Ulta Beauty denies service to Black woman and daughter over hair texture, sparking civil rights lawsuit. Lauren Smith, 34, claims a Manhattan stylist refused blowouts for her and her 7-year-old daughter at an Upper East Side location, calling their textured hair "uncomfortable." The incident, captured in a lawsuit filed April 4, 2026, alleges racial discrimination violating New York’s public accommodation laws. Ulta’s corporate office declined comment but referenced "pending litigation."

Hair texture discrimination persists despite New York’s Crown Act, which bans bias against protective styles like braids and locs. The lawsuit mirrors a 2019 case against Sharon Dorram Color salon, where stylists discouraged clients with Afros or box braids to maintain an "upscale image." Industry experts argue textured hair requires specialized training: Nick Arrojo, founder of Arrojo NYC, notes coiled hair is drier and more fragile, demanding moisture-focused techniques. Current licensing rules, updated in 2023, now mandate 220 hours of braiding/weaving training and 245 hours of styling education for new cosmetologists.

While the new curriculum addresses gaps, existing stylists face no retraining requirements. Chains like Great Clips and salon718 (Brooklyn’s inclusive haircare pioneer) offer voluntary diversity training. Ulta relaunched its texture training series, but advocates demand stricter enforcement. Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who coauthored the 2023 bill, states expanded education will "improve service without increasing costs."

The case highlights systemic gaps in haircare accessibility. With NYC hosting thousands of salons, Black clients often rely on word-of-mouth recommendations to find inclusive spaces. Lauren Smith’s lawsuit seeks industrywide anti-discrimination training and Crown Act enforcement, framing hair texture as a civil rights issue. For now, the burden falls on consumers to navigate a fragmented market.