New Children’s Hospital Initiative Provides Products, Styling for All Hair Types

UR Medicine Golisano Children’s Hospital (GCH) launched a new initiative that will provide hair products for hospital patients and families with all different hair types, including those with curly and coily hair, alternative hair styles, and those who observe religious head coverings. Children’s hospital staff and caregivers are trained to apply these products and help with specific hairstyles such as locs, braids, and beads. 

"Caring for families of all backgrounds requires us to be culturally responsive and equity focused. When a child enters our care, we must be able to provide products commonly used by them for hair styling, bathing, dressing, and other forms of self-care," said Taylor Muoio, a GCH assistant nurse manager who has helped lead the hair equity initiative. “This program will help us create an inclusive environment for all families staying here.”

In collaboration with primarily Black-and-women-owned businesses, GCH will stock and use hair products specific to hair textures more common among Black and Brown populations.   

In addition to Muoio, hair equity project leaders include GCH nurse leaders Tanisha Lewis, Rebecca Kanaley, and Melina Embury, as well as GCH faculty affairs administrator Saabirah Campo and Strong Memorial Hospital nursing diversity, equity, and inclusion director Sheniece Martin-Stancil-El, DNP, RN, CNL.

“Families staying in the hospital are already dealing with a lot of stress,” said Martin-Stancil-El. “This program will help them maintain their physical health and appearance, prevent damage, breakage, and scalp issues, as well as accommodate families that observe religious covering practices.”

Rochester-area parent Toni Foster says that appropriate hair care is an important part of the overall healthcare experience due to the level of comfort and inclusivity this provides for patients of color. Her daughter, Kenzii Dukes, benefited from the service while staying at the hospital.

“Hair care is everything, from the beginning of life to the end of life,” said Foster. “If you have an acute or chronic illness, and your hair is freshened and washed, it can make you feel like a whole new person. It will help patients with different textured hair feel a sense of belonging as well.”  

In the lead-up to the program’s launch, GCH nurses and ambassadors engaged in several months of training to prepare them to work with multiple hairstyles. The program will be expanded to other parts of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), including Strong Memorial Hospital and Wilmot Cancer Institute, in 2025. 

“This is a service that all families can benefit from, not only at URMC, but throughout the country,” said Campo. “We hope that we can grow this initiative to serve as a model to help patients everywhere feel comfortable and supported.”