Picture this: You’re a college student at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and Homecoming is just around the corner. The campus is buzzing with alumni and students, but before the festivities can begin, the beauty prep starts—weeks in advance, to avoid overbookings and the anxiety of not feeling put together for the big event. How do you get ready?
For decades, many young women at HBCUs have turned their creative abilities into side hustles, offering styling services to classmates. “It’s actually a funny story, but it’s weird how it all worked out,” said sophomore Sophia Wilson, a marketing student at North Carolina A&T. Wilson, who first learned how to braid her own hair in high school, began styling her classmates’ hair after they noticed her neat braiding technique. This newfound skill quickly became a business. “When I started my Instagram page, I was doing mostly men’s hair—twists and braids. But as my page gained traction, I started offering more styling services and began attracting more customers.”
Courtesy of @sophiassidehustle
Wilson’s story is just one of many at HBCUs, where self-taught beauticians juggle full-time studies and their businesses. Senior Cameron Long of Tuskegee University balances her studies with her nail tech side hustle, CuredByCam. “Without a written schedule, my days would be chaotic,” Long said, noting that she schedules her nail appointments on Sundays to prepare for the upcoming week. She also manages her appointments around her class schedule as a Business Administration major. Long’s pricing varies based on the complexity and length of the nail designs, and she requires a $15 non-refundable deposit for each appointment.
Courtesy of @CuredByCam
For most HBCU beauticians, Homecoming is the busiest—and most profitable—time of the year. “Homecoming is one of the hardest times because there’s like a thousand appointments,” Long joked. However, it’s also the time when earnings are at their peak. For Jaliyah Goodlow, a second-year makeup artist at Spelman College, her income triples during Homecoming. “Normally, I have about two clients a week, which brings in a couple hundred dollars a month. But during Homecoming and graduation season, I make a lot more,” Goodlow shared. In addition to students, Goodlow’s clientele includes Miss Spelman and the Court. She credits word-of-mouth and social media for growing her business, which she promotes in Spelman’s Beauty Hub GroupMe. Her services extend beyond campus, offering makeup for bridal parties, prom-goers, and other special events.
Courtesy of Jaliyah Goodlow
According to a 2023 Bankrate survey, nearly two in five U.S. adults have side hustles, with 53% of Gen Zers (ages 18-26) earning extra income on top of full-time jobs. For many college students, side hustles help cover everyday expenses, reduce tuition costs, and build savings. For Wilson, the money she makes from hair braiding helps pay for tuition and her car note. “Hair is still something I enjoy doing for fun, but it’s necessary for me financially,” she said. Wilson plans to pursue a cosmetology license after graduation but isn’t sure if she wants to make it her full-time career. On the other hand, Goodlow hopes to turn her makeup side hustle into a full-time business, with plans to eventually launch a makeup line with biodegradable products.
Despite the growing demand for Black beauticians, few HBCUs offer cosmetology programs. A 2022 study by McKinsey & Company found that Black consumers are three times more likely to be dissatisfied with their beauty options compared to non-Black consumers. This highlights a lack of representation in the beauty industry and the failure of brands to address the unique needs of Black consumers. Integrated cosmetology courses at HBCUs could provide students with the tools and training to tackle these systemic issues. Additionally, offering such programs could boost enrollment, as Black consumers make up 12.5% of U.S. beauty spending but Black beauty brands only capture 2.5% of the revenue. “HBCUs would benefit tremendously from offering cosmetology programs, as it would encourage students to pursue their degrees and passions,” Wilson said.