Chicago Student’s ‘Bathroom Salon’ Goes Viral
Jessica Thurmond’s dream started in the most unexpected place—a bathroom stall. Now, thanks to social media, the 17-year-old North Lawndale College Prep student sees it come to life in a big way.
It all started when a classmate asked Thurmond to fix her wig. With no styling tools on hand, she got creative, using an Uno card to fan the glue. Soon, other students were asking for quick braids, curls, and wig touch-ups—right in the school bathroom during lunch breaks.
At first, the teen kept it lowkey to avoid getting in trouble. However, when a TikTok video of one of her free makeovers blew up with over 3.5 million views, there was no hiding her talent anymore.
“I can't. Can't hide it no more,” Thurmond told ABC 7 Chicago.
Instead of shutting it down, North Lawndale College Prep embraced her skills. Principal Kyera Bradley saw an opportunity to turn student talents into real-world opportunities and had previously launched a business and marketing class to help students like Thurmond build entrepreneurial skills.
“One of the things I'm big on is that scholars are seen, heard, and cared for,” Bradley told reporters. “I begin to think about, how do we create opportunities for scholars to make their gifts and talents readily accessible?”
Thurmond, who has been styling hair since she was 8, told the outlet she one day dreams of owning her own salon. But beyond perfecting hairstyles, her biggest joy comes from boosting her clients’ confidence. “It's putting confidence on a face and embracing my talent, too," she added.
You can support students like Thurmond who are looking to hone their craft and give back to others here.
