At The Salon Professional Academy Fort Wayne, we believe that beauty education goes far beyond the classroom. It’s about serving our community, building confidence, and creating meaningful connections. That’s exactly what our recent Texture Love class was all about.
In partnership with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), our staff had the privilege of welcoming foster parents for a hands-on class focused on caring for and styling textured hair. Together, we shared techniques, product knowledge, and practical tips to help caregivers feel more confident in meeting the unique hair care needs of the children in their homes.
While it may seem like a simple skill, learning to care for textured hair can make an incredible difference in a child’s life.
Supporting Children in Indiana Foster Care
Foster care provides a safe, temporary home for children who cannot remain with their families due to a wide variety of reasons. Indiana’s Department of Child Services works to place children with families who can provide stability, safety, and support while permanent plans are developed. Whenever possible, the goal is to keep children connected to their families, culture, and community.
Indiana also recognizes the importance of placing children in homes that understand and support their cultural identity. However, there is still a need for more diverse foster families. According to Indiana DCS data, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial children are represented in foster care at higher rates than there are foster homes from those same communities. For example, Indiana reports there are approximately 1.7 times as many Black children in care as there are Black foster homes, highlighting the importance of equipping all foster parents with the knowledge and resources to care for children from a variety of backgrounds.
Hair Is More Than Hair
For many children, especially those with curls, coils, and textured hair, hair is deeply connected to identity, culture, and self-expression.
When a child enters foster care, they often experience tremendous change and uncertainty. This change can be very scary and intense for them. Having someone who knows how to properly care for their hair can provide comfort, build trust, and help preserve an important part of who they are. This may seem simple for us, but it can be a huge deal for these children when times are uncertain for them.
Healthy hair care isn’t about appearance alone. It’s about dignity, belonging, and confidence. Children who feel proud of their appearance are often more willing to participate in school, social activities, sports, and everyday experiences. Conversely, struggling with neglected or damaged hair can contribute to embarrassment, social anxiety, or feeling disconnected from their cultural identity.
Taking the time to learn the proper techniques for cleansing, moisturizing, detangling, and protecting textured hair sends a powerful message to a child: You matter. Your culture matters. You deserve to be cared for well.
Learning Together Through Texture Love
Our Texture Love class was designed to give foster parents practical, hands-on education they can immediately use at home.
Participants learned:
- How to properly cleanse and condition textured hair
- Safe detangling techniques to minimize breakage
- Moisturizing routines for curls, coils, and natural textures
- Protective styling basics
- Product recommendations for healthy hair maintenance
- Tips for creating positive, stress-free wash days
Beyond learning new techniques, the class created space for questions, conversation, and encouragement. Many foster parents shared that they simply wanted to do the very best for the children in their care—and having access to professional guidance helped build their confidence.
Beauty Education That Makes a Difference
One of the greatest parts of being in the beauty industry is the opportunity to change lives in ways that extend far beyond the salon chair.
Our students experienced firsthand how their education can serve the community. By sharing their knowledge and passion, they helped caregivers gain valuable skills while making children feel seen, respected, and celebrated.
This is what beauty education is all about—using your talents to uplift others.
Thank You to Our Community Partners
We are grateful to the Indiana Department of Child Services and every foster parent who participated in our Texture Love class. Thank you for your willingness to learn, ask questions, and invest in the well-being of the children you care for. We also want to give a huge thank you to Mizani who donated products for each family to take home to help jump start their children’s hair care journeys. And last but not least we want to give an incredibly huge shout out to our educator Ms. Brittani who put this incredible class together. Her passion for hair, children, and foster services came together to create such a beautiful educational experience for our community.
Together, we are helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to feel confident, cared for, and proud of who they are.
At The Salon Professional Academy Fort Wayne, we’re proud to educate future beauty professionals who understand that hair care is truly about compassion, connection, and community. We look forward to continuing programs like Texture Love that make a lasting impact, one child and one family at a time.
