For Performers
It's the production's. Before you sign, you have the right to know whether this production is Texture Ready™ — and here's exactly what to ask.
The 30-Second Read
Five questions. Ask them before you sign. They tell you whether a production has the system to support your hair — or whether you'll be the system.
When a production has no hair infrastructure, the labor doesn't disappear. It lands on you. You arrive early to maintain your protective style. You buy your own products. You manage your own care on top of 8 shows a week. You stay quiet about it because there's no protocol for naming it.
Hair is a department, not a favor. Just like lighting, costume, music director, cinematographer — there's a lead who plans for the whole production, knows the work end to end, and has the authority to protect it. Most productions don't have that for hair. They have a stylist they call when needed. That's not a system — that's a workaround. And the workaround lands on you.
Texture Ready™ is the production standard that changes that. A qualified Hair Lead with authority. A budget for all hair types. Documented protocols that protect you — before the first hair call, through the run, and when something goes wrong.
You can ask if a production meets that standard before you sign. Here's how.
How to Ask
These aren't accusations. They're information you're entitled to. Ask clearly. Ask calmly. The questions do the work.
If they can answer, you're protected. If they can't, that's information too. It means they weren't ready. That's a them problem, not a you problem.
You're not making demands. You're making decisions.
Before You Sign
Title without adequate training may not cover your needs. Ask about both.
"[Name]. Trained on all hair types. Owns the budget and schedule."
"Our costume designer covers it." / "We'll find a stylist."
Built before is a system. Built after is a workaround that lands on you.
"Built in pre-production. Covers products, tools, and consultation time."
"We have a hair budget." / "We'll sort it once we know the cast."
Maintenance is production time, not personal time.
"[X] minutes built into your call. On the daily call sheet."
"We figured you'd come in early." / "We'll talk about it in rehearsal."
Intake. Consent. Scope. In writing — before the first hair call.
"Intake meeting with the Hair Lead. Consent signed before service."
"Our stylist will check in." / "We'll figure it out at the table read."
If the answer isn't a name, there is no process.
"[Name]. Stop-the-line protocol is in your performer packet."
"Just let us know." / "Talk to your stage manager."
Take This With You
Printable. Shareable. No sign-up required. Put it in your audition bag, save it to your phone, send it to your agent, forward it to your castmates.
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Hand It Off
You don't have to fix the system. You don't have to teach them. You don't have to be the only Black performer in the room making the case.
We built the standard. We're training productions. Your job is to ask the questions and decide if you're protected.
If they can't meet you here, send them to us. We'll handle the rest.
Send My Production to Texture Ready™ →The form has been successfully submitted.
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