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Working in the NYC nail industry
requires one be tough as, well... you know. When we started writing this
story, we weren’t sure exactly how difficult it would be. Two months ago, we began to look for sources in our usual way — walking into nail salons, speaking with
employees, and setting up interviews outside of working hours.
This time, things were different. After walking
into over 20 Manhattan and Brooklyn salons, we found willing
participants hard to come by.
“Not interested,” a manager said
at a Chelsea salon.
“How much can you pay?” asked
another in Midtown.
Perhaps their hesitance had something
to do with the recent New York Times piece, which details the dark costs
of giving a manicure: unsafe work environments, little-to-no pay, and
health hazards, to name a few. The article incited immediate outrage, including Governor Andrew Cuomo's order for emergency measures to protect
manicurists.
“The only thing that shocked me about
the article was the fact that it took this long for the greater public to know
about it,” said Helen Ke, a Williamsburg salon owner. “On her
first day, one of our technicians didn't drink any water. When I asked if
she was thirsty, she responded that she wasn't sure if she could drink the water. I'm not sure how some people can sleep at night doing
what they are doing."
Fortunately, we did track down eight nail artists to speak with, and we were pleasantly surprised by the stories we
found. Yes, dangers and prejudice exist, but these women show that there is another side to the industry that isn't so dark. If anything, it's quite inspiring — a working mom who makes sure her salon
stays toxin-free for fellow mothers, a student turned celebrity nail
artist, and a neurology worker who moonlights as a manicurist.
Ahead, you'll find eight moving tales of what working in the beauty industry can be like.
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