, PhD, Associate History Professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. “You add patriarchy to the mix, and Black and brown women and girls begin to organize their lives around their appearance. That’s not to say that skincare is not important. It’s a dimension of self-care.”
Marte has noticed a recent uptick in women of color pursuing esthetics, which she attributes to increased awareness around the industry. “There’s been more of an emphasis on wellness, skincare, and taking care of yourself overall,” she explains. Still, she feels first-generation Latinas like her face disproportionate roadblocks: “We carry that burden of pressure from family, having to go to college and get a degree.
Lagares is focused on balancing her work at a spa with another part-time gig. “It’s pretty customary in the first three years that a lot of your time is spent building up clients and trying to get retention,” she explains. “At the moment, I work at Starbucks on the side. This industry is very up and down when it comes to traffic, especially when everything I make is based on what I’m booking.”