CND and the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation are teaming up with Beauty Changes Lives to rally the professional beauty industry in response to COVID-19. Both CND and the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation are redirecting support of Beauty Changes Lives scholarships and programs to benefit relief efforts supporting licensed and aspiring professionals.

A $100,000  portfolio of $1,000 relief grants for nail professionals is available on the Beauty Changes Lives website. Applications will be accepted starting April 1. In a video announcement on Instagram, CND co-founder Jan Arnold announced CND has teamed up with Beauty Changes Live scholarships to establish the CND + BCL Nail Professional Relief Grant. The relief grants serve licensed, U.S. Nail Professionals whose incomes and livelihoods have been drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“CND’s relationship with Beauty Changes Lives stretches back to its inception as a 501c3 in 2012. We are proud to celebrate and lift up the Nail Professionals who give of their hearts, their talent and their passion to make our world a more beautiful place,” said Arnold.

Joining CND in generously stepping forward to support the beauty community during a challenging time, the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation has re-allocated $24,000 to support relief efforts for licensed and future professionals of cosmetology, barbering, esthetics and massage therapy. Nicole Rechelbacher, co-owner of Intelligent Nutrients and daughter of the late Horst M. Rechelbacher said there was no question about reallocating her team’s investment in the wake of the global pandemic.

“This opportunity for the industry to unite and spur relief is the link the industry needs now,” Rechelbacher stated.

Both CND and the Horst M. Rechelbacher Foundation are challenging other partners in the industry to join them in rallying support for licensed and aspiring beauty professionals. Remarking on how beauty leadership is rallying around those affected by the global pandemic, Beauty Changes Lives President Lynelle Lynch stated, “We are heartened and humbled, but not surprised by this act of selfless generosity. The professional beauty industry has always had a heart for serving one another with empathy and generosity.”

Looking to the future and beyond the immediate financial harm inflicted on the industry, industry professionals anticipate COVID-19 will add to a critical shortage of licensed professionals. Beauty Changes Lives Experience was poised to preview a national recruiting campaign at the event. Lynch said that as the industry is apt to lose some professional talent in the wake of the pandemic, it will be particularly critical to support existing professionals and recruit new talent. “Prior to the pandemic, we were already expecting a shortage of 1M beauty professionals in the next decade,” said Lynch. “Recovery must aim to retain and support those who have found their home in the beauty community -we want to keep them here.”

Applications for the grants are being accepted at Beauty Changes Lives.