My family has been in the nail industry for over 25 years.   As immigrants, we humbly applied ourselves to this trade in order to achieve the American Dream. It is a business notorious for dangerous health conditions, filled with toxic chemicals. In the Asian community, if you were privileged and talented enough, you did not “do nails.” Over the years, I have witnessed friends and family members develop cancer from possible exposure to the toxins they breathe in day in and day out — and I never wanted that for myself.

 

After graduating from the University of North Texas with a BFA in Fashion Design and Marketing, I immediately set out for New York City to run away from my humble beginnings. Inspired and mentored during my time working for fashion designers such as Rebecca Taylor and Nicole Miller, I came back to Texas in 2011 and created my own line of eveningwear called Lucy Dang. Ever ambitious, I made it my mission to win every fashion industry award there was — starting with Texas’ Next Top Designer in 2013, Belk’s Southern Designer Showcase in 2014, and finally nabbing the top prize of Fashion Group International’s Rising Star in 2015.

 

But after years of overachieving in the fashion world, I burned out. In the summer of 2016, I wanted to open a bakery — so that I could eat my feelings. My husband convinced me to channel all that gourmand creativity into a nail salon concept, and in the spring of 2017, we opened the first Pink Pedi.  In 2023, we opened our second.

 

Fast forward almost ten years, and I have never been happier or more proud of my immigrant heritage. Pink Pedi has also managed to win every nail industry award by providing a clean beauty environment for both technicians and clients. Every season, just like in fashion, I get to create and formulate new flavors of spa products for pampering Pink Pedi people. When life gives you lemons, make lemon meringue bubble bath.

 

Finally, I get to have my cake and eat it too.