Beyoncé Invests in the Next Generation of Barbers and Hairstylists
Beyoncé is investing in the future of the haircare industry with the launch of her Cécred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship Fund. As part of this initiative, the singer will donate $500,000 to five cosmetology schools across the United States, including the Black-owned haircare institute her mother, Tina Knowles, graduated from in the 1980s.
The recipients of the Cécred x BeyGOOD Salon Business Grant include the Franklin Institute in Houston, Beaver Beauty Academy in Atlanta, Trenz Beauty Academy in Chicago, Universal College of Beauty in Los Angeles, and Janas Cosmetology Academy in New Jersey.
Each school will receive funding to provide 25 students with $10,000 in financial aid scholarships and an additional 25 salon owners with $10,000 in grants.
Bridging the Gap in the Cosmetology Industry
The cosmetology industry requires a significant financial investment to get started, with an average cost of $14,000 in Texas and $20,000 nationally. Ivy McGregor, the executive director of BeyGOOD, emphasizes the importance of addressing this inequality.
“One of the foundations of BeyGOOD is economic equity. And so to think about that, the underbelly is that there is an inequity,” McGregor said. “We believe that everybody has the right to thrive. And so the thing that we’re excited about, while our tenets are education and entrepreneurship, both of them converge through this program.”
A Full-Circle Moment for the Knowles Family
The inclusion of the Franklin Institute in Houston, where Tina Knowles graduated, holds a special significance for the Knowles family. Tina’s salon, Headliners Salon, served as Beyoncé’s first performance stage during her childhood, making this a full-circle moment.
“She had a wonderful salon here in Houston. It wasn’t that she just graduated from Franklin; she actually really impacted the Houston community with her salon,” said Ron Jemison Jr., the fourth-generation owner of the Franklin Institute.
Upholding Quality and Regulations in the Haircare Industry
The Franklin Institute, founded in 1915 as a hair salon by Madam Nobia Franklin, has since grown to become one of the country’s oldest Black-owned businesses still standing. The institute not only teaches hairstylists but also provides barbershop classes, emphasizing the importance of understanding rules, regulations, and safety.
“This is the foundation. You’re talented, but you have to know the rules and regulations. You have to pass this test to move forward because you have people in your hands,” Jemison said.
“You’re actually putting chemicals on their hair that could actually have a reverse [effect], and all the hair falls out. So, that’s why it’s so important to go to school. We call them doctors; they’re hair doctors.”
Aligning with Beyoncé’s Entrepreneurial Endeavors
The Cécred x BeyGOOD Student Scholarship Fund falls in line with Beyoncé’s recent launch of her Cécred haircare line, further cementing her affinity for the haircare industry and her commitment to supporting her hometown of Houston.
“In her hometown of Houston, her commitment has never wavered, right? Every opportunity to give, first on her list is home. And so we’re super excited to have this opportunity to really make an impact that will be sustainable,” McGregor said.
