For Shaynae Clark, beauty has always been about more than appearance. It has been a tool for education, confidence, and creating pathways for others to succeed.
As the founder of NL Beauty Academy, Clark has built a business centered on teaching beauty skills while preparing aspiring professionals for the realities of entrepreneurship. Now, through a $10,000 Citizens Community Champion award, she is expanding that mission through new youth and community initiatives across metro Detroit.
Clark was selected as one of 20 recipients from hundreds of applicants for the award, which recognizes businesses committed to strengthening their communities. The opportunity came after she was encouraged to apply.
“The reason being is in our beauty Academy initiative, one of the biggest initiatives we have is community, beauty, health and wellness,” Clark said. “With applying for this award, I not only saw fit for my business, but fit for what I want to do with my business as well and to go further.”
The grant funding will support community programming, entrepreneurship workshops, and youth-focused events designed to make educational opportunities more accessible.
“When we put on events, I do charge for them, but with getting the Community Champion award, I’m able to provide programs that are easily accessible,” Clark said. “Some may be free or some may be low-cost for those who are not as able to pay.”
One of the first initiatives supported by the funding will be the NL Youth Wellness Experience: Pilates in Flow, taking place Aug. 9. The event is designed for girls ages 13 to 17 and will combine movement, nutrition, and self-care activities, all designed to educate girls about a wholistic approach to beauty and self-confidence.
The experience will include a Pilates session through a partnership with a Black woman-owned Pilates studio in Livonia, nutrition education, healthy refreshments, wellness products, and activities focused on building confidence. Clark said the goal is to create an ongoing space for young women to prioritize their health.
“We actually plan to keep this going,” she said. “That event, it won’t be just a one-time thing. We’re investing in keeping the event going every month for the youth.”
Through NL Beauty Academy, Clark works to address gaps she noticed throughout her own career in the beauty industry. The academy provides cosmetology education while also focusing on business development, marketing, and branding.
“This business came about because I kept seeing that things were missing in the beauty industry, especially when it comes to African American beauty professionals,” Clark said.
Her goal is to give students the knowledge and resources needed to build sustainable careers.
“I don’t want to just teach you how to do hair,” she said. “I want to teach you how to get clients. I want to teach you how to have a high retention rate when it comes to having clients. I want to teach you branding and marketing.”
Clark is also investing in Detroit’s young workforce through a partnership with the City of Detroit’s Grow Detroit’s Young Talent program. After applying previously and not having a placement available, she applied again and was selected to employ two students for a six-week summer internship this year.
The students are gaining experience in social media content creation, business planning, salon operations and professional development. Clark is also mentoring them throughout the program, helping them understand the business side of the beauty industry.
“With them doing tasks for me, I’m also mentoring them as well,” she said. “Even though they’re getting hired and paid to do work for me, I’m putting in the initiative to make sure that I give back to them in other ways and train them about the parts of the business they probably wouldn’t see if they were just regular paid employees.”
Clark’s passion for mentorship comes from her own journey. She began working in beauty at 14 years old, building her skills while learning the challenges of running a business.
“I’ve made many mistakes, and that’s why I like to get them young and get them to a place where they understand how to be professional with it right off the bat,” she said.
Beyond education and workforce development, Clark continues her community service through The Grab and Go Effect, a nonprofit created from her invention of the Grab and Go Haircut — a hair cap designed for women and children experiencing hair loss due to cancer, alopecia, or lupus.
Her work across each initiative is connected by one goal: creating opportunities that continue beyond the classroom, salon or event space.
“It feels like I’m supposed to be here,” Clark said. “It’s not always the easiest thing to be the one that everybody looks to, but I do feel like I’m supposed to be here.”
Through education, wellness and mentorship, Clark is building a model of community impact rooted in helping others learn, build and grow.
Spots are limited, so registrants for the NL Beauty Academy Pilates event is encouraged now. You can register at nlbeautyacademy.com/.
