Beauty is never just about appearance; it is also about who gets to feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated within that space. When a beauty salon aligns itself with an equity‑driven initiative like Models of Color Matter, it has the power to turn ordinary appointments into moments of recognition and respect for every client.
For decades, fashion and beauty have pushed a narrow idea of what is “professional,” “polished,” or “beautiful,” leaving many people of color to feel like guests in an industry built on their exclusion. Models of Color Matter was created to challenge this reality by advocating for greater representation, proper care, and dignified treatment of Black and Brown models both on and off the runway. The organization calls attention to how often artists are unprepared for deeper skin tones or textured hair, and how this neglect directly affects people’s confidence and opportunities. When we transplant this conversation into the context of a modern beauty salon, we begin to see how crucial it is for every chair, every service, and every stylist to reflect a commitment to inclusion instead of a single, outdated standard.
In cities like Dubai, beauty salons such as IT’s Beauty already act as social hubs where women from many cultures come to relax, transform their look, and recharge. These spaces can either reinforce exclusion or become sanctuaries where all complexions, hair textures, and cultural aesthetics are welcomed with the same level of expertise and care. Aligning the philosophy of Models of Color Matter with a salon’s daily practice means treating diversity not as a marketing angle, but as the baseline of professional service. It means deliberately designing an environment where a client with coils, curls, or protective styles feels as confident booking a treatment as someone with straight hair looking for a simple blow‑dry.
One of the key messages behind Models of Color Matter is that giving someone a seat at the table is not enough if the tools and knowledge to serve them are missing. In the beauty world, that translates into stylists who are not only comfortable but highly skilled in working with the full spectrum of hair textures, from fine and straight to tightly coiled. Recent campaigns connected to the organization have highlighted how often textured hair is mishandled backstage because professionals were never properly trained, which can leave models feeling invisible in spaces that are supposed to celebrate their image. A salon inspired by this advocacy invests intentionally in training: advanced color techniques that protect fragile curls, cutting methods that respect shrinkage and volume, and treatments that restore moisture without compromising natural pattern and identity.
Representation is also about shade. Many clients of color know the frustration of foundation that turns ashy, highlighters that sit on the skin instead of melting into it, or “universal” tones that flatter almost no one. Models of Color Matter regularly points to the lack of appropriate product ranges as a core barrier to equity, showing how often professionals arrive at jobs without the right shades for darker complexions. A salon that takes this critique seriously curates its makeup and skin‑care selection with intention—foundations in undertones that span golden, olive, and deep red; blushes and bronzers that enhance rather than mask; and pigments that honor deeper skin as a canvas for creativity, not an afterthought.
Partnerships between salons and advocacy organizations can turn everyday appointments into acts of solidarity. Hosting educational evenings on textured haircare, supporting petitions that push for mandatory texture education in cosmetology programs, or highlighting the stories of models of color within the salon’s visual identity are all tangible ways to make inclusion visible. When clients walk into a space and see themselves reflected on the walls, in the product displays, and in the staff’s skill set, trust grows naturally. Instead of feeling pressured to change who they are to fit a narrow ideal, they are invited to enhance and celebrate the features that make them unique.
True luxury in beauty is not only about premium products or elegant interiors; it is the feeling that every detail was designed with you in mind. For a salon that embraces the values of Models of Color Matter, luxury becomes synonymous with cultural sensitivity, technical excellence, and emotional safety for clients from every background. It is reflected in a stylist who knows how to treat locs with the same respect as fine balayage, in a receptionist who understands that a protective style is not “unprofessional,” and in policies that welcome, rather than police, natural hair and bold self‑expression.
By weaving the mission of Models of Color Matter into the fabric of a salon’s culture, the beauty industry takes a step toward correcting long‑standing imbalances. Each blow‑dry, brow shaping, or makeup session becomes a chance to reaffirm that equity is not a trend but a responsibility shared by brands, artists, and clients alike. When salons embody this ethos, they do more than transform looks—they help transform the very definition of beauty into something expansive, inclusive, and genuinely welcoming for everyone who walks through the door.