The sound of hair clippers, the shimmer of nail polish under a UV lamp, the smell of shampoo; these aren’t moments captured from a salon downtown, they’re happening in Kent State dorm rooms. This is where students are turning their beauty skills into businesses. Each semester, more and more students are cutting and braiding hair and doing nails out of their residence halls, making beauty both more accessible and central to campus life. 

What started as casual practice has blossomed into a community of entrepreneurs. These services offer affordable alternatives for students who want to get their regular beauty services without even having to leave campus. These aspiring beauticians reflect a larger shift in how students are approaching work, money and independence. 

For sophomore nursing major Dakota Nunn, braiding hair became the perfect balance between passion and practicality. 

“What made me want to offer my skills as a service is that I am a nursing major, so my schedule is a bit full of studying and trying to give myself downtime,” Nunn explained. “Having a normal job would be too much on my plate, so I decided to start doing this service to make extra money and it is very flexible for my schedule.” 

A traditional part-time job can trap students in a fixed schedule that normally doesn’t account for exams and homework. By working for themselves, students like Nunn can create their own schedules and choose when to take clients and when to focus on their academics.

The benefits even go beyond the independent hustle. For many students, on-campus beauty services can fill the gap for those who cannot afford to go to salons. This can give students the opportunity to get their regular services to feel like themselves, without completely breaking the bank. 

These services might seem futile to some, but they play a crucial role in easing the transition of moving away from home. Beauty services are not just about looking good, they are also a form of self-expression and a way to feel more confident about oneself. Being uprooted to a new place can amplify feelings of discomfort and services as such can provide confidence and familiarity throughout the adjustment process.

“I believe beauty services being more accessible to college students is important,” Nunn said. “You should be able to live normally, like you’re at home, and nothing otherwise.”

As more students join in, the culture around student hustling on campus is shifting. It is no longer about scraping by and doing tedious work. It’s about independence, creativity and honing in on personal skills. 

“This is becoming a huge part of student hustle culture,” Nunn affirmed. “Many people prefer working for themselves and creating their own schedule to balance their service out with their school life. I strongly feel like it is important to find your niche in a hobby or something you like to do, that can be a service and share it with other people.”

From Instagram story promos to dorm room makeovers, the growing trend of student-run beauty businesses at Kent State is more than just making profit, it’s about creating community and independence in an era of rising costs and hustle culture making a return.