Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny (Tra) Nguyen.
Hi Jenny (Tra), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Back in 2016, my three younger siblings and I embarked on a daring journey, leaving Vietnam for the bustling streets of New York while our mom remained behind. Those early days were a struggle – we were broke, shivering in the cold, often hungry, and crammed into a tiny basement room.
Fast forward to four years ago, I found myself making another bold move, this time packing my bags and heading to LA with only my soon-to-be boyfriend for company. Little did I know that a crazy adventure awaited. At that time, my means of livelihood was online teaching.
During covid, social media was blowing up with nail art, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” So, I turned to YouTube and became a self-taught nail artist. The pandemic also had beauty schools shutting down, but I didn’t let that stop me. I got my nail license online, and I started doing nails for free. Why? To get my work out there, of course! It was essential to showcase my work to the world. My clients became my canvases, sharing their stories on Instagram. I also reached out to numerous influencers in LA for potential collaborations.
As my Instagram following grew, I contemplated, “Why not take this to the next level?” That’s when I decided to hit up photographers in LA, telling them, “If you need a nail artist on set, I’m your person!”. Saturdays and Sundays quickly evolved into photoshoot days as I meticulously built my portfolio. Through Instagram, I had the incredible opportunity to work with celebrity clients like Iggy Azalea, Paris Hilton, and Lana Condor.
After building my portfolio, I googled and sent it to all beauty agencies in LA. An agency named Startouch by celebrity nail artist Christina, got back to me. I met her at Santa Monica beach, and she hooked me up with her artists and opened doors to working with celebrities like the Kardashian sisters, Katy Perry, Patrick Ta Beauty, and it was crazy.
But the dream didn’t stop there. I aspired to open my own salon. Initially, I scouted for a smaller space, but the labyrinth of permitting and plumbing regulations turned into a nightmare. So, I decided to change course and serendipitously stumbled upon a second-generation beauty salon space in downtown LA. It was a sprawling 1700 square feet, undeniably exceeding my budget, but the landlord was remarkably supportive of my story, and we negotiated a fantastic deal.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Taking on the role of an interior designer, I scoured Pinterest and combed the vast expanse of the internet for style inspiration. You won’t believe it, but I unearthed incredible furniture deals through Facebook Marketplace. Day and night, we poured our hearts into bringing the salon to life! Sleeping 3hrs/day tackling tasks like putting up the business signs, painting walls, and constructing pedicure stations.
The grand opening day arrived after months of relentless effort, but there was a catch – I had only two nail techs on my team at the time. Stress levels soared, but with bills to pay, postponing the grand opening was out of the question. My original plan was to train fresh beauty school graduates, but it didn’t go as smoothly as expected. Some took advantage of the situation, refusing to work for me, and, unbelievably, some even made off with supplies. Tears were shed, especially when unkind clients suggested, “If you don’t have staff, you might as well close your salon.” However, I had no choice; we had just inked a five-year lease, and there was no turning back. My boyfriend and our loyal dogs provided essential emotional support during this trying period. I couldn’t fathom how I would have coped without them in my life. Thus, I turned to the internet, posting job ads far and wide. Eventually, I received referrals from my existing employees, and we pieced together our team today.
Another big issue was having homeless people around because my salon was right next to a 7-Eleven. They’d often drop by, causing trouble with things like drugs, messing up my salon, and even swiping nail polish. But we solved that by putting in a buzzer at our door, and it was very expensive. Now, people have to ring it to get in, and it makes me feel way safer.
Running a business? Let me tell you, it’s far from a cakewalk. I juggled multiple roles – manager, finance whiz, front desk, nail tech, and more. Back then, I couldn’t afford to hire a front desk staff. My boyfriend (now fiancé) had to step up, visiting the salon every day after his full-time job as a software developer. By the end of the day, we were perpetually exhausted.
We also had to handle some not-so-nice customers who disputed their charges after receiving services, and unfortunately, we ended up losing those disputes because we lacked the experience to navigate the process with the bank. While some individuals made partnership offers and expressed an interest in buying the salon, I’m immensely relieved we chose to go it alone.
Over time, the salon began to thrive, and I took the leap into creating my nail brand. Those big-name brands are simply expensive and couldn’t provide consistent quality. I initiated contact with manufacturers worldwide, collaborated with chemists, and conducted rigorous testing. After a year of unwavering effort, my collection of vegan, cruelty-free, hema-free, and 12-free toxic chemical gel polishes was born.
Now, here’s the thrilling part – nearly 90% of our supplies are custom-made. I even have my own designed crystal nail machines and pedicure chairs. That’s not all – we’re gearing up to open a second location in the charming Bloc shopping mall, boasting almost 4,000 square feet of space.
Success to me means knowing I’ve made an impact & transformed the lives of others. LÀMAY Lab is a free AI-powered English learning app designed for those seeking to learn English as a second language and connect with mentors anytime anywhere. My content also centers around promoting positive mental health, offering valuable investment insights, and nurturing the spirit of entrepreneurship.
In addition, I’m passionately developing a fun at-home nail art kit, handmade home goods and a sustainable hands and feet skincare set made in the USA & raw materials by Vietnam to empower low-income artisans & farmers there. With a background rooted in farming, I understand the challenges they face. My goal? Seeing these amazing products gracing the shelves of retailers like Target and Sephora.
By the way, there were numerous moments when I was on the verge of giving up, but I’m incredibly glad I persevered. The lesson here? Stick with it, and eventually, things will get better. I am a firm believer that the American Dream endures, and I remain committed to making each tomorrow brighter than today. My ultimate aspiration is to achieve financial security to the extent that I become an instrument of blessings in the lives of others, guided by the belief that prosperity should be shared. ��
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about JennPaintt Nail Lounge – LÀMAY Beauty?
LÀMAY Beauty introduced the world’s first crystal nail machines. My LED nail lamp design with the heat in crease gradually to help minimize any discomfort for thin & brittle nails. My nail dust collector is super thin but its strong enough to stick on the wall.
We provide exquisite essentials for nurturing healthy beautiful nails and skin. Our sustainable hands & feet skincare set is made in Vietnam! We are supporting low-income farmers there by using ingredients like coffee, coconut, soybean, citratus, peppermint, centelle, cocoa and more. We are also proud to introduce handmade home goods to empower thousands of artisans creating more jobs across the country make a living from their skills. They are farmers, workers, care-givers, mothers, widows, wives. They are breadwinners – the backbone of the rural economy in Vietnam.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Willingness to learn and persistence.
Contact Info:
- Website: jennpaintt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennpaintt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-nguyen-4a610a1b5?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
