We were lucky to catch up with Arina OSSIPOVA recently and have shared our conversation below.

Arina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

When I first arrived in Los Angeles, I had nothing certain: no network, no business plan, just the skills I carried with me and the desire to build something meaningful. The idea of opening a studio started very small: I simply wanted to create a space where people could feel safe to take care of their feet without shame.

The first steps were the hardest. I had to learn how business works in a new country — from licenses and permits to finding the right location. I remember spending hours reading regulations, comparing studios, and even walking into salons just to see what they were doing. At the same time, I was saving every dollar I could because I knew I wanted my place to feel professional, clean, and different from the typical nail salon.

The first year was a mix of excitement and struggle. I bought the equipment little by little, set up strict hygiene practices, and started with only a handful of clients. I relied on word of mouth at first, and slowly dancers, athletes, and nurses began to find me. They would tell me, “I’ve never had someone look at my feet this way before” — and that’s when I realized I was building something truly different.

Over time, I learned to balance the business side with the caregiving side: marketing, scheduling, hiring, and at the same time staying true to the mission. What began as just an idea became My Ideal Nails, a studio in Hollywood that today helps people not only take care of their feet but also feel proud of them.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Arina Ossipova, and I am the founder of “My Ideal Nails”, a pedicure studio in Hollywood that specializes in advanced foot care. I came to Los Angeles as an immigrant with the dream of building something meaningful not just a business, but a place where people could feel safe, cared for, and proud of themselves.

I was drawn into this industry because I saw how often feet are ignored, hidden, or treated only for their appearance. Many people: dancers, athletes, nurses, chefs, hairstylists spend their entire day on their feet, yet they rarely receive the kind of care that helps them stay healthy and comfortable. Instead, problems are often covered up: damaged nails are painted over, painful corns are filed down again and again, and shoes that don’t fit continue to create pressure and harm. I wanted to change that.

At My Ideal Nails, we focus on health first. We help with cracked heels, or damaged toenails, painful pressure corns, and skin that needs special attention. But beyond treatments, we also educate. We teach clients how to choose the right shoes, because in 90% of cases, the wrong footwear is the root cause of their discomfort. Many adults and even parents for their children, have never learned how to properly fit shoes, and it affects their quality of life.

What sets us apart is that we don’t judge and we don’t hide problems. Our clients come to us with shame, often hiding their feet under bandages, socks, or polish. We create a space without judgment, where they can finally show their feet and know they will be respected, cared for, and supported.

I’m especially proud of how our work restores confidence. A dancer who thought her feet were too damaged to be seen, a nurse who was in pain every shift, a man who hadn’t worn open shoes in years… when they leave our studio feeling lighter and more confident, that is the success I’m most proud of.

As an extension of this mission, I recently collaborated with photographers Leonid and Tatiana on a photo series called “Where Health Meets Beauty.” The project transforms common foot problems into artistic visuals: a foot wrapped in bandages to show how people hide pain, mushrooms growing from a nail to represent how deep conditions can go, or toes squeezed in tight shoes as a metaphor for the damage of poor footwear. This creative work helps us spark conversations and remove the shame around foot health.

What I want people to know is simple: your feet matter, and you deserve to feel comfortable in your own body. My Ideal Nails is not just about pedicures — it’s about care, education, confidence, and redefining beauty from the ground up.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me has been a combination of social media and word of mouth. Instagram has been especially powerful because it allows me to show real transformations and talk openly about problems that people usually feel too much shame to share. When potential clients see that others have similar issues and that there are solutions, they feel less alone and more encouraged to reach out.

At the same time, nothing is stronger than personal recommendations. Many of my clients are dancers, athletes, nurses, and chefs, people who trust each other’s advice. I’ll never forget one story: a man once sent one of our videos to his friend with the message, “Bro, you need to go here.” For me, that was real friendship, because men are often the most shy about these things. That simple act showed how powerful it can be when people support each other in overcoming embarrassment and taking care of themselves.

This combination of authentic online presence and genuine referrals has allowed My Ideal Nails to grow steadily without traditional advertising.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes, my work with pedicures started as something practical, but it grew into my full-time career once I realized the emotional side of what I do. In the beginning, I thought I was just helping with nails and skin. But as more people came, I saw how many lived with shame and embarrassment about their feet. Some hadn’t worn open shoes in years, others were in pain every day but didn’t know there were safe solutions.

That was the moment my “side hustle” became my calling. It wasn’t just about making feet look nice, it was about giving people back their confidence and comfort. Turning this into a full-time business meant investing not only in a studio and equipment, but also in education, strict hygiene practices, and building trust with every client.

Looking back, the milestones weren’t only financial — they were the stories of clients leaving lighter, freer, and even smiling because they no longer felt the need to hide. That’s when I knew My Ideal Nails was no longer just a side job, but my life’s work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.myidealnails.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myidealnails_studio/ https://www.instagram.com/myidealnails/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/my-ideal-nails-los-angeles

Image Credits

Leonid and Tatiana