the vietnamese nail salon connection

Not all nail salons are Vietnamese-owned... but man, there certainly are a lot of them. In California, Vietnamese Americans make up an estimated 80% of nail technicians, according to the industry's trade publication. Nationwide, it's 43%.

Here's a very interesting Los Angeles Times article offering something of an overview of the huge number of Vietnamese manicurists in the United States, and the impact of their massive presence in the industry over the last 30 years: Vietnamese nail down the U.S. manicure business.

In a way, Vietnamese Americans have changed the nature of the manicure industry, transforming it from a luxurious indulgence into an affordable American routine, thanks to all the crazy competition driving prices down. I had no idea it all started with actress Tippi Hedren...