We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maryna Slynko. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maryna below.

Maryna , appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Yes, I’m happy. Being a business owner isn’t just about freedom or a flexible schedule — it’s about bringing my vision to life. I’ve worked regular jobs before, so I know what that feels like. But through my business, I can express who I truly am. I’m developing within the nail industry and I see great potential for Slavic manicure techniques here in the U.S. The clean, detailed, long-lasting style we’re known for in Europe is getting more and more attention. I see this not just as a service, but as a culture I want to grow. That’s why I have big plans: to expand, to build an educational academy, and to help raise professional standards. Even on hard days, I know exactly why I’m doing this — and that purpose is everything.

Maryna , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Maryna Slynko. I’m a Ukrainian-born nail artist, international champion, and licensed educator in Slavic manicure techniques. My journey in the beauty industry started over a decade ago, when I first discovered how much power, confidence, and healing there can be in simple, precise, and elegant hand care.

I built my skills from scratch — in Ukraine, then in the Czech Republic, and now in the United States. After relocating due to the war, I started my business all over again in a new country, with new laws, new clients, and a new language. Today, I run Slynko Beauty Bloom LLC based in Kansas, where I specialize in delicate Slavic manicures — known here more as “Russian manicure” — and work to bring European quality standards into the American market.

What makes my work stand out is attention to detail, deep care for each client, and a constant drive for perfection. I don’t just do nails — I educate, I judge international competitions, and I help raise the standards of the industry. My long-term goal is to build a school in the U.S. to teach safe, artistic, and clean techniques that I believe have the power to shift the culture of the nail industry.

I’m most proud of the courage it took to rebuild from zero and of the community I’ve built — clients, students, and fellow artists who share my values. I want people to know that I’m not just creating beautiful work, I’m building something with meaning, step by step, with honesty, strength, and heart.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes — I made one of the biggest pivots in my life at the beginning of my career. I graduated from a law academy in Ukraine and worked in the legal field for several years: attending court hearings, writing legal claims, and handling cases. It was a path that many people saw as stable and “right.” But inside, I felt it wasn’t truly mine. I was missing creativity, human connection, and joy in my everyday work.

So I gradually started looking for something different — something that resonated more with me. I signed up for a manicure course, not with a big plan, but more “just for myself.” And during the learning process, I started to feel a growing interest — not fading, but deepening. Over time, I fully immersed myself in the field: I became a certified nail artist, then a trainer, and later started participating in competitions. That pivot changed everything — it opened the door to a new profession and a new stage of life, full of meaning, growth, and creativity.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience became part of my story when I had to leave my home in Ukraine because of the war. I moved to a new country — the United States — with no support system, no clients, and no guarantees. I had to start over completely: learning the language, adapting to a new culture, building trust from scratch.

Despite all the challenges, I stayed focused. I registered my business, began working legally, and gradually grew my client base through quality, consistency, and care. I also started sharing my knowledge, judged international nail competitions, and invested in my professional growth.

It wasn’t easy — but I knew who I was and what I could offer. That inner clarity gave me the strength to keep going, even on the hardest days. Resilience, for me, is not just about surviving — it’s about building something meaningful, even when the ground beneath you has changed completely.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slynko.beauty_kc?igsh=d2R0enA2dmtmcGp0
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12FJKCqbgWZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Maryna Slynko