What Percent of Nail Salons Are Vietnamese Owned?

There is no single, definitive statistic showing exactly what percentage of U.S. nail salons are Vietnamese-owned. However, Vietnamese Americans have a major presence in the American nail industry, especially in California. Frequently cited research and industry estimates have placed Vietnamese Americans at around 40% of the U.S. nail industry, although this should be treated as an estimate rather than an exact current ownership percentage.

The number varies depending on whether a source measures salon ownership, nail technicians, workers, or Vietnamese-operated businesses. These categories are not interchangeable. A Vietnamese-owned salon may employ technicians from several backgrounds, while a non-Vietnamese-owned salon may employ Vietnamese technicians.

Are Most Nail Salons Vietnamese Owned?

No. Vietnamese Americans own a significant portion of U.S. nail businesses, but it would be inaccurate to say that most American nail salons are Vietnamese-owned nationwide.

The commonly quoted 40% figure is often associated with the broader nail industry rather than a precise count of Vietnamese-owned salons. Ownership and employment statistics can produce very different results.

What Percentage of Nail Salons Are Vietnamese Owned in California?

California has historically had a particularly high concentration of Vietnamese-owned and Vietnamese-operated nail salons.

This is strongly connected to the state’s large Vietnamese American population. After the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees settled in California, where nail services offered accessible training and opportunities for employment and business ownership.

Because estimates differ by source, location, year, and methodology, there is no single current percentage that accurately represents every California nail salon.

Why Are So Many Nail Salons Vietnamese Owned?

Several historical and economic factors contributed to the strong Vietnamese presence in the nail industry.

Vietnamese Immigration

Large numbers of Vietnamese refugees arrived in the United States during the 1970s, with California becoming a major destination.

Accessible Training

Manicuring provided a vocational career path without requiring a traditional four-year college degree.

Family and Community Networks

People who learned the trade could teach relatives and friends, helping skills spread throughout Vietnamese American communities.

Entrepreneurship

After gaining experience, technicians could open their own salons and hire additional workers.

Business Connections

Community relationships involving workers, trainers, suppliers, salon owners, and customers made it easier for new entrepreneurs to enter the industry.

How Did Vietnamese Americans Become Involved in Nail Salons?

The history is often traced to the 1970s. Actress Tippi Hedren is frequently credited with helping Vietnamese refugee women learn manicuring skills after arriving in California.

The occupation then expanded through Vietnamese American communities. A technician could train another worker, gain experience, become a manager, and eventually open a salon.

This created a cycle of training, employment, mentorship, and business ownership that helped Vietnamese Americans become highly visible in the nail industry.

Does the 40% Figure Mean 40% of Nail Salons Are Vietnamese Owned?

Not necessarily.

The figure may refer to Vietnamese nail technicians, workers, or the broader nail industry rather than strictly salon ownership.

For example, saying that 40% of nail technicians are Vietnamese does not mean exactly 40% of all nail salons have Vietnamese owners.

The safest conclusion is that Vietnamese Americans have a disproportionately large presence in U.S. nail-salon ownership and employment, but there is no definitive current nationwide percentage covering all salons.

Where Are Vietnamese-Owned Nail Salons Most Common?

Vietnamese-owned nail salons are particularly common in areas with large Vietnamese American communities, including parts of California, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Washington, Illinois, and Louisiana.

The concentration can vary significantly by city. Areas with established Vietnamese communities often have stronger employment, customer, and business networks.

Are Vietnamese-Owned Nail Salons Cheaper?

Not necessarily.

The owner’s background does not determine pricing. Vietnamese-owned salons can be budget-friendly, mid-range, premium, or luxury.

Prices are influenced by:

• Location and rent
• Labor costs
• Products
• Service type
• Technician experience
• Salon reputation
• Customer demand

A basic manicure will typically cost less than an elaborate gel extension or custom nail-art service regardless of who owns the business.

Are Vietnamese Nail Salons Better?

Not automatically.

Quality depends on the salon and individual technician rather than nationality.

When choosing a nail salon, consider cleanliness, sanitation, technician experience, recent reviews, examples of previous work, pricing, and customer service.

What Other Groups Own Nail Salons?

Vietnamese Americans are not the only major group involved in the nail industry. Other communities with significant participation include Korean Americans, Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Nepali Americans, Tibetan Americans, Latin American immigrants, and U.S.-born entrepreneurs.

The makeup of the industry varies by state and city.

How Many Vietnamese-Owned Nail Salons Are There?

There is no reliable current national count of Vietnamese-owned nail salons.

Government statistics provide information about industries, occupations, businesses, and demographics, but they do not provide a simple nationwide category for Vietnamese-owned nail salons.

Counting ownership is also difficult because salons may have multiple owners, change ownership, or be Vietnamese-operated without being Vietnamese-owned.

Why Is Vietnamese Nail-Salon Ownership Significant?

The Vietnamese presence in the nail industry is an important example of immigrant entrepreneurship.

A person may begin as a nail technician, become a manager, open a salon, expand to multiple locations, train other workers, or enter the nail-product business.

This demonstrates how a vocational occupation can create opportunities for long-term business ownership.

Vietnamese-Owned vs. Vietnamese-Staffed Nail Salons

These terms should not be confused.

Vietnamese-owned means the business is owned by a Vietnamese individual, family, or group.

Vietnamese-staffed means Vietnamese technicians work at the salon.

A salon can be Vietnamese-owned and employ people from several backgrounds. Likewise, a non-Vietnamese-owned salon can have a largely Vietnamese staff.

That is why workforce statistics cannot automatically be used to determine ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of nail salons are Vietnamese owned?

There is no definitive current nationwide percentage. Commonly cited estimates place Vietnamese Americans at around 40% of the U.S. nail industry, but this does not necessarily mean 40% of all salons are Vietnamese-owned.

What percentage of nail salons are Vietnamese owned in California?

California has one of the strongest concentrations of Vietnamese-owned and Vietnamese-operated nail salons, but there is no single current percentage that accurately covers every salon.

Why do Vietnamese people own so many nail salons?

Historical immigration, accessible vocational training, family networks, mentorship, and opportunities for small-business ownership all contributed to the industry’s growth.

Did Vietnamese people invent nail salons?

No. Manicuring existed long before Vietnamese Americans became prominent in the American industry. Their major role in U.S. nail salons developed in the 1970s and afterward.

Are Vietnamese nail salons cheaper?

Not necessarily. Prices depend on location, service type, labor, products, technician experience, and operating costs.

Are Vietnamese nail salons better?

There is no automatic connection between ethnicity and quality. Reviews, sanitation, technician skill, service quality, and customer care are better indicators.

How to Choose a Good Nail Salon

When searching for nail salons near me, focus on the individual business rather than the owner’s nationality.

Check recent reviews, compare services and prices, look at examples of the technician’s work, and pay attention to cleanliness and sanitation. It is also helpful to choose a technician who specializes in the service you want, whether that is a manicure, pedicure, gel polish, acrylics, extensions, or nail art.

Conclusion

There is no single, definitive 2026 statistic showing exactly what percentage of U.S. nail salons are Vietnamese-owned. Frequently cited estimates place Vietnamese Americans at around 40% of the U.S. nail industry, but that figure should not automatically be interpreted as the percentage of Vietnamese-owned salons.

The Vietnamese American role in the nail industry developed through immigration, vocational training, mentorship, family networks, and entrepreneurship. California remains especially notable because of its large Vietnamese American population and long history of Vietnamese participation in the industry.

Today, nail salons are diverse and include owners and technicians from many backgrounds. When choosing a salon, practical factors such as cleanliness, experience, reviews, pricing, and customer service matter more than the owner’s nationality.

For those searching for nail salons near me, nail salons in Naperville, or nail salons open near me, Naperville Nail Spa provides professional nail services for clients in the Naperville area. Call (331) 701-7925 to learn more or schedule your next manicure or pedicure.