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

Mia, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Thank you so much for having me; it’s truly an honor to share my journey. When I embarked on the path to becoming a nail salon owner, I stumbled upon a staggering statistic: over 8 billion dollars were spent on nail salon services in the U.S. in 2018. However, what struck me was that while many of these salons were located in communities of color, black-owned nail salons were scarce, and Black nail artists accounted for only 2% of the U.S. nail salon workforce.

My decision to open a nail salon was driven by a profound realization of unmet needs within the beauty industry. As I surveyed the local beauty landscape, I couldn’t help but notice a glaring absence of inclusive and welcoming spaces that truly catered to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Many salons seemed to overlook the importance of not only delivering exceptional nail care experiences but also fostering an environment where everyone felt valued, celebrated, and heard.

This unmet need for an inclusive and empowering salon experience ignited a fire within me to step forward and create a space that addressed these gaps. It was about combining my passion for beauty, my innate creativity, and my desire to uplift the community. Opening a nail salon wasn’t just an opportunity to fulfill my own aspirations; it was a chance to bridge the gap between unmet needs and unparalleled possibilities.

I envisioned a salon that wouldn’t just meet the expectations of beauty enthusiasts but would also become a haven for guests seeking to express themselves fearlessly, regardless of their background or personal style. This journey became about more than fulfilling my own dreams; it was about using my platform to bring people from various ethnic backgrounds and cultural heritages together. A multicultural nail salon, in my eyes, is a powerful platform for fostering understanding and unity within our surrounding community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Thank you for having me! My name is Mia Barnes, and I am the owner and Chief Visionary Officer for Nail Haven Enterprises. I’ve always been driven by a passion for excellence and a determination to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the beauty industry. My background is quite diverse – I earned my Doctorate in Pharmacy in 2012 and have spent over 20 years excelling in hospitality, event planning, and clinical pharmacy practice. Throughout my career, I’ve embraced challenges as opportunities for positive change, and I see myself as a change agent.

Embracing diversity isn’t just a buzzword for me; it’s the very essence of my mission. I’m deeply committed to breaking down barriers, eradicating biases, and building bridges that celebrate uniqueness. Right now, my purpose is focused on setting a new standard in the nail salon industry. I want to create a space where people from all races, cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds can come together to celebrate the artistry of nail care. Nail Haven Enterprises is all about fostering innovation and inclusivity in an industry that’s often overlooked in these aspects, and I’m excited to be a part of this transformative journey.

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

I always dreamed of building a nail salon from the ground up. But the reality of setting up Nail Haven in the competitive Washington DC Metro retail scene was tougher than I ever imagined. It felt like this market favored connections and inside ties rather than pure ambition and hard work.

After three years of knocking on closed doors, a chance encounter with a seasoned business broker provided me with a fresh perspective. He shared the quickest way to establish oneself in this economic climate was to take over an existing venture and shape it to your vision. It wasn’t the path I’d imagined, but reflecting back I’ve realized dreams can and will take unexpected detours.

With this advice, I found an experienced nail salon owner looking to move on. At first, I hesitated to approach her. Our backgrounds were worlds apart, she was from Vietnam, while I was a Black woman, stepping into the unfamiliar world of brick-and-mortar businesses, especially one as niche as a nail salon. Doubts and imagined scenarios of rejection played on repeat in my head. But, when I finally mustered the courage to connect, she not only listened but truly believed in my vision.

Initially, we had zeroed in on a particular salon for me to acquire. But after weeks of meticulous due diligence, the deal unexpectedly collapsed. I honestly was heartbroken. But this setback turned into a blessing in disguise. The owner, seeing my passion, proposed another, smaller location. And while the allure of a grander salon had initially been tempting, I now understand it might have overwhelmed me. I wasn’t ready.

It took six more months of negotiations, vetting, and convincing the bank of the viability of my dream! Until I finally secured an SBA loan. Nail Haven, borne out of years of perseverance, hope, and overcoming countless challenges, finally became a reality.

Any advice for managing a team?

Certainly, I’d be happy to share some insights. For me, successful team management is rooted in empowerment, open communication, and a willingness to embrace change. This philosophy extends not only to my team members but to anyone on my leadership team, including myself. I firmly believe that every team member, regardless of their background or role, brings unique value, and it’s essential that they feel heard, understood, and empowered.

My starting point is to establish an open-door policy. I want each team member to know that they can freely express their thoughts, concerns, and, most importantly, their aspirations. Aspirations are key because, for me, active listening isn’t just about addressing concerns; it’s also about celebrating the diverse insights and ideas they bring to the table.

Secondly, as the owner of a nail salon that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, I’ve invested time in understanding the diverse cultural backgrounds of each team member. In the beauty industry, where personal interactions are foundational, this depth of understanding goes beyond good managerial practice; it’s an embodiment of my salon’s culture.

Understanding each culture means more than recognizing holidays or basics; it’s about understanding values, traditions, customs, and the subtleties that define individual identities. This has been essential in understanding how each team member shows up to the table and why. It’s also critical in helping team members better understand each other, fostering a more cohesive work environment.

Lastly, I make sure my team always knows how much they mean to me and to the business. Without them, there is no Nail Haven. While my goal is to recognize and celebrate each person’s differences, it’s equally important to instill a sense of importance and purpose. I regularly acknowledge their contributions, big and small, whether through social media highlights, personal thank-yous, or formal recognitions like our ‘Havenly Heights Employee of the Month.’ My team’s dedication and passion are the driving force behind our success, and I want them to feel valued every step of the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nailhavenmd.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/nailhavenmd
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nailhavenodenton/