OUR STORY
Nicole Howard, the owner and visionary behind Culture Shoq Salon, has always known that hair was her gift and her calling since the age of 12. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nicole started her career in beauty over 25 years ago and has since transformed her passion into a movement that combines artistry, entrepreneurship, and community impact.
What began as a personal love for haircare and creativity has grown into Culture Shoq Salon LLC a thriving hub where beauty meets empowerment. For more than 16 years, Nicole has successfully operated her salon while also building an ecosystem designed to inspire and equip the next generation of stylists. Her journey is rooted not only in styling hair but also in building people, businesses, and opportunities.
EVERYTHING A STYLIST SHOULD BE.
Nicole is not just a master stylist she is an educator, mentor, and trailblazer in the Baton Rouge beauty industry. She has invested years in perfecting natural haircare, protective styling, silk press services, and luxury salon experiences while prioritizing the health and integrity of every client’s hair. Her salon became known as a place where clients leave not just styled but renewed in confidence.
But Nicole’s vision quickly grew beyond the chair. She saw a need to empower other stylists to achieve independence and success. Over the years, she has personally mentored and trained apprentices—many of whom have gone on to open their own salons and businesses. Nicole believes that beauty professionals should be more than artists they should also be equipped with the business, branding, and financial knowledge to thrive in their careers.
BUILDING BEYOND THE SALON.
Nicole is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Alumni and a certified entrepreneur through multiple programs and agencies, including:
SEDBE Certified
DBE Certified
SBA Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Certified
Hudson Initiative Certified
LED (Louisiana Economic Development) Certified
These credentials have positioned her not only as a trusted salon owner but also as a leader capable of leveraging state and national resources to expand her impact. Nicole is committed to bridging the gap between beauty and business, ensuring that her salon provides opportunities that are scalable, sustainable, and life-changing for her community.
THE CULTURE SHOQ EXPERIENCE.
At Culture Shoq, “shoQ” is more than a name it’s a standard. The salon embodies:
C U L T U R E
C
Confidence
Helping every client leave with confidence, inside and out.
Confidence
Helping every client leave with confidence, inside and out.
U
Unity
Creating a salon home where clients and stylists grow together.
Unity
Creating a salon home where clients and stylists grow together.
L
Leadership
Mentoring apprentices and guiding future salon owners.
Leadership
Mentoring apprentices and guiding future salon owners.
T
Transformation
Delivering styles that transform appearances and lives.
Transformation
Delivering styles that transform appearances and lives.
U
Understanding
Listening to every client’s needs with care and compassion.
Understanding
Listening to every client’s needs with care and compassion.
R
Respect
Upholding professionalism, culture, and diversity in beauty.
Respect
Upholding professionalism, culture, and diversity in beauty.
E
Empowerment
Equipping stylists with tools, education, and business knowledge.
Empowerment
Equipping stylists with tools, education, and business knowledge.
Nicole’s mission is to revolutionize how Baton Rouge experiences hair salons not only as places of beauty but also as centers of mentorship, entrepreneurship, and hope.
Today, Culture Shoq Salon is more than a salon it’s a legacy in motion. Nicole continues to pour into her clients, apprentices, and community with the same passion she started with decades ago. Her goal is simple yet powerful: to inspire confidence, create opportunities, and leave an unshakable impact on every life touched by Culture Shoq.
Nicole Howard says:
“By building a salon rooted in culture and carried by community, we don’t just style hair we change lives. My dream is to see more young stylists become leaders, business owners, and changemakers who transform not only their own futures but also the future of our industry.”
“By building a salon rooted in culture and carried by community, we don’t just style hair we change lives. My dream is to see more young stylists become leaders, business owners, and changemakers who transform not only their own futures but also the future of our industry.”