Beyoncé is to fund a $500,000 annual grant to beauty schools and salons.
Beyonce is to offer funding to beauty schools and salons
The 'Halo' hitmaker's newly-launched haircare line Cécred and her charity BeyGOOD will be jointly funding the sum to cosmetology schools and salons in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, with the specific sites chosen due to their "large, diverse community" of hair stylists.
A statement on BeyGood's website said: “Hairstylists have an immense impact on the people in their chairs. They create a sacred space where we can show up how we want and express ourselves through our hair. We’re honoured to give back to this amazing community.
“Fostering talent, promoting professionalism, and supporting entrepreneurship within the hair industry is deeply important to us.
"The Cécred x BeyGOOD Fund … celebrates the influence professional stylists have on hair health and the critical importance of advocating for the salon community.
"An annual $500,000 will fund cosmetology school scholarships and salon business grants across five cities chosen for their large, diverse community of hair stylists: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New Jersey.”
The cosmetology schools must offer "inclusive curriculums" to qualify for the fund and will receive $250,000 to be used towards student scholarships. The other half of the money will be given annually to "qualifying salon business owners" in the cities.
The statement explained: “We recognise running your own business is difficult, no matter if you rent a booth, operate a salon, or work out of your home.
"Each year, 25 $10,000 grants will be awarded to qualifying salon business owners in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New Jersey so they can continue their transformative impact in the community.”
The 42-year-old singer worked in her mom Tina Knowles' hair salon during her younger years and recently credited her experiences there for shaping her into the person she is today.
She told Essence magazine: "So much of the fabric of who I am came from her salon. It is something that just connects to all of my senses, and it’s a beautiful place to grow up.
"That’s my foundation - and I think as an artist, so much of my bold experimentation with hair comes from being inspired by art and sculptures; getting creative with braids; figuring out new techniques; and exploring ways to maintain hair growth with protective styles and wigs, while still feeling fabulous. It all stems from my experiences growing up in my mother’s salon."
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