Urban kin charlotte nc2/25/2024 ![]() ![]() ![]() "Even though Charlotte has a large African-American population, the aesthetics industry was still very Caucasian." Likewise, the demographics of her classmates stood in stark contrast to the people in her life, many of whom had melanin-rich skin.īut it wasn’t until Roff landed her first post-certification job at a medical spa that she saw the financial potential in speaking directly to underserved communities of color. There, her career became hyper-focused, after she noticed the dearth of black teachers leading classes. But three days after earning her bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2004, she enrolled at the Academy of Nail Technology & Esthetics in Charlotte to pursue her passion. To appease her parents’ desire that she get a formal education, Roff went to the University of North Carolina. I wanted to be a medical aesthetician, own a medical spa, and more importantly, help others with bothersome physical flaws.” But once it was gone, and she began seeing a medical aesthetician for her acne, "my confidence soared." Moreover, "I immediately fell in love with the field. Its removal was a complicated, lengthy process. Then during middle school, a precancerous mole was discovered on the side of her mouth. "I grew up with really bad acne, and was slightly overweight,” she says. Yet despite their open attitudes, she struggled with self esteem. Roff was born and raised in northern California in a Russian-Jewish household, but her extended family is a mix of races. Her multi-pronged approach has enabled her to create trust with customers - today, she says, "a lot less explaining" is needed. "Authentically allowing customers to see who you are and what you represent really inspires women” in particular, she says. She, herself, earned a certificate in the study of skin color and pigmentation from The International Dermal Institute in Atlanta, as well as certifications in laser technology, microdermabrasion, skin biology and chemical peels.Īnd, to connect more personally with her clients, she put together a mini-documentary series that features her and her staff’s individual struggles - for example, Roff’s single motherhood and other employees' issues with body dysmorphia and anxiety. To keep her staff on the leading edge, she frequently shares educational materials with employees about issues dark-skinned clients face, from hyperpigmentation to ochronosis. ![]()
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