Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

California is home to the largest number of nail salons and licensed manicurists in the United States, making it a central hub of the national nail salon industry. Transformed largely by Vietnamese refugee women, the industry has grown into a dynamic and culturally significant space, yet it continues to be marked by deep inequities. Nail salon workers face persistent labor violations, including subminimum wages, misclassification, and unsafe exposure to toxic chemicals, compounded by limited language access and enforcement of labor protections. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these challenges, revealing the fragility of the industry and the intersecting racial, gendered, and economic vulnerabilities of its workforce. 

Using a mixed-methods approach, including a review of existing literature, secondary labor and licensing data, and in-depth interviews with workers, owners, and advocates across California, this report examines the industry’s structure, pay systems, and workforce needs. It identifies key policy gaps and outlines opportunities to strengthen labor standards, worker health and safety protections, and build a stronger nail salon sector for workers and owners.