January 2026 Grants for Black-Owned Beauty Brands (and How to Turn Them Into Customers)
iqra
February 4, 2026
A New Round of Grants for Black-Owned Beauty Brands
A new roundup of January 2026 grants and resources for Black-owned beauty brands is good news for founders in haircare, skincare, cosmetics, and spa services. At a time when capital remains uneven, these targeted programs can help close real gaps. An ongoing compilation highlights opportunities for beauty entrepreneurs to apply, pitch, or submit.
Key Grant Opportunities
Among the highlighted opportunities:
- Wish Local Empowerment Grant – Microgrants from $500 to $2,000 for U.S.-based Black-owned brick-and-mortar businesses with under $1 million in revenue and 20 or fewer employees. Funds can be used for inventory, rent, or marketing, but recipients must join the Wish Local platform.
- NASE Growth Grants – Up to $4,000 for small business owners who are members of the National Association for the Self-Employed, usable for equipment, expansion, or promotion.
- Start Small, Think Big – Not a cash grant but a powerful program providing free legal, financial, and marketing support to BIPOC and other under-resourced entrepreneurs who already have at least $500 in recent sales.
- Additional Programs – The Sephora Beauty Grant offers $100,000 to support Black business owners in beauty, with applications opening for 2026. The SheaMoisture Dream Fund provides $10,000 grants to Black female entrepreneurs in beauty.
The Importance of Small Grants for Black-Owned Beauty Brands
For a Black-owned beauty brand, even a small grant can mean the first professional photoshoot, an upgraded website, a booth at a major expo, or a critical inventory order before busy season. Events like Beauty Gives Back 2025 support such scholarships and grants.
Turning Grant Capital Into Customers
The question is: Once you secure those upgrades, how do you convert them into sustainable sales?
This is where Black Pages International comes in. If you win funding and disappear back into the algorithm, only a handful of customers may ever see the improvements. But when you pair grant wins with a strong Black Pages International presence, you amplify every dollar:
- Use grant funds to upgrade your visuals—then refresh your BPI listing with new product photos, a compelling brand story, and clear links to shop online or book services.
- Leverage your BPI profile in applications. When grant programs ask about traction and visibility, including your Black Pages International listing demonstrates that you are discoverable to a targeted audience actively looking for Black-owned brands.
- Ride the momentum. Whenever you share news of a grant win on social media, include your BPI link so new followers immediately know where to find and support you.
The Power of Visibility for Beauty Consumers
Beauty consumers are already searching for Black-owned options; multiple national gift guides and editorial lists have highlighted Black beauty brands in recent years. Black Pages International concentrates that demand, making it easier for someone who wants to buy Black-owned lipstick, shampoo, or moisturizer to find you in seconds. With grants like those from SheaMoisture offering $10,000-$25,000 for Black women-owned beauty businesses, visibility is crucial.
Building a Legacy: Funding + Visibility
If you are a beauty founder, January is the time to do two things in parallel: apply for every grant you qualify for, and build the digital storefront on Black Pages International that will help convert that capital into customers. Funding plus visibility is how a product line becomes a business and a business becomes a legacy. As 2026 unfolds, combining these resources with online directories will drive real growth in the beauty sector.
