Louisville Beauty Academy: Family, Community, and Advocacy for Underrepresented Populations

Louisville Beauty Academy, a Kentucky State-Licensed Beauty College, is more than just an institution—it is a family. Partnering with the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology, the academy has established a strong and positive relationship with the board. Our number one goal is to teach and help all community members obtain their licenses, own salon businesses, and gain employment. The academy is dedicated to uplifting and supporting underrepresented populations, including those with disabilities, immigrants, and others striving to achieve their dreams in the beauty industry. The mission is to ensure that each student and graduate reaches their dignified goal of legitimizing their beauty career with a Kentucky state license. The academy prioritizes teaching the importance of safety, sanitation, procedures, and compliance with Kentucky laws, under the guiding principles of “In God We Trust” and a deep love for the state.

Despite ongoing and visible legal challenges from the public towards the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology staff, the academy is encouraged by the hard work and dedication of the new board members who are committed to fostering fairness for the community. Their focus is on making Kentucky strong, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has a fair opportunity in the beauty industry.

Louisville Beauty Academy has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by hundreds of immigrant students and continues to support them through these difficulties. Navigating the complexities of obtaining nail technician and instructor licenses, as well as managing salons and schools, underscores the importance of adhering meticulously to all procedures and laws. It is crucial to recognize that even with the best efforts, there may be unintentional or intentional mistakes by government agency staff, as highlighted by recent news coverage.

It is a common occurrence that the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology may lose or potentially lose data, regardless of how well records are kept. Therefore, it is essential to maintain all records for protection. This is especially pertinent for foreign-born students whose documents, such as high school diplomas, transcripts, or college credentials, are often repeatedly requested by the board for validation purposes. These requests, cited as security measures, serve as an additional form of validation for various reasons. Please respond to such requests with professionalism and urgency, as often the necessary documentation must come directly from the licensee or a permitted individual. It cannot come from any other agency, such as the school, for security reasons.

At Louisville Beauty Academy, the following are emphasized to students and graduates:

  1. Communicate Clearly and Legally: Always communicate with clarity, conciseness, and professionalism. Use plain English and adhere to legal standards.
  2. Document Everything: Screenshot, take pictures, and timestamp all relevant interactions. Maintain thorough documentation for reference when needed.
  3. Lifelong Support: Once you join the academy, you become part of the family. The academy is here to support you at all times. For assistance, contact the student enrollment department at 502-625-5531 or via email at [email protected].

For all questions regarding the State Board, please direct inquiries to [email protected]. To best assist, it is highly recommended to forward all communication you wish for the academy to review and help with to the school email, including your direct questions to [email protected]. The academy offers writer services to help draft emails, communications, and provide guidance as needed, available at a specific cost that can be discussed. With over 1,000 graduates, primarily from immigrant and underrepresented populations, the academy understands the challenges faced. Procedures, relationships, and legal processes are in place to guide and advise accordingly. Each case is different, so please reach out as soon as help is needed.

Disclaimer

This information is purely for informational purposes, sharing public news and updates. It does not endorse, confirm, or imply any content being shared, as information and laws change frequently.

Media Coverage List for Senate Bill 14 Progress from 2023 to Today

  1. WHAS11 – Kentucky Nail Salon Owners, Technicians Senate Bill 14
  2. Spectrum News 1 – Laws for the Beauty Industry
  3. Kentucky Legislature – SB14 Record
  4. Louisville Beauty Academy – Celebrating Spectrum News Coverage
  5. Spectrum News 1 – Lianna’s Nail School Florence
  6. Newsbreak – Gov Beshear Passes Bill Updating Regulations for Nail Salons in Kentucky
  7. FlipHTML5 – Kentucky Legislature Updates
  8. Spectrum News 1 – Laws for the Beauty Industry
  9. WHAS11 – Senate Bill 14 Passes Kentucky Legislature
  10. NKY Tribune – Opinion: John Schickel on SB 14
  11. WKYT – Kentucky House Committee Passes Bill for Cosmetology Board
  12. WHAS11 – Bill to Help Nail Technicians Passes Kentucky Senate
  13. WHAS11 – Senator Gerald Neal Proposes Changes to Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
  14. Spectrum News 1 – Changes to the State Cosmetology Board
  15. Kentucky Lantern – Beshear Appoints Former Justice Cabinet Secretary to Cosmetology Board
  16. The Lane Report – Governor-Appointed Leaders to Kentucky Boards and Commissions
  17. Facebook – Senator Schickel Post
  18. PBS – Nail Tech Industry Asks for Policy Changes
  19. Fox56 News – Kentucky Nail Technicians Demand Licensing Tests in Multiple Languages
  20. Change.org – Reform the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
  21. Spectrum News 1 – Kentucky Legislators Meet with Nail Technicians
  22. Spectrum News 1 – Nail Technicians Call for State Regulation Changes
  23. WHAS11 – Kentucky Nail Salon Cosmetology Board Allegations
  24. Fox56 News – Kentucky Nail Techs Go Head to Head with the Board of Cosmetology
  25. WHAS11 – Senator Gerald Neal Proposes Changes to Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
  26. Viet Bao Louisville – Beauty and Brains: The Heartfelt Advocacy of Kentucky’s Highly Educated Beauty Professionals
  27. Viet Bao Louisville – Upholding Democracy: The Crucial Role of Voting in the Immigrant and Asian Communities
  28. YouTube – Nail Tech Industry Asks for Policy Changes
  29. YouTube – Senator Gerald Neal Proposes Changes to Kentucky Board of Cosmetology
  30. Facebook – SBTN Official Post
  31. Viet Bao Louisville – Community Advocacy: Empowering the Passage of a Senate-Sponsored Bill in Kentucky
  32. Fox56 News – Kentucky Nail Techs Go Head to Head with the Board of Cosmetology
  33. Facebook – Kentucky Senate Democrats Post
  34. Facebook – SBTN Official Video

Celebrating a Milestone: Senate Bill 14 Signing and a Call to Advocate for Inclusivity

As Louisville Beauty Academy, a Kentucky State-Licensed Beauty College, stands at the forefront of bringing the latest updates on laws and regulations related to the beauty industry in Kentucky, the academy is committed to teaching students about the importance of law, safety, and sanitation. Today, they are excited to share the hottest and latest news with the community. The academy urges all community members to self-advocate for their rights and join forces to bring their voices to the table.

On June 3, 2024, the Kentucky State Capitol buzzed with excitement and a sense of accomplishment. Community leaders, business leaders, advocates, beauty industry professionals, licensees, students, and supporters gathered to witness a historic moment—the signing of Senate Bill 14 by Governor Andy Beshear. This event marked a significant milestone, celebrating the power of collective effort and the unwavering support from everyone involved.

A Testament to Collective Effort

The journey leading to the signing of Senate Bill 14 was one of dedication, resilience, and unity. Over the past year, hundreds and thousands of individuals came together with a shared goal: to improve beauty industry licensing, ensuring safe, sanitary, and professional services for the community. This celebration is not just about the passing of a bill but a recognition of the hard work and determination that brought this moment to fruition.

The relentless advocacy included:

  • Over 20 meetings with 100+ nail technicians, estheticians, cosmetologists, instructors, and community members.
  • Peaceful protests in challenging weather conditions to raise awareness.
  • Thousands of emails and letters sent to legislators and officials.
  • Extensive media coverage, both national and local.
  • Four new board members appointed to the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology, with the anticipation of adding the first nail technician and esthetician in history.
  • The first Asian woman appointed to the board.
  • Ongoing discussions about multi-language licensing exams, showing promising prospects.
  • Increased awareness and unity in the beauty industry, advocating for fair treatment by the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology.
  • Garnering support from thousands of licensees and community members nationwide.

These efforts led to unanimous support for Senate Bill 14 at every stage, a law primarily written to protect the beauty industry and ensure fair legal procedures for all licensees, salons, and schools. The law, effective in July 2024, also adds two new seats for a Nail Technician and an Esthetician to the board, expanding it to a 7-member board.

A Call for Continued Advocacy

While celebrating this significant achievement, it is crucial to remember that the work is not done. The Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology has not had a representative from the Louisville community for over 20 years. As the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville deserves representation on the board to ensure fair and inclusive governance.

For the two newly added seats for a Nail Technician and an Esthetician, Louisville Beauty Academy urgently calls on everyone to write letters to Governor Andy Beshear’s office, nominating themselves or others who are licensed nail technicians and estheticians from Louisville. The Governor’s office can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected].

The academy’s leadership, such as Di Tran, a Kentucky State Licensed Nail Technician with over 20 years of experience and a state-licensed Nail Technician instructor, urges the community to take this opportunity seriously. Nominations can include themselves, others they know best to serve, especially from Louisville.

Current Board Members:

  • Kerry Harvey, Chair – Consumer
  • Mickey Hobbs, Salon Owner
  • Lindsey Morgan, Salon Owner
  • Vacant, Nail Technician
  • Joni Upchurch, Technical Education
  • Lianna Nguyen, School Owner
  • Vacant, Esthetician

For more details, please visit the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology website.

In Closing

The academy extends heartfelt thanks to God, to each individual involved, to the state, and to the beautiful city. They appreciate the love, care, and relentless efforts put forth for each other and the small business community. This victory is a testament to what can be achieved together, but it also highlights the importance of continuing advocacy for an inclusive and fair government.

Let’s celebrate this achievement, but more importantly, continue to push for the representation deserved. Involvement and support remain as crucial as ever in ensuring a fair and inclusive governance structure for all.

Louisville Beauty Academy is also delighted to share this news, dedicated to staying up to date with the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology and beauty laws at both the state and federal levels. This achievement underscores their commitment to excellence and compliance, ensuring the community benefits from the highest standards of beauty education and practice.

Disclaimer: Louisville Beauty Academy does not endorse or support any specific candidates for the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology. All information shared is for informational purposes only. All inquiries regarding Kentucky state laws or regulations should be directed to the Kentucky State Board of Cosmetology at [email protected].

Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment. Together, a brighter, fairer future for the beauty industry and the community can be created.

Media coverage list for Senate Bill 14 progress from 2023 to today:

  1. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/community/kentucky-nail-salon-owners-technicians-senate-bill-14/417-0d6235be-2649-48ad-b5a3-c15fb2d1f35a
  2. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2024/04/05/laws-for-the-beauty-industry-
  3. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/24rs/SB14.html
  4. https://louisvillebeautyacademy.net/louisville-beauty-academy-a-beacon-of-inclusivity-and-excellence-celebrating-spectrum-news-coverage-and-the-unanimous-passage-of-senate-bill-14/
  5. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2024/05/10/lianna-s-nail-school-florence
  6. https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3400161628017-gov-beshear-passes-bill-updating-regulations-for-nail-salons-in-kentucky
  7. https://online.fliphtml5.com/ahotm/vkgc/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2MfxkjJCUsf9g3Je6Q0ElnD0QKJOb9z8B82hlpU_oT-zjNHtRmiL9mRo0_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw#p=63
  8. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2024/04/05/laws-for-the-beauty-industry-
  9. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/senate-bill-14-passes-kentucky-legislature-nail-technicians-to-receive-opportunity-on-state-board/417-0e12847d-cccb-448b-838a-f6f86bc9d7df
  10. https://nkytribune.com/2024/02/opinion-john-schickel-sb-14-secures-a-fair-and-just-environment-for-kentuckys-small-businesses/
  11. https://www.wkyt.com/2024/03/07/kentucky-house-committee-passes-bill-that-would-make-changes-state-cosmetology-board/
  12. https://www.whas11.com/video/news/local/bill-to-help-nail-technicians-passes-kentucky-senate-heads-to-house/417-c7c57ea6-238b-455f-a2a1-b9e1352e8dce
  13. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/senator-gerald-neal-bill-proposes-changes-to-kentucky-board-of-cosmetology/417-d4ad5bb4-76cb-48c3-b76e-61e05b9db9a4
  14. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/politics/2024/02/06/changes-to-the-state-cosmetology-board-could-be-coming
  15. https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/beshear-appoints-former-justice-cabinet-secretary-to-cosmetology-board/
  16. https://www.lanereport.com/170837/2024/02/governor-appointed-leaders-to-kentucky-boards-and-commissions/
  17. https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSchickel/posts/pfbid02xMvWo3JSDoGCKDRS5rP5rvk6v3UfHC6X8Ffxxyz17XSCvXdBUnodvLyKcxd6qNqUl
  18. https://www.pbs.org/video/nail-tech-industry-asks-for-policy-changes-pjplv0/
  19. https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky/kentucky-nail-technicians-demand-licensing-tests-be-offered-in-multiple-languages/
  20. https://www.change.org/p/reform-the-kentucky-board-of-cosmetology
  21. https://www.change.org/p/reform-the-kentucky-board-of-cosmetology
  22. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2023/09/11/kentucky-legislators-meet-with-hundreds-of-mail-technicians-for-policy-concerns-
  23. https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/politics/2024/01/22/nail-technicians-call-for-state-regulation-changes-
  24. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/investigations/focus/kentucky-nail-salon-cosmetology-board-louisville-bullying-racism-allegations/417-075ae5dc-5ccf-4d56-8801-5b42cd1b1075
  25. https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky/kentucky-nail-techs-go-head-to-head-with-the-board-of-cosmetology/
  26. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/senator-gerald-neal-bill-proposes-changes-to-kentucky-board-of-cosmetology/417-d4ad5bb4-76cb-48c3-b76e-61e05b9db9a4
  27. https://vietbaolouisville.com/2024/01/beauty-and-brains-the-heartfelt-advocacy-of-kentuckys-highly-educated-beauty-professionals/
  28. https://vietbaolouisville.com/2023/10/upholding-democracy-the-crucial-role-of-voting-in-the-immigrant-and-asian-communities/
  29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aoZjjY8Jyo
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TESXE40VG1g
  31. https://www.facebook.com/SBTNOfficial/posts/pfbid02b7VDqw7ma46jmdr37ehcNniX4PMoUhVUWbeRwM9593hpoy4p5c84n9sta9dtToeSl
  32. https://vietbaolouisville.com/2023/09/community-advocacy-empowering-the-passage-of-a-senate-sponsored-bill-in-kentucky/
  33. https://fox56news.com/news/kentucky/kentucky-nail-techs-go-head-to-head-with-the-board-of-cosmetology/
  34. https://www.facebook.com/KYSenateDemocrats/posts/pfbid02WMWjVnuHabeqNAa2yrRZyZiRosZufAeewZjEyWJAbLQXVSmeMvjvBkg2RALR3hkCl
  35. https://fb.watch/sngUFBoh3I/