International Women’s Day: 3 Trailblazing Women Paving the Way in the Hair Industry

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting three inspirational women making their mark on the hair industry.

By Leann Garofolo & Powered By L’Oreal Professional Products Division \nUpdate Date: 05 Mar 2024

Happy International Women's Day! March 8th, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the annual celebration, and this year’s official campaign theme is Inspire Inclusion. The IWD committee hopes to encourage a more equitable world by giving women a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment—because when women feel valued, everyone wins.

One area where women undoubtedly make an impact is in the hair industry. Ahead, meet three trailblazing ladies in the hair space who are breaking barriers, redefining success, and forging a more inclusive world. Read on to discover their stories and learn what makes them feel empowered this International Women's Day.

Cynthia Alvarez

Growing up as a young Latina in the Bronx, Cynthia Alvarez felt pressured to choose a stable career despite her passion for hairstyling. After high school, she decided to enroll in the Air Force when a chance encounter altered the course of her life: A friend working as a wardrobe stylist exposed her to the glam world of celebrity hair and makeup. From that moment, Cynthia knew she wanted in.

Cynthia shadowed and assisted her stylist friend as he worked with big-name clients, and he quickly took stock of Cynthia’s talent. He encouraged her to turn her hobby into a profession—so that’s exactly what she did. Two weeks before being sworn into the Air Force, Cynthia signed up for cosmetology school instead (much to her parents’ objections).

After graduating, Cynthia fell into the day-to-day salon life; but she didn’t have a passion for it. She wanted to style models and work with other creatives. A feeling of overwhelming restlessness overtook her until a new opportunity fell into her lap: A mentor recommended Cynthia as a lead hairstylist on a popular R&B singer’s world tour. The tour gave Cynthia international exposure and became a catalyst for her flourishing career.

Throughout it all, Cynthia stayed true to her vision, even in the face of adversity and in moments of doubt. Today, Cynthia travels the world, showcasing her creativity on red carpets and stages, reinforcing the mantra, "What's meant for me is for me."

Read more: My Life as a Traveling Hair Stylist Started In Bronx Salons and Now Takes Me Worldwide

Muna Sheikh-Mao

Muna Sheikh-Mao is breaking the stigma that hijabi women don’t need haircare, although she wasn’t always so receptive to wearing a hijab herself. As a young Muslim girl, Muna didn’t feel beautiful with her hair covered. So, she put off wearing one.

Muna had a fraught relationship with her hair despite her hijab hesitations: She’d been relaxing her thick curls for years, believing her natural texture was too much to handle. It wasn’t until she began wearing a hijab full-time at 16 that she decided to give her strands a break from the harsh chemicals. Her hair growth reached new lengths in the subsequent years, prompting her to dedicate more time to learning about what haircare looks like for a hijab-wearer.

With her newfound knowledge, she started posting hair tips and tutorials on social media, and Covered ‘N’ Curly was born. Her platform continues to flourish and she plans to eventually introduce more products for Muslim women wearing hijabs.

Read more: My Natural Hair Journey as a Hijab-Wearer Led to a Thriving Business

Carla Marcelle

Carla Marcelle has worked in the industry for over a decade and specializes in textured hair and extensions. As a stylist and owner of Frē Salon, Carla makes women feel like the best versions of themselves; as a woman of color, she is bridging the gap between extensions and textured hair education.

Carla collaborated with Invisible Bead Extensions (IBE) to create The Art of Texture course. The series of classes is available to IBE stylists and other licensed hair professionals looking to amp up their education in textured hair.

Carla has taken charge of fostering a community that celebrates the unique beauty of natural hair. The point of everything, after all, is to always be of service to one another.

Learn more: Redefining Hair Extensions: The Launch of 'The Art of Texture' with Carla Marcelle Pagán

Header photo credit: @cynthiaglam, @coveredncurly, & @bycarlamarcelle