<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Beyond the Chair Co.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Beyond the Chair Co.]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:39:44 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.beyondthechairco.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Cosmetology Apprenticeships in Indiana: A New Pathway for the Industry]]></title><description><![CDATA[Beyond the Chair does not run apprenticeship programs. Instead, our organization focuses on building the conditions that make these programs viable and sustainable across the industry.]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/cosmetology-apprenticeships-in-indiana-a-new-pathway-for-the-industry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d3e268c53e2b8fe1246107</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:01:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_2ac6b37c850e41689ee396f1028fe6a8~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ecofeminism and the Beauty Industry: A Path to Transformation]]></title><description><![CDATA[The beauty industry’s sustainability crisis isn’t just about the environment. It is also about people: the labor that sustains the industry, the communities most harmed by its practices, and the cultures that shape beauty standards.]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/ecofeminism-and-the-beauty-industry-building-a-sustainable-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfdb9503cecf3ab333d62</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:36:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_8e4149159b3b4862ad10746383305631~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hidden Costs of Beauty: How People and the Planet Pay The Price]]></title><description><![CDATA[Guest post by stylist and founder of Salonviornment, Hannah Craik. ]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/the-hidden-costs-of-beauty-how-people-and-the-planet-pay-the-price</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfd8de6cf3604ca341f91</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:35:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_ea3bd1fc60564a5fafcd39f697c1eb26~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beauty Unions, Trade Associations, and Female Leadership]]></title><description><![CDATA[National Beauty Culturists’ League (NBCL), founded in 1919, emerged not only as a professional association but also as a movement for racial uplift, political representation, and women’s leadership.]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/beauty-unions-trade-associations-and-female-leadership</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfd5ee6cf3604ca341f0c</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:34:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_9a322e782aa841d795092fecc2b54a6c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Happened to Cosmetology: An Evolution]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cosmetology is the study of hair, skin, and nails, but cosmetologists also perform a wide variety of other roles, like salespeople, chemists, business owners, and even therapists. ]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/what-happened-to-the-word-cosmetology</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfd2350434423c3a59b7f</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:34:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_00950f54de624d23b3a8738c3aaf4958~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[              Beauty as Empowerment]]></title><description><![CDATA["As a beauty professional who’s both participated in and critiqued this system, I want to offer a new relationship with beauty—one rooted not in appearance, but in autonomy, joy, and radical authenticity."]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/beauty-as-empowerment</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfcf3bf1bf6f6a2a49141</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:33:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_8e4c6a944fe64a43957b587de3e8be4c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hair Salons Could Become a Lifeline for Women in a Post-Roe America]]></title><description><![CDATA["Studies show that women experiencing unintended pregnancy are 3.3x more likely to face IPV. In this climate, cosmetologists often become the first safe person someone confides in—especially in communities where clinical, legal, or government systems feel inaccessible or hostile."]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/hair-salons-could-become-a-lifeline-for-women-in-a-post-roe-american</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfcac10b7eac1dece3ff5</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:32:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56181e_fe4a2c17ca9c4b87b489c18fe5ad4cc5~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Effects of Late Capitalism in the Field of Cosmetology]]></title><description><![CDATA[The hidden and not so pretty reality of being a cosmetologist under late stage capitalism. ]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/beyond-the-chair-the-effects-of-late-capitalism-in-the-field-of-cosmetology</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699dfc438f4f3ef74a9c22ef</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:30:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_708e46d8551f4ac987f7653cf91b3d3d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Transforming Beauty Education for a Fair Future]]></title><description><![CDATA[The beauty industry is undergoing a significant transformation. As consumers become more conscious of ethical practices and inclusivity, beauty education must evolve to meet these new demands. This blog post explores how beauty education can be restructured to promote fairness, diversity, and sustainability, ensuring that future professionals are equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.  The Current State of Beauty Education Challenges Facing Beauty Education Beauty education has...]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/transforming-beauty-education-for-a-fair-future</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699ccb1ef1d815afdb20dc11</guid><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:48:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_3f59aa5128134fe58e05b6332488cb79~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Unionizing Beauty Professionals: Why It Matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The beauty and grooming industry is widely recognized for its creativity, cultural influence, and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet behind that visibility is a workforce navigating inconsistent income, limited access to benefits, and evolving employment structures. As the industry grows, so does the need to better understand the systems that shape how beauty professionals work, earn, and sustain long-term careers. This blog explores how collective models—including unionization, cooperatives, and...]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/unionizing-beauty-professionals-why-it-matters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699ccb14f1d815afdb20dbe7</guid><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:48:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/60f963_28f8c423d4fa4e74ae9d833d310b9c54~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Empowering Beauty Workers: A Call for Reform]]></title><description><![CDATA[The beauty and grooming industry plays a significant role in shaping culture, identity, and personal expression. It is also a major economic sector, generating billions in revenue and employing a diverse workforce across salons, spas, retail environments, and independent practices. Despite this growth, many of the professionals who sustain the industry navigate working conditions that can be inconsistent, financially unstable, and structurally complex. Therefore, there is a a call for reform...]]></description><link>https://www.beyondthechairco.org/post/empowering-beauty-workers-a-call-for-reform</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699ccb13a2f37a9969cd29d2</guid><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:48:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_09bb6172e51a4ea1ac8b4dfd974df610~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Margaret Ferguson</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>