Meet Kristina Le

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Le and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think when you choose to go solo or become self-employed, many people don’t realize how demanding it can be. There’s so much happening behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed.

I’ve had comments like, “Oh, you must pocket everything from the cost of my service, that’s nice.” But in reality, that’s not the case. There are overhead costs to keep the business running—things like rent, supplies, snacks, and even a monthly booking fee that I use to track my reports and appointments, licensing renewal. The list goes on with the not so fun part of owning a business. Let’s also keep in mind about taxes. You have to be setting aside a certain percentage for tax purposes. Even though all of that can be intimidating, I wouldn’t trade it for working for someone else and filling their pocket.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
After working in different nail salons for about 15 years, I’ve learned what truly makes a great client experience. That’s why I decided to go solo—focusing on more than just beautiful nails. I’m all about making sure my clients feel relaxed, comfortable, and happy while still focusing on the health of their natural nails. I was never the type to rush through services and believe me, my past employers were not happy about that. I know not everyone has the time to sit for hours to get their nails done. But, for others that’s their only time for self care.

I can’t express enough how proud and happy that I’m able to provide a relaxing space for my clients and without having to ask, they share about their experience and it’s everything that I’d hoped it would be. At times, I would even have clients falling asleep on me! That’s how relaxed they are and it’s such a compliment to me. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. When you care about the work you put out, it will show and the people will follow. It doesn’t hurt to be kind and be present during the time of the appointment. Sometimes, they just need a pair of ears to vent or spill the tea to. Someone to just simply listen.

I specialize in gel manicures and gel x (gel extensions). If I’m being completely honest, my true joy is gel manicures and working with natural nails. Gel-x, for those unfamiliar, is a soft gel extension that covers the entire nail. What I like to call it, shapewear for your nails! There’s different lengths and shapes to choose from and the tips themselves are made out of soft gel making it easier to soak off. Gel polish is used for color and it gets cured under LED light. With that being said, there’s no drying time and your nails are dry to the touch and ready to go! Gel x is a great choice if you want to add length while supporting the growth of your natural nails or to help a deep crack grow out. The product is thinner and more of a natural feel compared to acrylics.

I believe that my business has grown because I take the extra time to get to know my clients. We share stories, cry, laugh, even have moments of silence and not feel awkward. It’s a bit challenging at times with all the trends from influencers especially on tik tok and feeling like you need to learn all of it to stay relevant. For me, I don’t always enjoy or have the creative mind to be on top of what’s hot and what’s not. I absolutely LOVE the look of neutral, clean, simple nails. It took some time for me to not compare myself with others about not doing all the trendy designs. I try to stay true to myself and know when to say no and not offer certain services if I choose not to. Intricate nail art isn’t my thing and that’s okay. I came to the acceptance that I am not for everyone and that’s okay too. Clients who appreciate elegant, minimalist nails will naturally find their way to my chair. Whether it may be through social media, word of mouth, bridal group chats, a quick google search.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let’s get one thing straight, I’m definitely more of an introvert, and I’m not a fan of cramming the day with too many things. It also depends on the season when there are visitors.

My ideal day would start with a slow morning, head to this amazing artisan bakery that serves buttery, flaky goodness in Parker called Poulette ( 19585 Hess Rd #107, Parker, CO 80134). It’s more of a grab-and-go spot, so we’d take our treats to go. Since Parker is a bit out of the way, another favorite is Banh and Butter Bakery & Cafe (9935 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010) a Vietnamese-owned bakery with incredible ube lattes, pastries, coffee, banh mi, and even plants! They have all the good stuff. They’re both local businesses, which I love and want to support. Might I add, all the staff are friendly.

If you can’t tell, I have a sweet tooth. I absolutely love Ti Cafe (30 N Broadway, Denver, CO 80203) It’s one of the first Vietnamese women-owned coffee shops in Denver, and their creativity with drinks is amazing. They even collaborate with other local businesses to create anime-themed beverages. My go-to is the iced matcha pandan kem with oat milk. That one is on their everyday menu. I’d sip on that, chat for a bit, and see where the day takes us!

Not many of our visitors are into hiking, but if we do, it’s usually something easy, paved, with little elevation gain. Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs is pretty neat. Touristy, but still a great stop to check out and explore. Leadville is another mountain town I’d add to the list. You can do dispersed camping, hiking, fishing etc. You can probably spend a weekend there to enjoy the outdoors. I’m not really into alcohol, so I can’t recommend many spots for that. Some might call me boring, but I’m totally okay with that. If it’s winter, all I gotta say is, snowboarding! After a few days of snowboarding, the hot springs are a must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This might sound silly, but I realized after staring at this question for days that I’ve been overthinking it. The answer is actually simple: the support of my regular clients, other like-minded solo artists, and as cliche it may sound, my husband. My clients keep me booked and busy, so without them, Mai Beauty wouldn’t be thriving after three years in business. I’m only human and even though I get overwhelmed with work, I’m still so happy with what I do.

Having a group of supportive women in the service industry makes a huge difference. It’s reassuring to know that no one has it all figured out, and that feeling intimidated is normal. It’s an amazing feeling when you’re able to connect people with one another and build a relationship. Your business will truly thrive when you stop viewing other businesses as competition and start seeing them as inspiration. In the service industry, you may run into some caddy behavior, but the key is to find your people. The ones who support, uplift, and empower not only you, but each other.

There’s always that one person who pushes you to be your best. For me, that person is my husband. From day one, he knew that opening my own nail studio was a dream of mine, and without a second thought, he’s been by my side every step of the way. He continues to give me the support and encouragement I need to keep chasing my dream. I know that I can be a pain at times but I am so grateful to have a supportive partner.

Website: www.maibeautyy.com

Instagram: Maibeautyy_

Image Credits
Hayley Shuler