SalonCentric, in partnership with L'Oréal USA, has launched the third round of their Inclusive Beauty Fund, awarding 12 grants of $25,000 each to beauty businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States – including extension artists, braiders, aestheticians, barbers, salon owners, suite owners, students, and stylists. The grants will be administered in partnership with the NAACP's Economic Empowerment Fund and Hispanic Federation through Deed, a leading social impact platform. Open to all, the goal of the program is to support all members of the beauty industry with a focus on small business growth and increasing overall economic opportunity.
The beauty industry was among the sectors hardest hit by the economic fallout of the pandemic, and the Inclusive Beauty Fund was created in direct response to that reality. Since its launch in 2021, the program has supported 73 businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide, providing not only funding but access to mentorship and business development resources that extend well beyond a single grant. What began as a crisis response has since grown into a sustained commitment to growth and economic opportunity, helping recipients grow inventory, refine marketing strategies, open new retail locations, and build businesses with staying power.
While progress has been made, many beauty entrepreneurs are still facing economic hurdles and headwinds. These challenges limit their potential to scale their businesses and provide essential beauty services to consumers nationwide. To that end, we’ve expanded this year’s 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, grantees receive professional mentorship and business development support with the participation of top executives and educators/artists from both L’Oréal USA and SalonCentric.
For many beauty entrepreneurs, however, the barriers to growth have not disappeared. Access to capital remains one of the most significant challenges they face, particularly those who have long had limited access to traditional financing. Each new round of the Inclusive Beauty Fund is a chance to reach a new group of business owners at precisely that moment.
In this third round, SalonCentric and L'Oréal USA are making a more deliberate investment in each new class of recipients, increasing the individual grant amount to $25,000 and giving businesses more capacity to invest in their teams, their products, and their communities. Beyond funding, recipients gain access to professional mentorship and business development support from top executives across L'Oréal's leading beauty brands and SalonCentric.
"The beauty industry is full of talented entrepreneurs who simply need an opportunity to expand," said Liliahn Majeed, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, North America, L'Oréal Groupe. "With this third round, we are reaching a new group of business owners and making a more substantial investment in what they are building. Beauty thrives when the people driving it forward have genuine support behind them."
Applications for the 2026 Inclusive Beauty Fund will be administered by the NAACP and Hispanic Federation, respectively. The NAACP and Hispanic Federation will each award grants of $25,000, and applications open on March 23, 2026. All submissions must be conducted through either the NAACP or Hispanic Federation's websites, with links included below. Grant recipients will be announced in June 2026.
- To apply via the NAACP, please use this link: https://app.helloalice.com/grants/naacp-x-l-oreal-inclusive-beauty-fund-2026
- To apply via Hispanic Federation, please use this link: https://www.hispanicfederation.org/our-work/economicempowerment/lorealinclusivebeautyfund/