My mom was a nail tech 30 years ago when it was the new hot thing. She had a decent salon, where I worked for a little while. But once I had my own certification, I worked at other higher end salons.
During Katrina aftermath, a lot of people had FEMA money and no where to spend it, so I was literally pulling in 5 or 6 hundred a day, for months
Comments
Why are so many nail salons owned and staffed by Vietnamese people?
Two questions:
2)Do other Viet Kieus look down on that profession and how do you feel about it?
Is it true that the chicks speaking Vietnamese are talking crap about the customers? I always got the feeling they were just having random conversations but that’s the stereotype people say a lot
What are the top 3 juiciest gossip stories you know about former clients?
Did your salon actually use the sterilizer or did the metal items just get placed inside the sanitary packets (not actually sanitized)
Any health issues breathing in toxic chemicals and nail dust all day ?
Do you have any heartwarming stories of positive interactions with your clients?
Are these just fronts for money laundering? Several on my street that are empty all the time.
Do you have any respiratory problems?
Do you do your own nails? Do you have to keep them short and simple for practicality?
Two questions I’ve always been too embarrassed to ask:
What do you recommend for toe nail fungus?
What was the most amount of money you made in a year?
I have two questions: What’s the best way to treat an ingrown toe nail? And, best way to deal with a nail that grows with a hairline crack? Should I just get an acrylic on the nail? I’ve never had my nails done beyond a manicure or two.
I’ve never gotten my nails done and feel like I would get laughed out if I went. I’ve thought about going sometime. Any ways to help before going so nail techs don’t have to waste all their time cutting back cuticles and skin around the edges of the nail?
Whats the usual ratio of women to men working in the industry? I worked at a (non vietnamese) beauty salon 15 yrs ago and the best nail tech there was a built Vietnamese dude named Frank. He had by far the most clients and so many people would ask for him specifically.
What is the best nail polish ingredient? (Acrylic or polyurethane or whatever?) Are they toxic? Do they require any approval from government body? Which country make the best nail polish in term of durability? I am amazed with all the detailing tools/aplicators for nail polish.
Is it true some salon’s have trafficked workers?
Is the cucumber water actually for customers only?
Does every single one of the workers really go all the way through school and have their current license? Sometimes some can’t even speak to me and I wonder how they got through school.
Hi, I really enjoy a pedicure and manicure. But I would say almost every time, someone cuts me when trimming the hard skin etc around my fingernails. I end up bleeding and in pain for a few days. Is there a way to avoid this, but still have a good manicure?
My mom is convinced that the Vietnamese nail salon near her is mostly trafficked women because all the women look miserable and the man (also Vietnamese, maybe owner or manager?) is always talking harshly to them in Vietnamese. Is this a real problem in the Vietnamese owned nail salons or is my mother simply looking into it too much.
What was your favorite brand of nail polish to use and why?
OPI nail colors. Just flows nicely. But it doesn’t have the “fun” colors like mint cookies or electric blue
Both of my big toenails have white patches on them. I don’t think it’s fungus because it hasn’t spread to other toes. If I don’t use nail polish, it eventually grows out but takes forever. But I’m self conscious about it, so I keep wearing nail polish and it doesn’t go away lol. Any idea what it is?
How often have you had customers become allergic to gel or acrylic? I ask because I developed a severe allergy years ago, and can longer use any type of gel or acrylics. I’m sure I cannot be the only one.
FEMA money and no place to spend it but at a nail salon? Smells like bullshit.
I forget the term, but ya, having white spots on the nails are pretty common. Definitely see a dermatologist if you’re concerned.
How does the pay work for nail techs? It is so expensive and yet I know those chairs are also expensive. My daughter just got her state license in Georgia and South Carolina
Are gel nail polishes bad for you? I loved getting them on my toes but worried they were damaging the actual nail…and the cost has prevented me recently.
Do you have active ventilation to remove the volatile paint chemicals? The customer and technician both need to be protected, not just from pathogens. I’m pretty sure cosmetology school doesn’t address this. Licensed cosmetologists not mentioning this is salient.
I’ve looked. They all do it. Once, when I had acrylics, one filed through my nail to the ‘meat’ underneath . I screamed and got a different technician, no discount! I never went back.
Do you get guys with feet fetish applying to work in the salons?
I graduated nail school and got my certification. I would like to work from home however I am not sure how to price my work. Also, do you recommend starting with a salon job?
The thing that I find odd is that there will only be one person out of ten who speaks passable English, after being here for years. I don’t know if they personally choose not to learn English or if their community discourages it, or if its just not necessary. Personally, if I found myself in a foreign country for years, I would learn the language.
I have a question, please. My nails are very thin. Have been all my life. Can I wear nails or will it cause my natural nails to be thinner? Or maybe something to help them be thicker though I’ve tried everything.
Any happy endings going on?
Hello! Thank you for doing this AMA 🙂 My cuticles are really sensitive to the electrical drills used after applying acrylics. So much so that I’ve switched to gel only on my natural nails. Is there any other service that adds length and strength to my nails without the use of the drill?
my best friend honey lauren wrote and directed a documentary about Tippi and the hx of the nail salon since Vietnam war. watch it. it’s great and won a bunch of awards. was shortlisted for an oscar. Happy Nails written and directed by honey lauren!
First off, awesome AMA! Thank you for the answers thus far.
My nails constantly split and can curl on the side thanks to my history of cancer. I have been doing powder nails to keep them from splitting but wanted to give my nails a break. Any products you recommend that can get my nails a bit stronger so they can grow properly on their own?