On, March 22, 1930, Mrs. Hazel D. Williams founded the HENRIETTA BEAUTY SCHOOL, in Los Angeles; CA. Mrs. Williams had applied for admission to numerous Cosmetology schools in the Los Angeles area but was denied admission because of racial discrimination. She and her spouse, John C. Williams, Sr., decided to open their own school and named it HENRIETTA BEAUTY SCHOOL, after a friend, Henrietta Kent who had given them financial assistance. The HENRIETTA BEAUTY SCHOOL was the first school west of the Rocky Mountains to develop a course of study specifically designed to meet the hair care needs of African Americans. Many of the minority Cosmetologists in Los Angeles graduated from the HENRIETTA BEAUTY SCHOOL.
In 1956, Mrs. Williams and her spouse, John C. Williams decided to retire. Prior to the closure of Henrietta’s Beauty School, their son John, Jr. a graduate of Henrietta’s and his spouse Joneal, also a graduate of Henrietta Beauty School, continued Mama Williams’ legacy by opening up their own school at Vermont and Manchester. They renamed it Universal College of Beauty, this school became the main campus for all of the other branches. The demand by the community for quality Cosmetology education prompted John and Joneal to open UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF BEAUTY, INC., Campus #2 (Leimert) at Vernon and Crenshaw in August, 1985. In 1988, Mrs. Hazel Williams passed. However, in the spirit of continuing the family tradition, John’s son, Kenneth Williams, joined the family business as Director of the Vermont Campus.
Joneal Williams was a native of Charlotte, NC and it had been her dream to open a Cosmetology School in her home town to serve the educational needs of her community. Her dream was realized in October, 1988 with the opening of UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF BEAUTY, Campus #3 ( Charlotte, NC) which was dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Hazel Williams. This campus was closed in 2005.
The family Cosmetology schools continued to grow and thrive graduating many Cosmetologists. Unfortunately, on February 7, 1993, John’s spouse, Joneal and their son “Chip” were tragically killed in an automobile accident in Charlotte. The family was devastated, but in the Williams family tradition of surviving adversity, and to keep Mrs. Hazel Williams and now Joneal’s dreams alive, Kenneth’s spouse, Belinda Williams joined the family business as the Director of the Leimert Campus. Both Kenneth and Belinda have obtained their licenses. The schools continued to graduate successful Cosmetologists.
In, August, 1997, another family dream was realized with the opening of UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF BEAUTY, Inc. Campus #4 in Compton, CA. by John C. Williams. Subsequently, in November 1998, Loretta C. Williams, spouse of John C. Williams, joined the family business as Chief Administrative Officer.
March 22, 2005, the Universal College of Beauty, Inc. celebrated 75 years of service to the community.
“What you do speaks so loud; I can’t hear what you say” Mrs. Hazel D. Williams