Governor signs SB 174 into law prohibiting bans on natural hair in schools, workplace

Last week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed SB 174, a new law that adopts into law that governing bodies may not adopt a school dress code that prohibits students from wearing traditional hairstyles, or those historically associated with race. This includes “natural hairstyles” such as braids, twists, and tight coils.

More common in the lower 48, students have seen their natural hair unceremoniously cut, been told to alter their natural hair, and a few have faced expulsion for not altering their hair.

The bill also applies to employers, stating that employers may not adopt a workplace dress code that prohibits workers from wearing hairstyles commonly associated with race, using the same wording applied to schools.

“No employee or student should be prohibited from participating in work or attending a public school because they will not alter their natural hair,” said Senator David Wilson, who sponsored the legislation, in a written statement.

“SB 174 prohibits schools and employers from adopting dress codes which disallow students or employees from wearing their hair in styles that are commonly associated with race, are a natural or protective style, or require a student to permanently or semi-permanently alter their natural hair,” the statement read.

The bill does say that aside from that, a governing body may adopt a school dress code that restricts student hairstyles if the restriction is necessary to comply with a health or safety law, regulation, or ordinance.

“People choose to wear their hair as they do for a variety of intertwined reason, including cultural connectedness and tradition, protection of hair texture and growth, or simply preference,” wrote Senator Wilson, adding, “Whatever the reason, hairstyles have absolutely no correlation to professionalism or work performance.”

The legislation was signed on September 9 and goes into effect later this year.