For many American women, getting our nails done at least once a month is a fact of life. Especially if you live in a metropolitan area near the coasts, it’s likely that your nail tech is Vietnamese, as more than half of all nail salons in the U.S. are owned and operated primarily by Vietnamese Americans.
Yet, it is also likely that you don’t know the story behind the statistics or that the rise of the Vietnamese nail salon industry stands as a testament to both the achievements and ordeals of the American Dream.
In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, which led to a Communist regime helmed by Ho Chi Minh, millions of refugees fled the nation seeking sanctuary and asylum, with an estimated 998,000 resettling in ethnic enclaves throughout the U.S. from 1970 to 2000. When they arrived, settling primarily in coastal ethnic enclaves such as Little Saigon, these migrants faced relentless prejudice, language barriers, and limited economic opportunities. Even today, Vietnamese salon owners face discriminatory violence.
Nevertheless, amidst the stiff competition, the fledgling salon owners were able to leverage something they carried with them across the ocean: robust social capital derived from close-knit familial and communal relationships. Fortunately, they were competing in an industry that hadn’t yet caught up with the times. Salon services were mostly offered in pricey beauty salons accessible only to the upper class—by focusing their services on nails, Vietnamese providers lowered the price and then cornered the burgeoning but neglected market of lower-class women.
Yet, while the nail salon business is booming for Vietnamese entrepreneurs across the country, with a projected annual growth rate of around 6% until 2030, the industry isn’t without its challenges. Even though prices for nail services have risen over the past few years, wages for the nail technicians themselves remain low. Additionally, there are health risks associated with the service: chemicals in the acrylics and polishes, particularly formaldehyde, have been linked to respiratory issues, while chemical burns are an ever-present risk due to the polish removers and adhesives. Finally, with the Trump Administration expected to enact and enforce stricter immigration laws, some workers and salon owners may face deportation.
Nevertheless, the Vietnamese nail salon owners and the primarily Vietnamese technicians they employ continue to leverage their social capital and find success despite the economic and labor challenges ahead. Ultimately, the nail salon industry isn’t only about beauty—it’s a reflection of the strength, courage, sacrifice, and resilience of an immigrant community that carved out their place in the American Dream, one manicure at a time.
