NAIL the Love Story

History and Formation of the Nails Industry
The nails profession is now widely known around the world and is highly favored by many. Not only does it tidy up and beautify our hands and feet, but it also enhances the elegant and alluring appearance of ladies. Although many people know and use it, how many really understand the origins and history of the nails industry?
The nails profession is truly recognized thanks to Vietnamese Americans. Thanks to these folks, the nail business has grown into a trade for everyone— from the young to the old, from newbies to those who have been rooted here for many years. The nails profession is often viewed as inclusive; it doesn’t matter who you are— whether you don’t speak English, are unemployed, or just arrived in America a few days ago, it’s all good! You only need to invest around 400 hours of your time. Once you complete the training, you can take the exam to get licensed. For those who genuinely love this craft, it’s not just an ordinary job but a ticket to a better life, bringing both spiritual and material value.
You really don’t need a huge capital to start in nails either. With just about $50, you can grab your toolbox and begin making money! The nails profession is genuinely worthy of respect; within the Vietnamese community in America, you’ll find that while their children may become doctors or lawyers, it’s perfectly normal for their parents to work in nails. This nail industry supports their families and elevates the profession’s influence in the U.S. Honestly, few fields can make money as easily as nails because, as I mentioned, the initial investment is low, but the returns can be high— as long as you’re willing to put in the hard work.
Most Vietnamese residing in America are now working in nails, yet very few know the reason why this industry was formed. So how long has the nails industry been around, anyway?

HISTORY

Do you know what the word “pedicure” means? It comes from Latin: “Pedis” means “of the foot,” and “cure” means “care.”

Let’s take a trip back about 4,000 years ago when the nails profession was still somewhat nebulous and not clearly defined. Back then, it wasn’t recognized as a profession like any other and definitely didn’t have a name like we do now. This craft was really reserved for the noble and elite classes, with only very basic concepts involved. During that time, people used real gold tools to push back cuticles and trim skin, and they would use pieces of plant leaves to paint their nails.
By 3400 B.C., social class distinctions became even clearer. For example, in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), red and black nail polish was a sign of royal power, and only those in the aristocracy and royal families could sport painted nails. In those days, just seeing someone’s nail polish color told you which social class they belonged to.
Fast forward to ancient Egypt around 2300 B.C., where red nails symbolized the highest social class. Queen Cleopatra herself chose a rich red nail polish to assert her status. Archaeologists have discovered engravings depicting nail care techniques in Pharaoh tombs, which indicates how much the Egyptians valued their hands and feet. Even in the Egyptian and Roman armies, soldiers used nail and lip color to boost morale before heading into battle. So you can see that the nails profession has quite the noble heritage!
After that, the nails industry gradually made its way to Europe and America. By around 1803, almond-shaped, short, and slightly pointed nails in a rosy red hue were considered ideal. Jumping ahead to 1830, Dr. Sittts used a tooth filing tool on nails, but it wasn’t until 1892 that he turned his attention to nail care for women. This marked the beginning of Sittts’ journey to the United States, where he introduced manicure and pedicure practices.

The Formation Process

It wasn’t until the early 1970s that the nails industry gained more recognition, thanks largely to Vietnamese Americans. The trailblazer in this movement was Tippi Hedren, the founder of the “Food for the Hungry” charity. She played a pivotal role in helping the first Vietnamese refugees settle in the U.S. and was also a famous actress in the 1960s. Tippi was the one who helped and trained the first 20 Vietnamese Americans to get acquainted with the nails industry. You could say she’s the godmother of the nails profession for Vietnamese Americans. From those initial 20 pioneers in the nail industry, the numbers have exploded across the United States. Currently, there are over 54,386 nail salons scattered throughout various states. Just in 2018, the Vietnamese nail industry in the U.S. raked in revenues exceeding $10 billion. And that’s just on paper; who knows what the real numbers look like? This shows that the nails industry is indeed a money-making machine. Moreover, there are many families living quite comfortably, if not lavishly, thanks to this profession.

BAMBOO NAILS & SPA