Mindy’ s Nails by Jean Di Lisio
Prepare for Pampering
When I arrive for my monthly pedicure at Mindy’ s Nails, located across from TSJC’ s Massari Center and Power Credit Union, I am faced with a color choice decision. Just to the west, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains decorate the landscape with multi-colored hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue indigo and violet; similar to selection of O. P. I.’ s Shimmer Nail Lacquer. Inside Mindy’ s Nails, you find the standard salon accouterments, including massage recliners, stacks of magazines, multiple fingernail stations, and rainbow filled shelves of toe nail polish, as well as DND gel and acrylic finger nails clusters.
A version of“ Remember the Name” by Fort Minor plays on the sound system, while the gleaming gold Buddha statue near the office catches my attention. Greeting you at the door her wood-engraved sign beckons;
Welcome to Mindy’ s Nails.
“ Hello,” says owner Mindy Lewis, as she greets me from her manicure station. Pulling down a white surgical facemask, she smiles, and says,“ Pick out a color.” The salon is busy. Mindy moves over to a recliner as she fills the foot base with hot water and blue sea salt. Another client, Gen( Genevieve Lee) gets her final, clear finishing polish.
Mindy looks like a doctor performing a delicate procedure. In Vietnam, the knowledge of this timehonored tradition must be passed down through the generations. Perhaps this practice of pampering goes back to the Buddha’ s times. Doing nails in Vietnam must be another old-school Asian art like grooming bonsai trees in Japan or administering acupuncture in China.
Not even close
After much research, I discovered I was way off. While the ancient Chinese and Egyptians developed an early form of nail polish, the Vietnamese tradition of doing nails started in the United States in the mid-1970s. Tippi Hedren, who starred in Alfred Hitchcock’ s 1963 classic The Birds, was a volunteer with a humanitarian group that worked with Vietnamese refugees in Sacramento. Having escaped war-torn Vietnam, the refugees lived in a tent city, visited often by the actress. She connected specifically with a group of 20 women. Hedren told CNN in a 2011 interview that the Vietnamese women admired her nails.“ They loved my fingernails,” she said. Hedren brought her manicurist once a week and gave them manicuring lessons. Going a step further, Hedren persuaded Citrus Heights Beauty School near Sacramento to enroll the Vietnamese women as students. While the Hollywood humanitarian got the ball rolling, ultimately, many Vietnamese immigrants and their families created a nail empire across the U. S. A. from rural towns to major metropolitan cities.
American Dream
Mindy Lewis, owner of Mindy’ s Nails in Trinidad, Colorado, was 29 years old when she first came to the U. S. Living in Wisconsin and California, she later joined her friend, Tina, in Pueblo West at a salon called US Nails. Then in 2012, she moved to Trinidad with her husband, Dave. Mindy’ s Nails opened in 2012 and was first located on Commercial Street. The current location can be found on 300 Pine Street.
Back to the business of toes and finger nails
Lounging back in the massage recliner, I place my feet in the hot blue water which feels soft; almost silky. The pedicure process has quite a few procedures starting with the luxury soaking, trimming and shaping the toe nails, a hot rock leg massage, hot wax dip to moisturize the foot and a lengthy foot and leg massage with soothing lotion. Finishing, of course, with the beautiful and detailed polish leaving my toes looking fresh and bright. There are many services provided at the full service nail salon in addition to the relaxing pedicures, including DND gel( shellac) and acrylic fingernails, eyelash extensions, body waxing and facials.
Coming full circle
The business of nail-care salons has revved up in the United States. Here in Trinidad, Mindy has achieved the proverbial American dream. A modern-day entrepreneur, she employs several nail artists and two receptionists to keep up with the steady stream of local and touring clients. I am grateful for the pampering and professionalism I find at Mindy’ s Nails, and I really enjoy how my colorful toes look in my new sandals.
20 N New legends magazine