BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – You might not think painting nails counts as artwork, but you might change your mind after seeing some of the work at Rainbow Nails and Spa in Bismarck.
Andy and Ann Nguyen own and run the salon Rainbow Nails and Spa in Bismarck.
Their space is more than just a business, though – for nail techs like Andy, it doubles as an art studio. I asked him how he got into it.
“I think the nail industry chose me before I chose it,” Andy said.“He’s really good in this career, at his job,” said Ann.
His brushes and canvases might be a little different from what would normally come to mind when you think about art, but becoming good at painting nails took years of practice.
Now, it’s his passion.
”I never thought I’d become a nail tech, but after a while – when you learn how to do nails, and you learn how to design nails – you feel that, you love that. So, that’s why you want to go deeper,” said Andy.
Regular Cheryl Klinner has been getting her nails done by Andy for a couple of years.
Andy free-hands the designs she and other customers request. She said before coming to Rainbow, she wasn’t much of one for complicated, intricate designs.
When Andy asked her if she wanted to try it out, she took the risk.
“I figured they’d maybe have like a little inlay or something, but they just do it all free-hand, and it’s just really unique each time. It’s really pretty, I think,” said Klinner.
Now, she leaves it to Andy to choose what designs he paints on her nails. Today, he’s painting her nails in a Christmas theme.
“I always laugh, because if I go to Deadwood or to a casino where they’re going to see your nails playing cards, I actually get men that said, ‘Wow, I really like your nails!’ So, it’s pretty weird,” said Klinner.
However, painting isn’t the only reason Andy loves his job.
He said getting to know the clients is one of the most important parts of his work.
He said even though he’s pleased with where his skills are now, that’s no excuse to stop practicing.
“You need to keep adapting every single day, I think,” said Andy.
And if Andy gets to keep doing that while working his job…well, that’s just all the better for him.
You can see more examples of Andy’s work on Rainbow Nail and Spa’s Facebook page.
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