9 - Why Keya Neal Says Hair Has No Race Artwork

Trust Your Innersense™ with Joanne Starkman

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Trust Your Innersense™ with Joanne Starkman

9 - Why Keya Neal Says Hair Has No Race

June 05, 2025 • Innersense Organic Beauty • Episode 9

The Power of Inclusive Hair Education

Joanne welcomes renowned hair educator and DEI advocate Keya Neal, founder of Texture vs. Race and Color Culture, for a powerful conversation on the evolution of inclusive hair education. Keya shares her unexpected path from journalism to the beauty industry and how her early experiences in both Black and white salon spaces inspired her to build a multicultural hair color curriculum. Her program challenges the status quo by teaching stylists to treat hair as a fabric—not a race—equipping them to serve clients of all hair textures with confidence and integrity.

Transforming the Beauty Industry Through Texture vs. Race

Keya dives into the origin and impact of the Texture vs. Race summit, a groundbreaking event that redefines textured hair training. She and Joanne reflect on the transformative Hydro Discovery Clinic, a hands-on experience created in collaboration with Innersense™ Organic Beauty, that allowed stylists to learn directly on diverse hair types. Keya also discusses her decision to pause the summit series, emphasizing the need for industry professionals to recalibrate and reimagine how they show up in a fast-paced, emotionally demanding field.

Recognition, Rest, and What’s Next

As she transitions into a new chapter, Keya shares recent honors—including being named NAHA Educator of the Year by the North American Hairstyling Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the professional beauty industry. She also celebrates receiving national recognition from the International African American Museum. With warmth and authenticity, she encourages stylists and salon owners to lead with purpose, embrace cultural competency, and commit to lifelong learning. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about advancing diversity in the beauty industry and making real, lasting impact behind the chair.

Connect with Keya Neal: @‌keyaartistically

Texture VS. Race

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