Who We Are and What We Stand For

The Beauty Project is a diverse enterprise that merges a hair salon with a nonprofit foundation dedicated to serving the Reno, Nevada community. The Beauty Project Salon provides eco-friendly, gender and age-inclusive hair services for all hair types, celebrating diversity with the invitation to explore your own beauty. The Beauty Project Salon creates a safe and enriching environment for members of our community to explore what beauty means to them and to step into and embrace what their form of self expression looks like. The Beauty Project Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides the same life enriching beauty services to those in financial distress while simultaneously providing fair compensation to the service provider with community funding. We offer these services on a sliding payment scale through our Beauty Without Bounds Program, bridging the gap by serving both clients in need and service providers facing economic challenges. By integrating our built-in nonprofit program and utilizing Green Circle Salons’ recycling program, we address the growing economic disparities in our society, the challenges faced by beauty professionals, and the impact beauty waste has on our environment and climate. 

The value of beauty services:

The Beauty Project Salon and Foundation offers much more than just hair services. Our beauty services go beyond the surface level, offering emotional support during life transitions, a safe space for self-expression and transformation, as well as basic hygiene and self-care for underserved populations. We treat all of our clients whether they are full paying clients, on our sliding scale program or are on a fully covered scholarship as human beings deserving of respect and dignity. The foundation's intention is to help our clients accepted into our scholarship program to know and feel like the valued human beings that they are, and help reverse the feelings of dehumanization they’ve experienced from being without a home, in domestic violence situations, single parenthood, undergoing gender affirming transitions, or facing many other challenging circumstances. We are committed to taking action to restore the deeper meaning of what beauty truly is and can offer. 

The Beauty Project was born out of the recognition that beauty services go far beyond the superficial. The beauty industry has sold us a certain type of beauty that is not inclusive; it’s narrow-minded and hollow. Real and raw beauty celebrates what is, rather than what should be. The Beauty Project is actively working to change the beauty industry and demand better. We are revolutionizing and redefining the concept of beauty. We stand out in the industry with our inclusive services for all different hair types and individuals, focusing on both inner and outer beauty, creating a safe and welcoming space for self-expression, all while adopting a community-oriented approach. We believe in the right to feel good in our bodies, the right to love ourselves, and the right to take care of ourselves and each other. When our insides match our outsides and our outsides match our insides, our lives can expand, transform, and soar. At The Beauty Project we understand that a haircut is much more than what’s on the surface; its value is priceless. The Beauty Project Foundation takes this a step further to empower, uplift, and acknowledge our underserved populations. They are just as deserving of seeing and feeling their own humanity and beauty.

Professional commitment to our community:

Beauty professionals are among the most generous individuals, often sacrificing their own financial well-being to support others.  I am no exception, which is why I created The Beauty Project Foundation to complement my vision for The Beauty Project Salon. With the rising costs of operating businesses and managing personal expenses, many beauty professionals find themselves in challenging situations—balancing the desire to care for and support clients in need while grappling with their own financial stability.

I believe that as beauty professionals we are there to give you a haircut, to uplift your spirits, and help you feel your best. We are there not only to love and celebrate you in your brightest moments but also in your darkest moments—to hug you, cry with you, hold your hand, deeply see you, and deeply listen. We create a space where you can feel safe in tough moments and also help you transform into a new version of yourself. Sometimes, that means shaving your hair before chemo takes it, empowering you to take control instead of feeling powerless against cancer. We stand by you, reminding you of your strength and think about you every day until we know your treatment is done. Other times, it’s about giving you the "raddest" mullet because, after a difficult battle with depression, you’re finally able to feel like yourself again.

We will look you in the eye and sincerely mean it when we say, You are not alone. We see you. Your existence matters to us because the value of your humanity and our connection with you has always meant more to us than the price of your haircut. We embrace your messy middle; we accept you entirely. We do this work because it is how we know how to help people feel good about themselves. Caring for others is how we know to show up in the world.

The deep human connection that resides in beauty services is at the core of The Beauty Project's mission. We often pour ourselves into the appointments because we deeply care for our clients and want to show up for them, often at the cost of risking our own health and mental well-being. Most of us in the beauty industry are required to work full-time, we don’t have health insurance, paid sick leave, maternity leave, or mental health days. The morning I received the diagnosis of a life-altering disease, I still showed up for my day of root touch-ups and haircuts; that money went straight towards an MRI that gave me answers I didn't want, but so desperately needed. 

Beauty professionals are caregivers by spirit, and we are deeply creative artists as well. For many of us, becoming therapists or nurses wasn’t accessible. We are often compared to mental health providers, but we are told that what we do is a “luxury.” This narrative is confusing and disheartening. But we won’t stop because we know that our work matters and makes a difference. We see our impact every day, but in today's economic climate, many individuals forgo self-care services due to financial constraints. Simultaneously, beauty professionals are struggling with rising costs to run their businesses and pay their own bills. Our livelihoods are in jeopardy because our client lists and monthly income aren’t growing at the same rate as the cost of supplies needed for hair color, shampoo and conditioner. Most of us were doing well before the pandemic and even in the year or two following, but now we are merely getting by—surviving but not sustaining our future.

How we are solving this problem:

The Beauty Project Foundation addresses a critical gap in the beauty industry by providing access to beauty services for those in financial hardship, ensuring fair compensation for service providers, and promoting basic hygiene and mental well-being through sliding scale beauty services. The Beauty Project aims to challenge traditional beauty industry norms that often prioritize profit over genuine care and inclusivity. We invite questioning that feeling good is not a luxury; that it is actually a human right. By providing accessible beauty services and fair compensation for providers, The Beauty Project Foundation seeks to create a more equitable and empowering beauty industry.

In a world that often prioritizes unrealistic external standards, The Beauty Project is dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their unique beauty while promoting inclusivity within an industry known for its narrow standards. Envision a world where everyone, regardless of background or financial circumstances, has the opportunity to explore their beauty and self-expression. The Beauty Project actively pursues this vision, emphasizing that it's not about achieving "perfect" hair; it's about nurturing self-expression, building confidence, and dismantling barriers that have limited so many for so long.

The Beauty Project Salon and Foundation aim to be a beacon of hope for those who may have been overlooked or underestimated by the beauty industry. Now is the time for us to break down societal norms that dictate who can participate. My goal is to continue to grow both The Beauty Project Salon and the Foundation side by side. We will continue to show up for our community with love, kindness, and beauty. We will encourage others to look within themselves to find their own beauty and extend a helping hand in hope that others will do the same. When we choose to discover our own beauty, it makes the world a far more beautiful place because we can see each other’s beauty through our own beauty.

Supporting Us Means:

For me, hairstyling transcends the superficial—it embodies depth, builds connections, and serves as a well of inspiration. I am driven by the conviction that hairstylists hold a profound influence upon humanity and our world, extending beyond conventional recognition. Beauty services possess transformative powers that reach beneath the surface, instilling confidence, courage, and fostering meaningful connections—human to human. By embracing the untapped potential of the beauty industry and rising above societal standards, we unlock a realm of magic. It is my core belief that hairstylists and beauty professionals are effecting positive change, one service at a time. I believe my purpose is to spotlight and celebrate this transformative impact.

I often grapple with the frustration of witnessing distorted self-perceptions in others—reflecting the occasional struggles I face in my own self-perception. However, I have experienced firsthand the transformative impact of giving someone a haircut. It is difficult to put into words the profound impact that something seemingly superficial can have on each of us. I’ll never forget a moment when a client jumped up out of her chair when we finished, looked in the mirror, and exclaimed,, “There I am!”  She had spent a lifetime trying to explain her vision for her hair to various stylists, always leaving feeling unseen and unheard. Finally, I was able to give her the gift of truly seeing herself.

By supporting The Beauty Project, you would directly contribute to my dream of creating a more inclusive beauty industry—empowering both clients and service providers to thrive despite challenging economic times. You will help advance the nonprofit’s mission of providing self-care services to individuals experiencing financial distress. You will also enable the program to achieve its goals of enhancing self-esteem, improving mental well-being, and creating pathways to better opportunities for the community. 

I have a deep passion for both my craft and community. While I have been able to support myself through full-time hairstyling—my volunteer work has interested me the most, particularly offering haircuts to those experiencing homelessness. This calling fueled the creation of The Beauty Project Foundation. This initiative was born out of my desire to use my skills not just for personal income but to restore dignity, confidence, and a sense of self-worth to vulnerable individuals who may not have access to such services. My intention is to continue merging my professional expertise with my commitment to social good, embracing a powerful purpose-driven approach where my talents are used not only for economic survival but also for making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. I have established this initiative solely through grassroots efforts to contribute and improve the world in my local community. It's the most meaningful way for me to leverage my skills and talents and to assist others aligning with my life's purpose. Currently, our nonprofit relies solely on community donations and fundraising to operate. We provide services such as haircuts, massages, and facials as part of our mission to give back and uplift individuals in need. We need financial support and backing to help achieve our goals and to continue pursuing our mission. 

This example shows how this program has impacted people’s lives:

A client, who will go by the name Yalaina for the purpose of confidentiality, has expressed how much this program has meant to her while she is going through a difficult time in her life. In an interview following one of her appointments Yalaina states, “They [the provider] are giving me their time, and by doing that, it reminds me that I matter and that I am cared for even though I am going through a hardship right now. Even though I feel insecure and lost and don’t have stable housing, these appointments recharge me. They give me a moment that is priceless. The Beauty Project is saying, ‘You may be lost right now, but you matter.’”

Having access to beauty services gives Yalaina peace of mind. Her hair can be difficult to manage, and she struggles with it. Access to resources to help her take care of it removes a burden from her shoulders. It helps her feel confident, building trust with the providers. She feels that she, too, can be beautiful. Often, she feels like beauty is for others, not for her. But access to these services helps build her confidence to focus on other aspects of her life, like securing stable employment.

Yalaina’s recount exemplifies what this whole project is about and what this initiative aims to expand upon. This is one of the initiative’s main goals: help people feel more comfortable within so they can be more comfortable and confident outside in the world. Funding this initiative will enable this program to expand and give more people this uplifting experience. Many individuals from financially disadvantaged backgrounds lack access to beauty services, which are often seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. Even just a simple haircut. For those facing financial instability, these services can be crucial in boosting self-esteem and improving mental well-being. Unfortunately, shame and stigma often prevent these individuals from seeking help, even though they need it the most​. Making these services accessible is not just about aesthetics but about providing care that can uplift and restore dignity.

The Beauty Project aims to recognize the importance of embracing diversity while dismantling systemic barriers. Standing united in the belief that beauty knows no boundaries. Contributing to this cause is supporting a foundation and also investing in a brighter, more inclusive future for the beauty industry and, ultimately, for society as a whole.

With your support, The Beauty Project will be able to expand its Beauty Without Bounds Initiative. Funds will be allocated to several key areas, including marketing and outreach efforts, increasing the number of applicants accepted into the Beauty Without Bounds program, expanding service offerings and our provider network, compensating service providers, hiring employees, organizing community events and educational programs, and building partnerships with local organizations. Grassroots funding enables us to make a greater impact in our community by providing essential beauty services to those in need while supporting the livelihoods of our dedicated service providers.

Additionally, you will support our long-term vision of creating a Salon & Non-profit Community Center. This innovative space will serve as a hub for individuals to embrace their authentic selves, challenge cultural beauty norms, and foster a more inclusive and empowering beauty industry. The expanded facility will feature our existing eco-friendly salon services and retail, along with community spaces for diverse classes such as yoga, meditation, self-defense, and art. It will also include a gallery to showcase local artists' work and venues for community gatherings and events, including a dedicated space for our monthly Queer Meetups, which we currently host off-site. By blending beauty services with community engagement, we aim to create a transformative space that nurtures both inner and outer beauty, encouraging self-expression, personal growth, and inspiration.

In conclusion, you will enable The Beauty Project Foundation to continue making a profound impact on the lives of individuals facing financial distress, homelessness, domestic abuse, disability, and unemployment. By supporting The Beauty Project, you will help foster a more inclusive and empowering beauty industry—one that values the essential role beauty professionals play in our communities while ensuring they can provide care to others and sustain themselves in the process.

Our comprehensive approach addresses not only immediate needs but also promotes a more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community. By supporting The Beauty Project Foundation, you endorse my dream and contribute to a transformative vision that recognizes the inherent dignity and beauty in every individual, regardless of their circumstances.

Thank you for sharing your beauty with the world,

Jillian Rose