on from racism, black people are still being challenged on their right to wear their natural hair.
If we want to live in a progressive society, it is imperative that we are intolerant of all forms of discrimination.

Joel Gordon
Student

Freedom to braid my hair without being told I’ve done something wrong

Nathan Gordon
Student

Freedom to do my hair as I like without judgement from others

Ruth Gordon
IT consultant

Afro becoming more understood and accepted in work environments

Collin Gordon
Government employee

Fairer treatment for the youth I work with who are 14 – 21 many of whom have Afro hair

Tami Ojo
IT Manager

Discrimination against Afro hair is racist, black people should not be in fear of wearing their natural hair

Bev Stewart
ODF Project Manager

Too long has our hair been a subject of discrimination. Black people have been in this country for 100s of years, yet it is still like we have just come yesterday. Afro hair should not be seen a issue or negative. Look at the contents of the person, is this person well turned outlet, move away from stigmatised people.

Maureen Morrison
Therapist

As person of African/Caribbean Heritage I feel that we are mocked and not allowed to comfortably wear our Afro hair with or without a wrap in certain circles like work, job interviews, and certain public events without it being frowned upon or ridiculed. This is unacceptable as I often see other races being allowed their headwear with the styling of their hair without discrimination or ridicule. No one race should be excluded or made to feel uncomfortable to display their hair the way they were born with.

Juliet Price
Personal trainer

To been seen as equal and not defined by the hair we wear.

Nicola Millington
PR agency founder

Just freedom to be. I think it is tragic that we even need this law

Nezlin Newell
Senior Social worker

Afro hair is NATURAL hair. It is authentic and beautiful and requires special care. One should not be forced to manipulate their natural hair by adding harmful chemicals and other products and foreign properties just to make others feel comfortable. Its inhumane and mentally, physically and emotionally damaging.

Johanne Penney
CEO

We know that Afro hair needs to be protected and it should not be perceived negatively, it is currently unsafe for many Black women esp in the corporate sector to wear their natural hair. This is protection from code switching and doing things with our hair to ‘fit in’.

Shanaz Mahomed
Manager

This would help a lot of people who struggle to hair have Afro hair in school or work. This will set people to be feel free to identify themselves with their naturally hair. It would be a great freedom for us to wear our hair out and not feel uncomfortable. It would help those who have been already discriminated against the way they can have their hairstyles. I feel it would help other people to be mindful and respectful of different hair types. This will educate people that have discriminated others for their hair. At work l have had people want to touch my hair but making it law l believe this will stop people from being ignorance. I also feel more women will be free to take out their natural hair rather then wearing wigs. I would love to see more people loving their hair and not feeling ashamed about their due to discrimination. There needs to be change in Society and this Law will liberate and free people from what they’ve had to experience. The law will just allow people like me to feel free to wear my hair out and not worry about what other people think. It will be the start to change how the world can be about hair discrimination which includes Afro hair as one of the most discriminatory. The law will help The new generation to express themselves in the identity without discrimination. This law will take away any fear from those who have been discriminated. I would like to see this change so my grandchildren one day can have the choice to have their Afro hair out with out being afraid to be discriminated against.

Professor Patrick Vernon OBE
Campaigner

Afro hair discrimination is part a wider aspect of Anti Blackness and Afriphobia facing black people

Natalie Feyi
Speech therapist

This is a law that will impact family members, my children’s children, my nieces, my friends. Being able to wear our hair in the way it grows from our scalp should be accepted and we should not have to comply with mainstream white media as to what they believe beauty standards are

Samantha Griffiths
Psychologist

Hair has the ability to visibly define ethnic difference, determine identity and impact self-esteem. The findings of my 2022 published research into the attitudes and perspectives of hair-discrimination’ subjectivity positioned [afro-hair] as a source of everyday subtle racism’, a threat to identity that is ‘not only pervasive but endemic.’ Further that, ethnocentric ideals of hair texture has an insidious impact on constructions of identity for Afro-Caribbean women’’. I join these voices call for urgent legislative change to end ‘multi-generational abuse’.

Claudio Lourenco

A better understanding of the Afro hair meaning and message behind it, when there is one.
I deeply believe that will lead to less bias towards it and prevent people from seeing as just another trend. “

Kate Williams
Teacher/Mother to Ruby Williams

I can still remember speaking to the EASS in October 2016 and them explaining the Equality Act 2010 to me, and why a school rule specifying Afro hair was discriminatory. The school insisted it has nothing to do with race because it was for all pupils. It was impossible to get them to understand that Afro textured hair is a racial signifier and inherent to someone’s race. To have Afro hair explicitly and legally stated as a site of potential racial discrimination could help prevent racial trauma for children and adults moving forward, so please do it. Thank you.

Valerie Jacqueline Ritchie

As a Black woman, advocate, and mentor, I’ve witnessed the profound impact of hair discrimination on individual dignity and identity, particularly within our schoolchildren and in the workplace. The persistent undervaluation of Afro-textured hair as unprofessional is not only archaic but discriminatory. It is imperative for the Equality Act to explicitly safeguard against Afro-hair discrimination, affirming that our natural hair is neither a defiance of norms nor a barrier to opportunities. Legal protection is a cornerstone to ensuring that everyone can embrace their identity without prejudice or penalty. Let’s legislate respect and celebrate our heritage with pride.’

Karen Arthur
Author

My name is Karen Arthur and I am mother to two women and grandmother to a young boy of Black mixed heritage. I wrote my book ‘Grandmas Locs’ to help celebrate our hair, from the African diaspora, in all its beautiful iterations. As a former teacher I have also seen first hand how negative images of Black hair can affect the recipient and perpetuate bias. This should not be. It is important that we all address the bias that can lead to Black children and adults being discriminated against, treated differently or ‘othered’ simply for the way their hair grows naturally. I stand up this World Afro Day 2024 to call for hair education and for the law to be changed to prevent hair discrimination in schools and the workplace. Everyone should have the opportunity to express their culture and identity and this move would be a lasting commitment and testament to a fairer more just society.

Kameese Davis
Founder of Nylah’s Naturals

As the founder of Nylah’s Naturals, a hair care brand dedicated to empowering Black individuals, I urge the UK to pass its own version of the CROWN Act, similar to the legislation in the United States. Hair discrimination remains a serious issue in the UK, affecting Black people in schools and workplaces. Examples like the exclusion of a student for wearing dreadlocks highlight the need for legal protections. The CROWN Act would promote diversity, protect against bias, and ensure that natural Afro hair is celebrated, not penalised. I call on lawmakers to take action to promote true equality.

Kike Oniwinde Agoro
Founder and CEO of BYP Network

As we continue to push for greater diversity and inclusion, the protection of Afro hair is more than just a legal issue—it’s a fundamental step toward respecting and celebrating cultural identity. At BYP Network, we are committed to ensuring that Black professionals can show up as their authentic selves, free from discrimination and societal pressures to conform. Afro hair protection laws are vital in creating workplaces and communities where natural beauty is embraced, heritage is honoured, and everyone is empowered to thrive.”

L’Myah Sherae
Founder and Chief Coordinator of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Race Equality in Education

Amending the Equality Act to specifically address Afro hair discrimination is crucial for advancing racial justice in the UK. Afro hair is deeply tied to cultural identity, yet many Black individuals face discrimination because of their natural hair in schools, sports, workplaces, and public settings. By amending the Equality Act to explicitly protect Afro hair, our society would take a significant step toward eradicating this form of racial bias. Such a change would not only help protect the rights of Black individuals but also promote an environment where diversity is embraced, and everyone is free to express their authentic selves.

Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE

It’s time for hair discrimination to end.

Those of us with kinky, tightly curled, locks, twists, dreads, cornrows, or Afro hair, deserve the freedom to wear our natural hair at school, in the workplace, or anywhere, without fear of discrimination, racial bias or being victims of pejorative rules, opinions and judgements, based on a normative view of the world that excludes us, diminishes us, or treats us as less than equal.

I’m proud to support World Afro Day and their call for the UK Equality Act to include Afro hair.

Jason Pennycook
Actor

What will it mean to me and the community for UK law to name and protect Afro hair from discrimination is simply those. It is a God given right to appear as you naturally are. It is part of our race, heritage and culture, the same way it is part of Caucasian’s (or any other race’s) heritage and culture. The fact that I’m having to write this is what is ridiculous.
Next we’ll be asked to bleach our skin or deny where we hale from.

Make it make sense. Name and protect Afro hair from discrimination.

Sincerely

Jason Pennycooke

Gail Johnson
Retired

It is important that young black children can grow up being who they truly are, accepting their natural hair and wearing it in natural and traditional styles. For too long hair has hindered identity and we have been directed to conform to hairstyles that are not natural to us, as ours have been discriminated against and we have been told they are not professional, acceptable or beautiful. It is time for us to reclaim our natural hair and for the world to accept it. Our hair is beautiful, versatile, wonderful and NATURAL.

Desirée Banugo
Consultant

Liberation from biases where our beautiful hair and skin can limit our opportunities and choices in life by people who control access to these and choose not to understand racism and what it takes to be anti-racist.

Vera S. Jus ( Afro ID – Instituto Afro Brasileiro e Indigena)
Jurist

Afro hair is an affirmation and empowerment of our Identity, history, culture, roots and our african ancestry.

Valuing the aesthetics of black people is respecting black bodies in all their forms.

Afro hair is Black Identity

Wearing Afro hair is a political act. It is fighting aesthetic racism, imposed by the Eurocentric system.

Wearing natural hair is being able to be myself, my nature and my body.

Promoting respect for equity and racial justice is reparatory justice. That is why Afro hair represents resistance against oppression and racial injustice and the promotion of Historical Reparation.

That is why governments have the duty to promote laws that bring racial equity in schools, workplaces, public services and in all social spaces. And Afro hair and its styles are specifically protected by law against discrimination and aesthetic racism. Right and Freedom to wear our Afro hair as it is.
We demand to be protected by laws that humanize our bodies, protect and respect our Afro hair.

P mudahy
CEO

The ability to express your natural hair, natural hairstyle without having to process, change natural ones textured in order to be socially and professionally accepted.

Simone NG
Event planner

My family all wear our hair in afro style. It is natural and not an extreme style. The styles we create should not have to be justified or defended.

Ruby Williams
Campaigner

One of the reasons why my school got away with its discriminatory policy for so long is because Afro hair isn’t named as a protected characteristic. If it was, I would have been able to enjoy my final years at school, instead of experiencing extreme anxiety due to years of being victimised and harassed by teachers for challenging a policy which was described as direct discrimination by the EHRC. I will never be able to reverse the trauma from my experiences at school, but we can make sure future generations of children are protected from going through the same.

Katina Thomas
Senior psychotherapist

Would be empowering and prevent little girls with Afro hair being ashamed of their hair would increase awareness of the injustices but show progress in give people with Afro hair power to fight against their hair being discriminated against it’s a clear no

Althea Doyley
Head of Recruitment

To celebrate our culture and be free from discrimination and judgement judged on my appearance and not my qualifications and skills.

Debi Lewinson Roberts
PhD Researcher

As race is a protected characteristic, changing the law to protect Afro hair is essential as how can only a part of being Black be recognised? Afro hair is a vital part of our cultural identity and expression and should be honoured as such. There is a blatant disrespect rooted in historical oppression, racism and colonialism. This disregard has shown up as inequity in educational institutions, places of employment and used as a weapon in mental health and the criminal justice system.
Protecting Afro hair would be a step towards anti-discriminatory practices, Black people’s well-being and promote inclusivity. Such laws would help to create a fairer and more inclusive society that values all individuals regardless of their hair texture.

Jacqueline Shepherd
Broadcaster and presenter

Natural afro hair is a vital aspect of identity for many individuals myself included. Not only can it be a source of personal expression, it’s a reflection of cultural heritage.

Recognising it as a protected characteristic is crucial for promoting inclusion and representation, ensuring that people with natural hair feel valued and respected in various spaces, including workplaces and schools.

My journey with natural hair has empowered me in so many ways, including having discussions that promote understanding and acceptance.

Embracing natural hair fosters conversations about diversity, and celebrates uniqueness. By advocating for the protection of natural afro hair, I hope we can elevate awareness around issues of representation and inclusion and eliminate hair discrimination.”

Joan Amo
Policy advisor

Empowerment to be one’s naturally designed self without apprehension of challenge. Assurance of recourse in the face of mockery or challenge. Equity to be black in the UK, where the characteristics of blackness are recognised and respected.

Nicolette Amette
Journalist

Respect for all, equality & progress.

Georgina Wilson
CEO

This change in law will quantify true inclusion for Black citizens in the UK. It will help us feel as though we actually belong just as we are. Is this not standard? It should be and needs to be!

Carole Pyke
Sparkle Navigator

Protecting Afro hair in UK law is a crucial step towards true equality and inclusivity. Our hair is an integral part of our identity, culture, and self-expression. Legal recognition affirms that every individual has the right to embrace their natural selves without fear of prejudice or exclusion.

This change will boost confidence, celebrate diversity, and challenge long-standing biases in schools, workplaces, and society. It sends a powerful message that our differences are not just tolerated, but valued and respected. Ultimately, this law will contribute to a more inclusive Britain, where everyone feels empowered to be authentically themselves, enriching our society.

Diane Dunkley
Economic Prosperity Officer

Recognition of all the factors that make us beautifully black

Dr Rik Kennedy
Senior Lecturer

Afro Hair needs to be protected to restrict the use of microaggressions in relation to ethnically minoritised people. The targeting of Afro Hair has become a normalised practice that emerges as an act of whiteness and dominance, which seeks to undermine and degrade ethnically minoritised people. This is then deniable as an act of direct racism and this aversive racism allows the rejection of possessing racial prejudice and upholds a nonprejudiced self-image in the perpetrator. This process acts as a double jeopardy to ethnically minoritised people as both parties involved know the code of dominance that underlies the targeting of Afro Hair. Very simply the message becomes what Sivanandan suggested in 1982, if you are here, be like us; if you cannot, go home.

Sarah Younie
Professor

Freedom for self expression

Yinkx Awoni
Actor

It will simple mean an opportunity to remain oneself without having to compromise or fit into other people’s perceptions on how a black person should look

Shanice Hoo Mills
Founder and CEO

It will be a victorious day for all of the Afro hair community. No more hiding in the shadows of social constructs that society fed into creating ideologies that supressed the love of our natural hair. Afro hair is limitless and has the power to take on any form so the day that this UK law comes into play cements the respect we deserve and rightfully should have.

Sarah Lothian
Journalist and writer

No one should face discrimination for wearing their hair naturally or opting for natural hairstyles or textures.
Only last year a 13 year old black schoolgirl in the UK spent two days in isolation because of an “”inappropriate hairstyle.
In World Afro Day’s Hair Equality report in 2019 24 per cent of respondents said they’d had a bad or very bad experience at school with their Afro-textured hair and identity.
I’m supporting the call on World Afro Day for the law to be changed so the next generation no longer has to face this discrimination.

Myka Defoe
Student

It will mean that girls don’t have to constantly question or feel ashamed of their heritage but also hair. It will mean that girls can feel as though they don’t have to change themselves to feel accepted.