the future now initiative 

The Future Now Initiative is our way of investing back into the communities we care about. We are partnering with organizations that embody K18’s commitment to innovation and radical care 

To us, hair is everything. It’s a vehicle of self-expression, a way to embrace our moods, to tell our stories. That’s why partnering with organizations like the Professional Beauty Association was a natural fit when it came to building out our Future Now Initiative.  

what is the professional beauty association?  

The Professional Beauty Association (or PBA, as we’ll be referring to it) exists to unite, elevate, and protect all people in the beauty industry through membership benefits and advocacy work.  

We chatted with Rachel Molepske, Director of Leadership Operations + Charitable Programs at PBA, for more details on how this support manifests.   

“Our carefully crafted membership packages offer exclusive access to a wealth of resources catering to both individuals and businesses to support their personal and professional needs,” she says. Membership dues enable PBA’s government affairs team to advocate on the behalf of the industry regarding issues like deregulation and the Fica Tax Tip Credit.  

how K18 supports PBA 

Our partnership with PBA will directly support PBA’s CUT IT OUT® program, dedicated to mobilizing licensed professionals, students, and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse. The program offers a free, one-hour online training for stylists to recognize signs and symptoms of domestic abuse and how to best respond using discrete and empathetic techniques before referring victims to professional safety resources. Our funding will also support PBA’s Strength in Beauty Grant, which helps licensed professionals who are domestic abuse survivors get back on their feet.    

Molepske recalls a stylist who had survived domestic abuse and who spoke to the firsthand impact of these programs. That stylist said: 

“With the funds I received from the Strength in Beauty Grant, I was able to make my mortgage payment and [it] saved me from foreclosure. With a little help, I have been able to get back on my feet. I am a survivor and I am learning everyday about my new life.”  

Molepske also notes the tireless work PBA’s government affairs team advocates for: bills that protect the beauty industry, legislation that improves salons, and more. As a result, established artists and just-out-of-school renters alike are supported for maximum self-expression.    

how to help 

If you’re not an artist, but still excited about supporting PBA’s mission, contact rachel@probeauty.org or visit PBA’s website to learn more.   

Stay tuned for more updates on our Future Now Initiative here and on social. Every month, we’ll be highlighting each organization we’re partnering with for a look at the work they do + the brilliant people making it possible.