More than hair: How school grooming policies continue to discriminate against black learners

By Olwethu Mthethwa

For many learners, school is meant to be a place of learning, growth and belonging, yet for countless Black learners across South Africa, something as natural as wearing their hair in an afro, braids or twists has become a source of humiliation and punishment. While schools often defend strict grooming policies by saying they promote discipline and uniformity, these rules do not affect all learners equally.

Time and time again, Black learners have found themselves at the centre of debates over what is considered "neat", "acceptable" or "professional". The question is simple: if the rules apply to everyone, why do they seem to target Black hair the most? The conversation has recently resurfaced on social media after users shared their frustrations about their school experiences. One comment reads: "Emily can speak Afrikaans somehow I can't speak my native language. Emily can wear her hair out but all of a sudden my afro is untidy." Despite being written casually, the comment reflects a much deeper reality. For many Black South Africans, this discrimination at school extends beyond hairstyles; it includes language, culture and identity.

A screenshot from a TikTok comments section regarding the hair issue and how people feel. Photo via TikTok.

The discrimination against Black learners is not a new issue. In 2016, learners at Pretoria High School for Girls staged peaceful protest against school policies which unfairly targeted Black hairstyles. Students reported being told that their natural afros were "untidy" and that they should straighten their hair to meet the school's grooming standards. The protests, led by African Students including Zulaikha Patel, sparked national outrage and forced many schools to review their codes of conduct. The problem lies in how beauty and professionalism have historically been defined.

For decades, Eurocentric standards have shaped ideas of what looks "neat" or "presentable". Straight hair has often been treated as the norm, while tightly coiled African hair has been viewed as something that needs to be controlled or changed. As a result, Black learners are expected to alter their natural appearance just to fit into an environment that should accept them as they are. The unfairness becomes even more apparent when comparing school policies across different racial groups. White learners may wear their naturally straight or loose hair without being questioned, while Black learners with afros are often told their hair is too big, untidy or distracting. Hairstyles such as braids, bantu knots or locs are frequently subjected to stricter scrutiny despite being culturally significant and protective styles.

Hair is not simply about fashion. For many Black people, it represents culture, heritage and identity. Asking a learner to change their natural hair is not the same as asking them to tuck in a shirt or polish their shoes. It sends the message that who they naturally are is somehow unacceptable. Language policies often reinforce this feeling of exclusion. Many Black learners have experienced being discouraged from speaking their indigenous languages at school, while Afrikaans or English conversations are treated as normal. When schools unintentionally favour certain cultures over others, they create environments where some learners feel they have to leave parts of their identity at the school gate.

Students showcasing their natural African hair in. Photo taken from TikTok [@zille.lbkd]

Schools certainly have the right to maintain discipline and establish grooming standards. However, those standards must be fair, inclusive and respectful of South Africa's diverse cultures. Uniformity should never come at the cost of equality. South Africa's Constitution guarantees the rights to equality, dignity and freedom from unfair discrimination. Schools have a responsibility not only to educate learners academically but also to create spaces where every learner feels respected, regardless of their race, language or hair texture.

The debate over Black hair is about far more than appearance; it is about whose identity is accepted without question and whose identity is constantly placed under scrutiny. Until school policies reflect the country's diversity in both principle and practice, many Black learners will continue to feel that they are being asked to change who they are simply to belong. Perhaps it is time schools stopped asking whether Black hair is "neat enough" and started asking whether their policies are fair enough.

Edited by: Erin Arends