I had no idea why more than 50% of nail salons are Vietnamese-owned. Here's the heartwarming story of that. An actress who realized refugees could start a business.
"Hedren was working as an international relief coordinator at Food for the Hungry, where she assisted Vietnam refugees to find vocations...one fateful day, Hedren was working with a group of Vietnamese women who were goggling Hedren’s impeccably manicured fingernails when she came up with the idea of these women learning the art of manicures and pedicures."
"Hedren flew in her personal manicurist to teach a group of 20 refugees the art of manicures. Those 20 women - mainly the wives of high-ranking military officers and at least one woman who worked in military intelligence...The Vietnamese gave the nail salon business a radical makeover. In the 1970s, manicures and pedicures cost around $50 - fine for Hollywood starlets but out of reach for most American women. Today, a basic "mani-pedi" can cost around $20 - largely due to Vietnamese American salons, which typically charge 30-50% less than other salons, according to NAILS Magazine. Forty years after the fall of Saigon, 51% of nail technicians in the United States - and approximately 80% in California - are of Vietnamese descent.
You can listen to the story here:
And here's a very funny, expertly performed comedy bit about nail salons:
https://youtu.be/IG1myqu4CbA
https://youtu.be/IG1myqu4CbA
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