Business-minded children looking to get ahead of the game have the opportunity to become more acquainted with the beauty and haircare industry through an initiative called “Jr. Beauty Boot Camp.”
The program was started in 2017 by Lauren B, the owner of a Philadelphia-based business called The Beaute’ Box.
“Lauren B’s Jr. Beauty Boot Camp is a cosmetology program for children ages 8-17,” the initiative’s webpage reads. “This program host[s] a series of classes teaching the youth the [ins] and outs of the cosmetology industry.”
While the program’s beginnings are rooted in Philly, the Jr. Beauty Boot Camp is notably making rounds across eight different cities this summer: Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Houston, Charlotte, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Baltimore.
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Those who are admitted into the boot camp, which carries a $125 registration fee, will receive mentorship from Lauren B.
Participants will also receive a Jr. “Beauty Boss Starter Kit,” which contains essentials like a mannequin head and various hairstyling tools.
In addition to learning how to do hair and nails, participants engage in various classes centered on branding and social media marketing, and they earn a certificate of completion upon completing the program.
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“When they leave here, they are masters. They know everything,” Lauren B said during an interview with CBS Philly.
She also spoke on what inspired her to jump-start this program.
“I knew what I wanted to do my whole life. Not only did I want to be a hairstylist — I wanted to be a business owner,” she said.
“There were no programs for hair, and that’s what made me come up with the idea for Beauty Boot Camp,” Lauren B continued. “I wanted to give back to the community and teach the girls all the things I didn’t get to learn.”
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“It’s a huge deal,” Lauren shared. “To see my girls leave my program and actually become successful entrepreneurs, it’s amazing. Just to know that I built them up to what they’ve become today, it’s amazing.”
