In a game-changing move, California lawmakers are tackling hair discrimination in prisons with the introduction of Assembly Bill 1875, also known as the Culturally Competent Hair Care Act. Led by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, and Senator Steven Bradford, this bill aims to revolutionize the personal care product scene for incarcerated people of color.
The Culturally Competent Hair Care Act demands nothing less than a glow-up for hair care accessibility in correctional facilities. Say goodbye to the days when canteens offered a one-size-fits-all approach. This legislation, set to kick in by January 1, 2028, will require prisons and local jails with stores to step up their hair care game.
Beauty Beyond Bars Leads The Charge
What’s on the menu, you ask? Sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, curl creams, and gels are the new essential Hair Products for the locked-up glam squad. And who’s pushing for this change? None other than Beauty Beyond Bars, a nonprofit organization on a mission to empower incarcerated individuals with personal-care products. They’re not just about awareness campaigns and donation drives; now, they’re flexing their muscle in the legislative arena.
Lea Nepomuceno, the executive director of Beauty Beyond Bars, spills the deets on the bill’s backstory. “I recognized the need for beauty and hygiene accessibility in correctional facilities during my interviews with formerly incarcerated people,” she says. Shockingly, DIY toiletries were a common sight, with folks resorting to trading food for shampoo ingredients. Beauty, in their world, isn’t just about looking good; it’s about survival.
The bill’s language is broad for a reason — different facilities, and different needs. AB-1875 gives sheriffs’ departments and inmate advisory councils the flexibility to tailor products to their populations. But the focus on sulfate-free goodies is no accident. According to Nepomuceno, sulfates can be a menace for curly hair, causing damage and dryness. And we’ve got the science to back it up; even cosmetic chemists agree that sulfates can be the enemy of those luscious curls, increasing the risk of frizz.
But hair care discrimination in prisons goes beyond hair products. Current California grooming rules seem to target Black and Brown inmates with restrictions on certain hairstyles. Braids, cornrows, ponytails, or dreadlocks? Prepare to take ’em down for inspections. It’s a rule that Nepomuceno calls out for its clear bias.
If this bill gets the green light, it’s a step toward breaking down barriers in the California prison system. “The fact that culturally competent hair care products aren’t already mandated to be sold at correctional facilities demonstrates a clear bias towards straight hair,” Nepomuceno points out. AB-1875 is a bold move toward humanizing living conditions for the incarcerated by ensuring equal access to proper hygiene products. Now that’s a legislative glow-up we can get behind! 💁♂️💄 #HairEquality #CaliforniaBill #BeautyBeyondBars
