Key takeaways
- Across four studies, Black women with natural hairstyles were rated less professional and less competent.
- They were also less likely to be recommended for an interview than Black women with straightened hair and white women with curly or straight hair.
- Bias was stronger in an industry with strong dress norms (consulting).
What the research did
Koval and Rosette ran four studies in which participants evaluated profiles of job applicants whose hairstyles varied, then replicated the findings in a controlled experiment.
What it found
Natural hairstyles on Black women led to lower ratings of professionalism and competence and lower interview recommendations. Evaluations were more negative when the job was in an industry with strong dress norms.
Limits
The studies used hypothetical applicant profiles and participants acting as recruiters, so they show how people evaluate candidates, not actual hiring outcomes. The authors present the work as evidence of bias that intersects race and gender in the labor market.
Why it belongs at Supreme Research
Hair choices are not only a product decision. Research like this helps explain why styling norms, and the processes used to meet them, carry real costs for many people.
Sources
- Koval CZ, Rosette AS. The natural hair bias in job recruitment. Soc Psychol Personal Sci. 2021;12(5):741–750. Source
Last reviewed October 2026. Educational information only, not medical advice. Findings from one study or review do not apply identically to every person or product.