Pinterest is adding a hair pattern search filter to its beauty search feature to be more inclusive of all hair types.
The feature was announced on Pinterest’s Newsroom blog, where the company said it made the changes with Black, Brown, and Latinx people in mind.
Users will be able to filter searches by six distinct patterns: protective, coily, curly, wavy, straight, and shaved/bald. In addition to more general searches, users will also be able to narrow down their results with specific terms like “summer hairstyles” and “glam hair.”
The upgraded search tool uses “computer vision-powered object detection” to identify the different hairstyles and was made in collaboration with Pinterest users and BIPOC creators on the site. One such creator is Naeemah LaFond, who is also the editorial hairstylist and global artistic director for Amika, a company that specializes in hair care.
LaFond calls the new search tool “a game-changer” and a “milestone for racial equity…”
Pinterest has a history of diversifying its search results to be more inclusive. According to Instagram, the hair pattern identification builds on the skin tone range function that launched in 2018. The skin tone search feature allows users to customize search results by skin tone and see beauty products and tutorials tailored for a specific audience.
The hair pattern search is currently available in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on both the iOS and Android apps. Pinterest said the new feature will be available in international markets over the coming months.
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
