More Vietnamese Immigrants Drawn To Nail Salon Business

One of research interests is entrepreneurship and self-employment among Asian Americans. In that context, as New American Media reports, one example that has increasingly become prominent in recent years is the dominance of Vietnamese Americans in the nail salon business:

These days, [nail salons are] a main source of living for the Vietnamese American community. Drummey, publisher of VietSalon, a bi-monthly magazine, says that nearly 45 percent of the nail salons in the United States employ Vietnamese technicians or are Vietnamese owned. . . .

And with that growth has come advancement. Men, for one, are entering the field in huge numbers. And as Vietnamese Americans are becoming more entrenched in the industry, they are investing more funds and technique in their daily work, upgrading their salons with top-of-the-line equipment and first-rate artistry.

The article also mentions that apparently, there are now even international competitions on nail art (the intricate designs that are painted onto fingernails). Unfortunately, the article does not mention any challenges that Vietnamese experience in either opening up or operating their nail salons (such as dealing with increasingly stringent health regulations, toxic fumes from the chemicals used, and competition from other Vietnamese salons), nor any issues related to interacting with their clientele that inevitably arise (i.e., how customers might get annoyed if employees talk among themselves in Vietnamese rather than English, etc.).

For those discussions, be sure to read Prof. Miliann Kangs research on Korean-owned nail salons in New York City. Nonetheless, one cannot help but be impressed by the extent to which Vietnamese have come to dominate this particular industry. It is a testament to their efforts to find their own niche and to leverage their individual and collective resources to succeed in their own small businesses and in the process, fulfill their version of the American dream.

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[bao12705]

a job is a job, doing nails is a job. I don't see asian people in general or vietnamese in particular standing on the street with a sign asking for money like most white people do. I'm not being racist, it's just that people won't accept the fact that these nail techs are having a job, working their ass off to make money so they can support their families. And again, I don't have problems with white people flipping burgers, i don't hear any complaint about it.

[mariakidi]

Why do people classify only one ethnicity that does nails? Doing nails is as the same working to a hi tech company or even going to university. Nail Techs love what they're doing, unlike other people they hate their jobs and complaining and whining. I praise all races that does nails!

[TheDoom13]

If they have a chance to become a Doctor, Lawyer or Engineer, do you people think that they would want to be in Nail Salon Business? It's called "Sacrificing for the Children Future"

What wrong with Doing Nails? It's a Legal Business! At least we dont go around selling drugs or murdering people for money!

The USA Law makers should do something about the unhealthy Chemicals in the Salon ;(

Those that hate us because of jealousy! We Viet found a good way to make good money & u didn't!

[theory816]

doin nails is not easy as it seems, ive been doin nails for almost 7 months now and i still suck!!!! why!?!?!?!

[tom11zz884]

Of course they  start up nail salon business...it is super easy money for them if they open up one in a black neighborhood.

[TheMrNiceGuyUK]

@WhoCareswhatever2009 what your problem?you calling vietnamese monkey?so what are you?you think only vietnamese came here as refugees?and not korean and chinese?are you hating just because they got job and making easy money?Get a fucking life!

[DRAGONEmperor60]

Crackers are shameless in displaying their animosity over issues that they themselves created. Wait, correction: they are merely tools for the rich crackers who conditions them to possess mentalities that are inadequate in regards to the intellect and the logical. These crackers rely on their masters to inform them to actualize ideas that are not theirs. (Western imperialism causes Vietnamese to leave VN into a "racist" space where they are forced to fit into the model minority paradigm)

[lit0laura]

Doing nails is a job. It is easy and brings money.

And why do they only say Viets do this? I know a handful of filipino people who do this, also there are american salons.

[WhoCareswhatever2009]

@TKNMT ,

YOu cannot come to united states without blood tie . If you need the imformation, I will give it to you dumb ass . The very few that came in the 60's were mail order bridges. In 1975, United States started

[WhoCareswhatever2009]

@TKNMT ,

to allow for vietnamese refugees to come. The bulk of you swamp gooks arriving is in the 80's. East asians come here as immigrants and they need to have 3 business sponsors to put up a bond (lots of money) even though their united states relatives are like their siblings, mother , or father. You swamp

[WhoCareswhatever2009]

@TKNMT ,

@TKNMT , Vietnamese immigrated here in such small amount that isn't even worth mentioning. Over 90% of the gooks came as refugees and that is fact. Vietnamese =swamp gooks, gooky monkeys and welfare fraud refugees. You cannot change the fact that a high perentage of vietnamese have a long