SalonCentric and L’Oréal USA have named the recipients of the second edition of its Inclusive Beauty Fund to small business owners and entrepreneurs spanning across businesses including salon owners, hair care and beauty service educators, beauty product founders, salon owners, spa owners, extensions artists, braiders, estheticians, barbers and stylists nationwide.
The Inclusive Beauty Fund is administered in collaboration with the NAACP’s Economic Empowerment Fund and Hispanic Federation, respectively, through L’Oréal’s partnership with GlobalGiving.
The Recipients
The Inclusive Beauty Fund grant recipients, known as SalonCentric Beauty Blazers, include the following:
Akua Robinson, Friends in Beauty, Washington, D.C.
Alicia Castillo, Aesthetics by Alicia LLC, Albuquerque, NM
Annette Colon, Lofte Natural Care, Ponce, PR
Anthony Cano, Uppercuts Barber, Grand Prairie, TX
Anthony Davis, Headz 1st Barber Institute, Sterling, VA
Ashley Hoskin, Cah-Cah Bug’s Infusions and More, Florissant, MO
Ashley Rankin, AR Naturals Skin Ltd., Aurora, CO
Breanna Smalls, Bare Beauty Aesthetic, Teaneck, NJ
Briana Williams, LipLoveLine, Richmond, VA
Carolina Contreras, Miss Rizos Salon, New York, NY
Charleny Escalante, Challure, Inc., Plainview, NY
Cory Varona, OCOA, Sinking Spring, PA
Crystal Green, Organic Roots Natural Hair Studio, Bossier City, LA
Denise Smith, Haute Mode Enterprises, Philadelphia, PA
Destiny Gunn, Goodness Collection by 9 Fruits LLC, Sterling, VA
Empress Ayr, Luxurious Peace Inc, Los Angeles, CA
Flor Silva, Lux Studio, Vestavia Hills, AL
Ignacio Davila Ayala, Illussion of Beauty, Chicago, IL
Ilene Choi, SJC Creative Inc, (Luxurious Wellniss), Orange, NJ
Ingrid Garcia, Ingrid Nails, Hapeville, GA
Jarely Jones, Faith in curls/Arnopulo, Deltona, FL
Jazmin Alvarez, Pretty Well Beauty, New York, NY
Jennifer Bordes, JBD Hairstyling, Inc., Brooklyn, NY
Lakeisha Turner, Keisha Elise Cosmetics, Raleigh, NC
Laura Termini, Chicanol, Miami, FL
Maribel Martinez Pedroza, Maribella Salon, Wilmington, DE
Marie Rolla, Black Sheep Salon LLC, Long Beach, CA
Matthew J. Sánchez, Matteo Parfums, Moreno Valley, CA
Michele Aquino, The Glam Box, New York, NY
Miona Short, Shukrah, Chicago, IL
NaChé Thompson, NaChé Cosmetics Inc., San Bernardino, CA
Naima Solano, Beachbum Wisdom Studio, Long Beach, CA
Reyna Curtis, Houston Loc Fairy, Houston, TX
Roberta Easter, Enchanting Soap Collections, Albuquerque, NM
Samaria Robinson, Be-you-tified by Mari LLC., Stone Mountain, GA
Shajarazade Rodriguez, Vogabeauty, Charlotte, NC
Tabatta Davila, Permanent Cosmetics by Taby, Provo, UT
Toni Lee Jimenez, Chica Beauty LLC, San Antonio, TX
Tranette Johnson, Yummy Beauty Company LLC, Tempe, AZ
Zechra Williams, Evolution Beauty Lodge, Palm Bay, FL
The Inclusive Beauty grant program was founded in 2021 recognizing that beauty businesses were some of the most acutely impacted by the economic fallout of the worldwide pandemic and resulting shutdowns. SalonCentric and L’Oréal USA partnered with the NAACP to provide much-needed support in terms of funding and business mentoring to 33 small beauty businesses. Grant recipients used the funds to grow their inventory, refine marketing strategies and open new retail locations.
In 2024, SalonCentric and L’Oréal USA expanded the program to include NGO partner Hispanic Federation and grant administrator GlobalGiving, amplifying the reach and impact of the program. In addition to one-time funding, the company is committed to providing grantees with professional mentorship and business development support with the participation of top executives from its leading beauty brands and its professional beauty products distributor SalonCentric.
The NAACP and Hispanic Federation will each endow 20 one-time grants of $10,000 per awardee, providing financial support and resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
