Local hairstylists are calling July 3rd Black Hair Independence Day because of the CROWN Act

The Official Campaign of The CROWN Act is led by the CROWN Coalition, founded by Dove, the National Urban League, Color Of Change, and the Western Center on Law & Poverty.

"We've always felt so pressured in the workplace to look a certain way as to what professionalism should look like regarding our hair, I feel that the crown Act was a blessing to us," says owner of Cute N Edgee, Althea Edwards.

The CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” is a law that prohibits race-based hair discrimination, which is the denial of employment and educational opportunities because of hair texture or protective hairstyles, including braids, locs, twists or bantu knots.

"I think it's great that we're able to be who we want to be hair is a self expression," says Edwards.

Governor Gavin Newsom first signed the CROWN Act in California in 2019. Since then, the law has passed in 23 states and 50 municipalities.

"I feel like now they embrace it so much more like, people stop using they don't want to use perms they want to see that natural afro, that naturally they natural curls, you know, form on their own," says Nick's Barbershop Hairstylist Kevonna Session.

Local hair stylists plan to educate the community on Black hair with hopes of growing appreciation for natural hair in professional environments.