Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Dao.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a young girl, my family had been involved in the salon industry. Despite having a natural affinity for art and music, I always admired my mother’s versatility and excellence in everything from nail art to interior design to fashion. In my early twenties, however, I lacked a passion for nail art.
It wasn’t until the Covid pandemic hit that I realized my aversion to nails was due to the negative work environment and assembly-line approach typical of many traditional nail salons. It was nearly four years ago that I found new inspiration and became fully independent. Covid ended up being the catalyst that drove me to pursue my own business, and it turned out to be the best decision I could have made.
What I am most proud of is creating artwork that aligns with the unique personalities of my clients. It brings me great joy to sense their vibe and introduce them to something they never knew they would love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Discovering one’s passion is not always a straightforward path. It’s amazing to realize that my passion had been right in front of me all along. However, it took some time to recognize my artistic ability because I was in denial about whether it was the right career for me.
My environment at the time led me to overlook my talent. Moreover, the pressure to make my family proud discouraged me from pursuing a career in nail art. My family believed that this type of manual labor was only suitable for a limited time, as long as one had good health.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most people would be surprised to learn about my extensive background in the nail salon business.
My family’s salon, known as “Thi’s Nails,” was one of the first and most established salons in West Palm Beach. In addition, we also operated the first salon in Norfolk, Virginia which is where I was originally from.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bold.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becauseoflauradao/
