Nofu Chronicles #4: Excuse Me, I Think That's My Nephew Calling From The Penitentiary

It was so exciting, officially being an esthetician now. It seemed like the next thing to do was, go to the biggest trade show for estheticians in Las Vegas. Not only could you see pretty much every vendor from all over the world there but also there were so many higher education certifications that you could get by taking classes there too. I immediately signed up for three days of trade shows with my friend who graduated school with me. This was going to be fun, getting my feet wet, in the biggest skin trade show of the world. 

We arrived in Vegas, checking into our hotel the night before. The next day would be a Friday and the first day of the show. Arriving at the massive conference center, I had no idea what to expect. Upstairs was the massive show with all of the vendors and downstairs was all of the classes to learn more about a line or to get an advanced certification. Walking into the showroom floor was to say the least...overwhelming! There were a whopping five thousand vendors. My sensitive self didn't even know where to begin. 

Actually, I did. The woman in Oakland was teaching a class on Ethnic Skin downstairs as she was also representing one of the clinical lines from NYC. So, immediately that was where I started. There was absolutely no way that I was going to miss her lecture! Friday was a day of walking through the rows and rows and rows of vendors. I was spent beyond belief. Saturday was my new muse's class. Tick tock, I couldn't wait! 

Finally Saturday was here and I was beyond excited to learn about how to treat acne and ethnic skin. A few more whirls around the vendors to purchase a couple of things...clinical skincare lines of course! Her class was later in the afternoon and upon arrival couldn't believe the number of estheticians in the room. It was packed! She had a serious following, due to her many articles in the skin magazines. Plus she truly seemed to be one of the pioneers of treating acne and hyperpigmentation. 

There she was on the elevated stage, standing room only in her class. This beautiful caucasian woman with blonde dreads and tattoos galore. She started speaking about acne and how folks with ethnic skin and darker melanocytes are prone to hyperpigmentation. Going over the layers of the skin and the Fitzpatrick skin types was so important because you could seriously burn someone with the Fitzpatrick skin of IV, V, and VI. The darker tones range from olive skin, brown skin, to the darkest brown skin.   

She was very funny as she spoke. Cracking jokes here and there. The whole room would be in hysterics. Then as she was speaking, her cell phone rang and she excused herself from the group by saying..."Excuse me, I think that's my nephew calling from the penitentiary." The group went silent, not knowing how to react to what she said. As I scanned the room and literally saw women's jaws wide open, and eyeballs popped out. This was the moment that I really liked her even more. She did not give two f*@ks. She was the real deal. Not caring what anyone thought about her. Mad respect on my end. She finished the conversation on her cell and completed the lecture. Having completed my mission, it was time to go home.