When Nadra Smiley opened the email, she knew something wasn’t right. A former student had forwarded her a bill—HB3356—with a simple question: “Did you know about this?” The bill proposed to remove the hair braiding license in Illinois, a license that Nadra, her late mother, Amazon Smiley, and countless others had spent years fighting to establish. “We have to do something,” Nadra remembers saying. She went into action immediately.

Let me tell you a story that should shake every natural hair professional, client, and parent to their roots. A man named Damon Landor, who practices the Rastafarian faith, was sitting in prison in Louisiana. As part of his religion, he had grown his dreadlocks — not for fashion, not for fun, but as a sacred vow to God. Rastafarians don’t cut their hair because they believe it’s part of their spiritual journey. It’s a connection to their Creator. Their locks are their crow

“Be careful what you wish for.” You’ve heard the saying, right? Well, it’s true. For anyone looking to step from behind the chair, understand this - you’re not signing up for less work, you’re signing up for a lifetime commitment. Moving from behind the chair means stepping fully into a leadership role, and leadership is a job that never ends. Some leaders are born, but most of us are made. We’re shaped by our experiences, our wins, our losses, and who w

Is this a representation of a divide or a time to unite? HB-3356 Hair Braiding Reform Act Bill has sparked some serious motion in the Illinois area. This bill is looking to remove hair braiding from the licensing department and it has sparked the age old question:  Should braiders and natural hair stylists be licensed? The answer is not a simple yes or no. This two sided coin has highly intelligent and highly invested people on both sides.

The Met Gala was weeks ago, but we are still on a high from the looks, the glam, the homage and the Textured Hair.  The scene is the 2025 Met Gala. The place is New York City. The carpet is blue, and the theme is Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.  Some of the most iconic looks were met by some iconic styles (pun intended) and we got the inside scoop on the hairstylists who created them. 

What if you let yourself dream? I mean really dream — a big, audacious, “girl be for real” kind of dream. I dare you. So many salon owners stay stuck behind the chair because they never gave themselves permission to dream beyond it. Or worse — they don’t believe they deserve to. The only story I can tell you is my own and I hope it inspires you to finally make moves toward something bigger.

Finally — a “newspaper” textured hair stylists can wake up to. When I was getting my mind right to become a business owner, I became a ferocious reader (still am, honestly). Back then, I was consuming everything I could to prep for entrepreneurship. One piece of advice I kept seeing was: “Read articles related to your industry.” And when I tell you I was lost… I mean that in more ways than one.

Editor’s Note: At Texture Experts, we believe that textured hair is more than just a style — it’s a statement, a history, and a future. While legal protections like the CROWN Act have opened important doors, the fight for full representation is still unfolding across boardrooms, beauty campaigns, and red carpets. In this piece, we explore why the next chapter in the textured hair movement demands not just acceptance, but celebration without compromise.

When Beyoncé dropped her haircare line, the textured hair world went still — and then very loud. Some people were in awe. Some had questions. Some rolled their eyes and got back to shampooing their client’s hair.  But regardless of your personal take, one thing became immediately clear: Cécred shifted the industry conversation and it’s not going back.

It’s happening. Clients are reaching for relaxers again and not just out of nostalgia. This time, it’s about ease, budget, and boredom. People want something new. They want something low-effort. And in a time where inflation has touched every corner of our lives, they want something that doesn’t stretch their wallet or their arms on wash day.

It wasn’t that long ago that the textured hair industry was treated like a footnote in beauty conversations — something on the sidelines, a niche and underserved. Today, it’s a $10 billion force rewriting the rules of beauty, business, and culture all at once. The textured hair boom isn’t just a trend. It’s a reflection of deeper shifts in pride, in purchasing power, and in the sheer refusal to settle for products that weren’t made with textured hair in mind.

I know what you’re thinking — how in the hell did Uber Eats enter the chat? But stay with me. Ordering Uber Eats (often) is a symptom. It’s a sign that you’re not organizing yourself. It’s convenience dressed up as necessity. But underneath, it usually reveals a lack of discipline. And here’s the thing: Before you can step away from the chair and into the role of full-time business owner, you have to build discipline. Not just in your business. In your life.

There is a war going on. This war is in America. This war is bold but quiet. And I’m shouting from the rooftops, “Wake the Fuck Up!” Not every underground movement becomes mainstream, but this one is making its way. It is the movement of the textured hair stylists. You may have heard of us. We make up the subset of hairstylists who are braiders, locticians, and curly hair experts. 

She’s fierce, but don’t call her Sasha. And while she’s worked with the likes of Beyonce, Solange, and Zoë Kravitz, she is a star in her own lane.  Meet Susy. Better known as @AfricanCreature on Instagram.