Little kids often set up lemonade stands or participate in bake sales, but typically that is the only feel for entrepreneurship they will get over their lifetime. However, this is not the case for junior Emily Thai; she went that extra step, beginning her very own nail business.
Starting from a young age, nails sparked an interest in Thai. This transpired since both of her parents have been doing nails all her life. First teaching herself to do her own nails, Thai started doing others’ nails around June 2024, starting with friends. Shortly after, she started taking clients off of her Instagram, @polished_byemily.
“I started with wanting to do my own nails, and then I decided to start doing my friends,” Thai said. “After high school I plan to continue doing nails in college and possibly implementing it into a business when I’m older. Although, I don’t want to specifically do nails all my life.”
The majority of the clients that Thai sees are from Millard West, booking with her once a month for a fill, or whenever they decide they want a fresh set. Taking around a half hour or more, depending on the design clients want, sets are usually priced very well compared to other salons, costing around $30-$50.
“She takes a little bit longer than a salon, but she also puts so much more into the nails,” junior Montana Chronister said. “She truly cares about every single customer she has, and they always last longer when she does them.
Comfortability is key, and that’s the reason so many people choose Thai to do their nails over and over again. Making sure her customers are comfortable is a top priority that she meets exceptionally by having snacks available and couches for those that come with her clients to make themselves at home.
“Now that I’ve been getting my nails done with her for a while, I definitely prefer her better [than a salon],” junior Shibu Sharma said. “I never feel limited with designs or nail styles I want, and it’s just a more comfortable setting to be in because I don’t have anything to be embarrassed of.”
Thai’s business showcases her talent and hard work, and with each set, you can visibly see just how much she puts into the work she does, along with the progress she has made in such little time. Each and every nail is nothing less than perfect, making her clients able to count on the fact that she can only improve more and more with each appointment.
