The Beauty Boot Camp helps young, entrepreneurial girls become the next generation of beauty-conscious hairstylists

A business owner in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia set up a summer camp for young people interested in starting a career in the hair and beauty industry. Participants between the ages of 8 and 17 learn the basics of corporate management, customer service and the ABCs of the hairdressing trade.

Lauren B, owner of The Beauty Box Salon, created the Jr. Beauty Boot Camp in 2017 to introduce the next generation of stylists to the tips and tricks of the beauty industry. Five years ago, her goal was to provide the girls in her community with the basics and basic training in cosmetology—but now she wants to take the camp up the East Coast and into Los Angeles.

Her vision for the national campaign, which has been running since spring, is to inspire young girls to embrace crafting as a viable occupation and learn about some of the innovations in haircare, beauty and wellness.

This year, the Bootcamp will be held in eight cities across the country, including Philadelphia (7/30 to 7/31), Chicago (8/13), New York (8/20), Houston (9/3), Charlotte (9/17), Atlanta (9/24), Los Angeles (10/22) and Baltimore (10/29).

Those admitted to this experience will receive personal instruction and mentoring from Lauren B., a licensed hairstylist, makeup artist and salon owner. They will also receive a “Jr. Beauty Boss Starter Kit, complete with a mannequin head and hot hair-care essentials like straighteners.

During their studies, the young ladies take part in three different hair training courses: how to generate income with hair, branding and business social media marketing. Girls also learn to do their nails and walk away with a certificate of completion. And because the day is long, students get two meals and a snack.

The teacher says, “If you leave here, you are masters. They know everything.”

One college student, Kyleigh Reid, 9, said in an interview with CBS 3 that her “dream is to do hair, makeup and nails.”

Lauren B. is not shocked. She says she’s known cosmetics was her dream for as long as she can remember, adding, “I knew what I wanted to do my whole life.”

She added, “Not only did I want to be a hairstylist, I wanted to be a business owner.”

This motivated her to learn everything she could, and when she went to College of Business and Beauty School for her cosmetology license, she was focused on her goal. But she had to teach herself early on because there were no programs designed to mentor and train youth who wanted to do what she dreamed of doing.

“There weren’t any hair programs, so I came up with the idea of ​​Beauty Boot Camp,” recalls Lauren B. “I wanted to give back to the community and teach the girls all the things I wasn’t allowed to learn.”

The testimony of her former students has set the tone for the next batch of glam queens.

Ray’ven Roberts said she had to thank her dad because “he found Ms. Lauren for me, got me into boot camp and I loved it.”

For Lauren, that was the answer she wanted to get from the start. Even more impressive is the fact that some of the girls are taking what they learn and pursuing careers in the hair and beauty industry.

“It’s a big thing to see my girls leave my program and actually become successful entrepreneurs, it’s amazing. Just knowing that I made them what they are today is incredible.”

She says she never thought it would be such a force, as the original dates for the Philadelphia and Atlanta classes were already sold out and additional dates had to be added.

“And when I started the program, I didn’t expect it to be this big. It’s just a great thing to see the abundance of people watching and hearing and learning from me,” she said proudly.

Young people interested in Jr. Beauty Boot Camp should register on Lauren B.’s website for more details.