ITV Soaps Increasing Inclusion Behind the Camera with Afro, Curly and Textured Hair Workshop
This February, the Emmerdale and Coronation Street Hair and Makeup teams completed an accredited workshop on treating and styling Afro, curly, and textured hair led by specialist hairdresser and trainer Soraya Edwards. Organised by ITV’s Diversity and Inclusion Team with ITV Studios, the session aimed to familiarise the stylists with the individual needs and considerations for different hair textures and provide them with the right tools, knowledge and understanding to support every current and future member of Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s Talent. The workshop is a part of ITV’s mission to cultivate an inclusive culture at all levels by creating content by, with and for everyone, connecting and reflecting modern audiences.
The industry-wide lack of experience on Afro, curly, and textured hair is a result of Caucasian hair being historically favoured on courses and in educational spaces, with the training only becoming mandatory on accredited courses in 2021. This act of hair discrimination is a significant challenge that both restricts hairstylists from professional growth and can create uncomfortable experiences for Black talent on productions.
The stylists kicked off the workshop by practising the basics on the training doll heads before progressing to working with live models with varying haircuts, lengths, and textures. The stylists learned the grading scale for hair textures; curl-defining methods for handling, treating and prepping Afro, curly, and textured hair; and what products and ingredients are best suited to treating and styling differing textures and hair conditions. As a member of the team commented:
"Going through all the products - which is all new to us, we haven’t used any of them before - that is the fantastic thing for us, when we get Artists [actors] coming in and knowing what products to use [on them], that is the real key” - Emmerdale stylist.
In the final portion of the session, the team experimented with realistic hairstyles that are feasible with fast-paced production requirements and the use and effects of Afro-styling tools, protective styles, and silks such as bonnets and durags.
The stylists were thrilled to be joined by Soraya, relishing in the opportunity to gain new inclusive skills and awareness. Significantly, they found the experience to be vital in “feeling confident” with working on Afro, curly and textured hair, creating an open space for them to learn, share, and grow. Emmerdale Makeup Supervisor, Margaret Fozard summarised the group's joint feeling, “[we’ve] learnt so many new skills these past couple of days. I’m absolutely loving it, [it's] just really fantastic.”
With the prevalent discrimination and harmful mistreatment of textured hair in the cosmetic space, the ITV’s Diversity and Inclusion Team hope that such continued hair and make-up education will facilitate the nurturing of a trusting, informed, inclusive, and comfortable environment. This should be one in which everyone can feel confident in themselves, and be supported and celebrated by their workplace. As Emmerdale’s Head of Production, Nader Mabadi, stated, whether it’s on-screen or behind the camera “it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to feel they can be their best, and we can support them to be. That can only happen by doing more like this”. With the success of the workshop in Leeds, Soraya will continue the training across further ITV programming, bringing the accredited training to more of the Coronation Street’s Hair and Make-up Team in Manchester later this spring.