The Curl Academy marks first year with global growth in textured hair education

The Curl Academy is marking its first anniversary with students and community members across North America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East. The Toronto-based platform says demand shows textured hair education is becoming a broader industry need as it expands into coaching and salon training.

Why it matters: - The Curl Academy is trying to close a long-running gap in cosmetology training by making textured hair education easier to access. - The platform's first-year growth suggests demand for textured hair instruction is no longer limited to one region or one type of salon. - The academy's expansion matters for stylists, salon owners and clients who want more consistent care for wavy, curly and super curly hair.

What happened: - The Curl Academy marked one year since launch on July 17, 2026. - The Toronto-based online platform says it has enrolled students across Canada and multiple U.S. states. - The academy's Curl Community now includes members from Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Cayman Islands, Kuwait and other countries. - Betty DiSalvo, salon owner and co-founder of The Curl Ambassadors and The Curl Academy, said the goal was to make textured hair education available "to anyone, anywhere."

The details: - The Curl Academy was founded by the co-founders of The Curl Ambassadors, a salon brand focused exclusively on textured hair for nearly two decades. - The platform offers self-paced online education for hairstylists, salon teams and curl enthusiasts. - Course material covers cutting, styling and caring for textured hair in its natural state. - The academy's signature method is designed to work across all textured hair types, including wavy, curly and super curly hair. - The academy's 10-stage cutting framework is built from nearly 20 years of salon experience. - The platform also includes affiliate opportunities and community engagement. - The academy is now offering virtual salon sessions or in-person workshops for salons that buy multiple course bundles for their stylists. - The academy has added one-on-one coaching with Education Ambassadors for personalized support after the course. - Olivia B., an Ontario stylist and Curl Academy graduate, said the training changed how she approaches curly hair and gave her more confidence with clients.

Between the lines: - The anniversary lands as governments and institutions begin to adopt more textured hair education requirements in some jurisdictions. - The move reflects broader pressure on beauty schools and salons to better prepare stylists for clients with textured hair. - The academy is positioning itself not just as an online course provider, but as a continuing education hub for professionals.

What's next: - The Curl Academy plans to keep expanding support beyond the core online curriculum. - The platform is leaning into follow-up training, coaching and workshop-based learning as it enters year two. - Hairstylists and curl enthusiasts can learn more at more information. - The academy also lists social accounts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok under @the.curl.academy and @thecurlacademy.