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When Queen Roshae began styling hair at 14, she had no idea how profitable the natural hair industry would become.
But after investing $1,000 into a mobile classroom for young stylists to learn the business, community members aren’t surprised at all that these locations are her most popular stops.
The Napps, Kinx & BBs mobile salon rolls up to “community centers, second chance high schools, job corps” and even foster care homes where children who will soon age out of the system need mentorship and help to acquire career skills.
The state of Ohio, however, doesn’t make this kind of training easy to come by.
There are licenses and registrations that permit beauticians to operate a state-recognized business, but the certification hours (approx. 450 hours) and fees ($1,000+) are often too costly and force many to style “off the books.”
Adding more barriers, students are sometimes forced to travel HOURS to study under New Directions Beauty Institute, the state’s ONLY accredited natural hair program.
Working around these progress blockers, Roshae’s school has already helped 20 girls earn natural hair licenses and the community is overjoyed to see Black children learn a valuable, self-affirming trade.
The guidance she provides aspiring Black stylists is exactly the kind of community engagement that helps children feel beautiful, celebrated, and confident in their unique talents.