By Tracey Khan
In a sunlit salon nestled on Carlton Avenue in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Carol Thomas has spent the past two decades doing more than just styling hair; she’s been nurturing spirits, rebuilding confidence, and offering women a space to feel seen, celebrated, and whole.
Thomas, the founder and owner of Just Becausehair salon, has quietly built a legacy rooted in care, community, and compassion. For over 20 years, she’s been helping women—whether longtime clients or strangers in shelters—reclaim their crowns, both literally and figuratively.
“I learned a lot of wonderful lessons from my mother,” Thomas says. “Many had to do with how I treat my fellow man and woman. A lot of that is what helps shape the salon and our general philosophy and care.”
And care is at the heart of everything Thomas does.
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Beauty as a Bridge: Empowering Women in Shelters
One of her most impactful initiatives is her long-running work with women living in transitional housing. Since around 2017, Thomas has partnered with local shelters in Brooklyn to provide haircare, facials, and makeup services for these women, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence, recovering from illness, or simply trying to rebuild after life’s curveballs.
Each month, Thomas and her team welcome a small group of women into her salon for what she calls her Sunday Series—a day of pampering and sisterhood. No occasion necessary. Just healing, joy, and a renewed sense of self-worth.
“We weren’t doing this for birthdays or weddings,” she explains. “It was just a day to remind them how beautiful and valuable they are. Hair, makeup, a little facial—it means everything when you’ve been through so much.”
Some of these sessions were emotionally heavy, particularly with older women who had suffered strokes, lost jobs, or were living with trauma. While Thomas says she had to step back from some of the more emotionally demanding work for her well-being, she continues to support a nearby mother-and-child shelter, offering haircare and feel-good moments to women who often go unseen.
“You never know where life might take you,” she says. “So if you can help someone—even in the smallest way—you should.”
The Just Because Philosophy
The mission behind Just Because is simple yet profound: beauty should be accessible and empowering, just because you’re human. That ethos extends beyond the salon chair. Thomas has transformed her space into a community hub where beauty meets mentorship, creativity, and confidence-building.
She previously ran the Prom Queen Project, a beloved six-week program that offered mentoring, life skills sessions, and full glam makeovers to high school girls preparing for prom. The program, which ran for six years before proms became more commercialized, included everything from guest speakers and personal development sessions to donated gowns and custom portraits.
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“I told them, ‘Hang this portrait in your dorm room. Look at it every day and remind yourself of the queen you are,’” she recalls. “It’s about planting those seeds early.”
Crowns on the Runway: Her Annual Hair Show
Thomas is also the visionary behind a yearly community hair show, set to return this August. Open to girls ages 3 to 18, the event gives young women a chance to shine—literally. Participants are treated to elaborate hairstyles, makeup, custom outfits, and the full runway model experience, with family and friends cheering them on.
“Some of them have never been pampered like that,” she says. “It’s more than a fashion show. It’s a celebration of their individuality, their beauty, and their worth.”
And the transformation doesn’t stop at the event. Thomas often sees the girls maintaining their appearance, carrying themselves with newfound pride, and embracing a more positive self-image for years to come.
Giving More Than Glam
Thomas’ approach to hair is not just about trends—it’s about transformation. Whether it’s helping women who are struggling or quietly dressing children in her mother’s school with her own family’s clothes, giving has always been in her DNA.
“I probably go overboard,” she admits with a laugh. “But it’s who I am. I was raised by a mother who believed in taking care of people. I watched her do it without fanfare, without expecting anything in return. That’s what I’m trying to carry forward.”
Now, in addition to her salon and community projects, Thomas has launched an all-natural hair care line, ‘St Charles natural Hair Care’, named after her late father, combining her expertise in styling with her passion for healthy hair and wellness. It’s yet another way she’s extending her reach and impact far beyond the salon chair.
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Looking Ahead
As Just Because continues to grow in presence and purpose, Thomas remains focused on what matters most: uplifting women, one crown at a time.
“Beauty is powerful,” she says. “It can change the way someone walks, talks, and thinks about themselves. And if I can be a part of that shift—even for just one person—then I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.”
In a world that often demands a reason for everything, Carol Thomas reminds us that sometimes the best things—care, beauty, compassion—should be offered just because
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