Yee Yang, a Hmong woman from Melbourne, shared that she enjoys doing nails, and after some time, she decided to open a nail salon in Kilmore, transitioning into the nail business. She said, “I used to work in an office, but I wanted to try something beautiful and creative.”
“Before opening this salon, I used to do nails for myself and a little bit for my family. Then, when the opportunity came to open the salon, I took it as a chance to turn this into a business,” Yee Yang explained to SBS Radio Hmong program.
Nail services are considered luxury services, Yee Yang added. If you don’t get your nails done, you can still live your life, but if you do get your nails done, people feel more confident and feel better about themselves.Yee Yang, owner of Hmong Melbourne nail salon in Kilmore
How long does it take to do nails?
She also mentioned that it usually takes between 2 to 4 weeks (1 month) between nail appointments. Each appointment typically lasts between 50 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the service. If customers want their nails to be polished or decorated beautifully, it could take up to 3 hours.
What is it like working in the nail industry?
Yee Yang said, “I really enjoy it. When you work with people, you start to get to know them, and it feels like your friends coming to visit and have fun.”
Sab hauv nkauj Yis Yaj lub khw txuas raus tes Credit: Kao Yee Yang (Monica Hang)
Nail Salon Services
Miss Yang explained that nail services constantly change.
“If you do well, men might also want to come in and get their nails done. I want to cater to men as well—whether they like nails or not. We provide both manicure and pedicure services for both men and women. It’s about taking care of your hands and feet, keeping them clean and beautiful.”
She added, “In the future, we will improve our services so that customers can relax and feel good when they come in. We also plan to offer personalized, customized nails for busy customers who don’t have much time.”
Running a business takes a lot of effort, and Yee Yang mentioned, “Even on busy days, if I work as an employee, I feel that the salon is mine, so I stay motivated. When I finish work, I go home and don’t stress about it. But when it’s my business, I always think about it, even after leaving work.”Kao Yee Yang, owner of a nail salon in Melbourne fringe, Kilmore
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