
6 Ways Self-Love Will Help You Crush Your Goals
From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.
The commitment to eating right, exercising, and work/life balance are all essential parts of self-care. In an industry that’s all about caring for others, I marvel at how many of our readers prioritize taking care of themselves as well.

Danny Haile (center) wanted Gelish’s newest product, PolyGel, to be odorless, a health benefit for clients and techs alike. From left to right: VietSalon managing editor Anh Tran, publisher Michelle Mullen, Gelish’s Thao Nguyen, me, and associate art director Yuiko Sugino.

Danny Haile (center) wanted Gelish’s newest product, PolyGel, to be odorless, a health benefit for clients and techs alike. From left to right: VietSalon managing editor Anh Tran, publisher Michelle Mullen, Gelish’s Thao Nguyen, me, and associate art director Yuiko Sugino.
Our Healthy Nail Tech series is a popular profile that runs in every print issue. I personally look forward to reading these articles each month to see the positive changes nail professionals make to their lifestyle. The commitment to eating right, exercising, and work/life balance are all essential parts of self-care. In an industry that’s all about caring for others, I marvel at how many of our readers prioritize taking care of themselves as well.
Like many of you, I have a rather sedentary job. And like many of you, I often rush lunch. I am still negotiating the art of work/life balance and I find that reading your stories is a great reminder for me to make my own health a priority. I even decided to challenge myself and signed up for my first half-marathon, which I completed in February. Training was grueling and it took a lot of discipline to run after working a full day. But crossing the finish line made everything worthwhile. It helped that going into the race I took the necessary precautions to protect myself. I invested in quality running shoes with insoles for support. I packed an energy snack in one of my pockets in case I needed a boost during the run. Even though it was cloudy and drizzly, I slathered on the sunscreen.
Likewise, there are things you as a nail tech can do each and every day to protect yourself at work and ensure that health will be a priority. Maybe it’s investing in a ventilation system, wearing a mask, or simply getting up to stretch. It might even be saying “no” to booking certain clients. Taking care of others is part of your job, but so is taking care of yourself. If you want to have longevity in this field and be strong for those you support, health has to be top of mind.
Preserving your well-being is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. It requires conditioning, discipline, strength, and endurance. Let’s work together to take care of each other.

Reading your Healthy Nail Tech stories was part of what motivated me to finish my first half-marathon.

From breaking free of external validation to creating joy-based goals, discover a more sustainable and fulfilling path to success.

From acrylic monomers to airborne bio-dust, the air inside a nail salon carries risks most professionals never see coming. Aerovex Systems reveals the source-capture and room-purification strategies that are setting a new standard for salon safety.
Sponsored by Aerovex Systems

Products marketed as 'magic' or 'burst' gel removers may contain methylene chloride, a federally banned, highly toxic chemical.

Working in beauty doesn’t have to hurt. Learn how Somatic Movement helps hairstylists, lash artists, and other beauty pros release tension, improve posture, and extend their careers.

As a spa or salon professional, your clients expect more than just beauty—they expect safety, hygiene, and peace of mind. Fungal infections like Athlete’s Foot and Nail Fungus are more common than you think, especially in environments where tools and footbaths are reused without proper sanitation. This blog covers how to stop these issues before they start, using proven infection prevention strategies for salons and spas.

A federal initiative aimed at studying chemical exposure in nail salons has ended due to staffing and budget changes. Here’s what the project set out to do—and what its conclusion means for salon professionals.

For many people, a pedicure is a relaxing beauty ritual. But what most don’t realize is that this simple service, if done without proper hygiene and sanitation, can cause serious infections and long-term health issues.

Onycholysis is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. While it may look painful, it typically isn’t—at least not at first. But without proper care, this common nail disorder can lead to infections, deformities, and long-term damage.

Mckenzie Kool, Psychologist, MC, RPsych provides us with guidance on what may or not be helpful in speaking with someone who has suffered a significant loss.

Clients come to you to feel their best—not leave with a viral souvenir. Warts and cold sores can spread fast in busy salons, but a few smart habits make all the difference. Let’s talk about what’s really lurking in your salon (and how to kick it to the curb).

As Earth Day approaches, The Green Beauty Community Foundation and the Green Spa Network invite beauty pros to step forward and embrace sustainability through the Green Pledge--a powerful initiative designed by and for beauty industry leaders.

Don’t cancel Valentine’s Day altogether, urges Jill Palmquist. Instead, think of it as a (frilly, flowery, Champagne-bubbly) wake-up call to fall deeply in love with your own life.

Life coach and Culture Ambassador of Sam Villa, Andrew Carruthers, outlines how to tell if your burnout is temporary - or if it's time to make a bigger career change.

Cancer treatment can create very specific challenges for your guest when it comes to hair, skin, and also nails. Here are some tips for working with your salon client who is going through cancer treatment to help you provide a relaxing, enjoyable, and also safe experience.

For those clients concerned about exposure from UV lamps, the Sun Patch might be a solution. Sun Patches are waterproof, reusable (up to 10 wears) block 98% of UVA/UVB rays, and maintain their UPF 50+ rating all day long.

One of the most common conditions that affects the nail is onycholysis, which is the separation of the nail plate from the nail bed. Onycholysis occurs as a result of or along with a great variety of nail traumas and disorders. Probably the most common cause of onycholysis is a fungal infection of the nail.

Hairdressing is a physically taxing career integrating simple stretches into your daily routine can reduce the strain repetitive motion puts on your body, help you stay flexible and strong and eventually prolong your career.