NYC salon sued after allegedly telling Black patrons it doesn't do their 'kind of hair'

"This discriminatory treatment occurred in full view of other customers, causing severe humiliation to Ms. Smith and traumatic distress to her 7-year-old daughter who left the store crying hysterically and asking, 'What is wrong with my hair?' and 'Why can't I go there if there are brown girls [in ads] on the walls?'"

"Workers at national chain Ulta Beauty's East 86th Street store denied service to the mother and daughter, citing their hair 'type' and 'texture,' inexperience with 'YOUR kind of hair,' and after admonishing them for not stating in advance 'what kind of hair you have.'"

"The lawsuit, filed by Manhattan residents Lauren Smith and her 7-year-old daughter, identified only as C.M., alleges their locks were 'completely covered' during the exchange with the workers, and no employee ever actually inspected their hair. The complaint called the stated refusals a pretext for unlawful racial discrimination."

A racial discrimination lawsuit was filed in federal court against Ulta Beauty's Upper East Side Manhattan location after employees allegedly refused service to a Black mother and her seven-year-old daughter. Workers cited the customers' hair type and texture as reasons for denial, claiming inexperience with their kind of hair and stating the customers should have disclosed their hair type in advance. The complaint alleges no employee actually inspected the hair, which remained covered throughout the encounter. The incident caused severe humiliation to the mother and traumatic distress to the child, who left crying and questioning why she couldn't receive service. The lawsuit contends the refusals violate New York State Human Rights Law prohibiting discrimination.

Read at Gothamist