Much like at restaurants and hair salons, the industry standard for tipping at the nail salon ranges around 15 to 20 percent, and it is generally recommended that if you've received extra services or specialty designs, a minimum of 20 percent is appreciated.

By the end of the 1980s, over 125,000 Vietnamese refugees had settled in the United States, and word had spread among the close-knit community that nail salons were a viable business to earn a stable income and become self-sufficient.

The prevalence of Korean nail salons in New York came partially from the fact that these salons offered cheaper options for manicures and pedicures, which opened up the industry to customers across the economic spectrum.

Nationwide, 50% of nail salon owners are Vietnamese.