We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melly Nguyen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?

Professionals in the nail industry cringe when they hear the saying “I need to let my nails breathe.” The idea of letting your nails “breathe” is definitely a myth. Nails are made of keratin protein layers that are not living tissue. Nails themselves don’t have blood vessels or nerves, they don’t need oxygen like your skin or lungs. They receive nutrients from the blood supply through the nail bed (the skin beneath the nail), not from the air.

What most people mean is they want to give their nails a “break” from polishes or enhancements and this is mostly because their natural nails are either thin and damaged due to chemical or physical damage. For instance, peeling gel polish is a big no-no as it removes a keratin layer each time you do so. A healthy nail has about 100 layers of keratin and the more you peel off your gels the thinner and non-supportive the nail bed gets. Hence why most clients believe that gel polish and any enhancement is bad for you.

Nail care is so important here at MNSTRM and we like to educate everyone about proper removal, proper application, cosmetic-grade vs industrial grade products, timely maintenance, and after-care. Avoiding harmful products and allowing specific cosmetic products will aid in protecting/recovering the natural nail over time.

You can have nice nails if you know how to care for them. Find a salon that truly cares for your nails, ask lots of questions and watch how healthy your nails can get!

Melly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We often get asked the question: “How do you sustain such a great group of people on your team?” Well, it’s all about hiring the right people that align with your brand’s values and culture. Talent, skill and having experience in nails is one thing, but having a group that compliments each other with different backgrounds and personalities makes the dream team. We set goals, foster support, and respect/encourage our team professionally and that is the beauty of it all. If you can go to work, love what you do and enjoy the people you are with then that makes it all worth it. When your team is happy, your clients are happy. The culture of MNSTRM leads with great relationships and provides good vibes + fun nails. MNSTRM would not be what it is now without our artists!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started an instagram account as soon as I passed my nail technician exam in Colorado. I wanted to create a handle that spoke to the nails I was creating on clients, which mainly came from clients’ pins from Pinterest. I put a lot of thought into naming my account and named my handle @Mainstream_Nails, which years later became the brand name for my business.

Since day 1, I have enjoyed posting my work as it was a reflection of my every day creations. I would sometimes spend up to 4 hours alone on one post as I loved making my page aesthetically pleasing and eclectic. My goal was to make each and every opportunity “post worthy.” Gaining a following is only half the battle, the other half is staying consistent and keeping your followers engaged.

Your public portfolio defines your style and when you keep the adrenaline rush high the more proud you will feel! So, be YOURSELF, do what you love, work hard and the rest will follow. In my opinion, nothing happens overnight and if you’re passionate, intentional, and engage authentically, you’ll build an organic audience over time.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A big lesson I had to unlearn real quick was taking unsolicited advice from people. Regardless if someone has similar goals, interests or experiences, I have always found it more critical than helpful and feel like I’ve been placed in an awkward position. For as long as I can remember, I have consistently learned my best by trying things on my own. Hit or miss, good or bad, every experience has been an opportunity and/or a lesson.

After six years in undergraduate school, I decided to change course and pursue my passion for nail artistry. I was excited about it, but as soon as I announced it, I got bombarded with ‘advice’ from people who didn’t know the first thing about nails—or my goals. ‘Are you sure that’s wise?’ ‘You should stick with becoming an orthodontist.’ ‘Nails? That’s not a career?’ It was like they thought I hadn’t already considered all of this! Some even told me that I wouldn’t be successful. Unfortunately I listened and continued to take the next step in investing and applying for a Kaplan course to prepare for the DAT (Dental Admission Test). Halfway through studying for the exam I felt unmotivated, like I was digging myself in a deeper hole of sorrow if I continued.

I made a bold decision to switch careers after graduating with my Bachelor’s of Science degree and weighed all the pros and cons. I was scared, nervous and had no idea where it would take me. All being said, I have learned that people will always have their own opinions and I will always go with my personal choices.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mainstreamnails.com
• Instagram: @mainstream_nails

Image Credits

Nicole Marcelli