Beauty brand Dove is calling on communities to help convince decision makers that representation of natural and protective hairstyles should be added to the universal emoji library.
The brand has partnered with youth empowerment organisation RISE 365 and action group Crown Coalition, and together are striving for the official inclusion of four representative Black hairstyles in the emoji library. The hairstyles include: Afro, cornrows, braids, and locs.
The need for representative emojis may seem like a simple one, but 75% of Black people believe it’s important for emojis to accurately represent hair features. Additionally, 70% say it would make them feel seen if a diverse range of emojis were available, particularly for natural or protective hairstyles.
As of September 2024, there are 3,790 emojis in the Unicode Standard as standard and there are set to be eight more added to the library with Apple’s iOS 18.4 software update. These will include a face with bags under eyes, a fingerprint, a splatter, a root vegetable, a leafless tree, a harp, a shovel, and the flag of Sark.
However, according to new research from Dove, 8 in 10 Black people in the UK struggle to find emojis that represent them and their hair accurately. Or, Dove found, they don’t even search for an accurate emoji, knowing they don’t exist.
So while users will be able to signify just how tired they are with the face with bags under eyes emojis, or live out their wildest fantasies with the use of 18 mystical creations, there are some who feel their own appearance is barely represented. This proves that there’s a significant gap in the representation of Black people among the nearly 4,000 emojis available which are used by 92% of the world ’s population.
Rise 365’s group leaders have thoughtfully created four inclusive emojis to prove that the emoticons aren’t just symbols, but instead “influence how we see ourselves and each other,” according to Joycelyn Buffong, Founder and CEO of RISE.365. She said in a statement: “For too long, Black people have been excluded from digital representation, reinforcing the idea that our features and identities are an afterthought.
“This movement is about more than emojis – it’s about recognition, inclusion, and ensuring that Black and mixed race hairstyles are seen, valued, and celebrated everywhere, including in digital spaces,” Buffong added.
To drive change, the Unilever-owned brand have urged people to comment #CodeMyCrown in Instagram comments to raise awareness, as Unicode doesn’t accept petitions.
Visit Dove.com/CodeMyCrown to learn more and join Dove to help expand the representation of textured hair and protective styles in digital spaces.
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