Our Story · Teanails — Melbourne
Teanails is a Melbourne press-on studio built on one belief: the women who work the hardest deserve to feel the most put-together. Every set is made on demand and hand-finished in Docklands — your favourite nails, anytime, anywhere.
The story so far
It started with a wish and a birthday cake. For my 18th birthday, my mum handed me a full nail kit — the very thing at the top of my wishlist. I was so happy.
I spent those first months practising on anyone in my family; even my dog would sit still to let me paint his nails. Those moments were filled with laughter and the simple joy of creating something colourful.
Seeing my obsession, my parents invested in a nail course. They said it wasn't just for fun — they were giving me a future, so I could be independent when I moved to Australia. Once I graduated, I landed my first job in Da Nang, learning the rhythm of a real salon.
Things went so well that I found the confidence to start my own business at eighteen. I poured my heart, my savings, and my sleepless nights into press-on nails.
Then the world stopped. Lockdown happened, and the excitement turned into a heavy silence as I watched my dreams sit in boxes, unable to be sold. It wasn't just the money I lost, but a deep, personal failure that made me lose trust in myself.
I arrived in Melbourne with a suitcase and a heart full of nerves, going from one trial shift to another, trying to prove my worth in a city that didn't even know my name. Eventually I found a place in a salon — but after a few months of hustling, the 9-to-5 grind didn't fit my university schedule, so with a deep breath, I quit.
I started Teanails again in the corner of my bedroom. No fancy furniture — just a desk and ten bottles of colour. I'll never forget the first few clients who sat in my bedroom; they didn't just pay for nails, they gave me the courage to keep going.
Life began to shift. I moved into a new apartment and finally had space to breathe. My collection grew from ten to over a hundred bottles of colour — growth that mirrored my own journey, and pushed me to invest even more so every client left happier.
The clients I met then helped me define what "Teanails" truly meant. They became the foundation of the community I have today.
As Teanails became more stable, something unexpected happened: my clients started asking if I could train them to become nail technicians. I went from artist to educator.
Within a year, I learned to balance creating artistic, long-lasting sets for my clients while responsibly guiding my students through their own learning. Watching them find their spark reminded me of that 18-year-old girl back in 2020.
I believe a mentor who truly cares helps shape technicians who care just as deeply. So I trained every student as if they'd become artists their own clients could trust — sharing not only my techniques, but the lessons I'd learned the hard way, hoping they wouldn't have to repeat my mistakes.
2025 has been a year of sustainable growth — not only as a person, but as a nail mentor and artist. I finally overcame the fear of failure I'd carried for years, and built the foundation for the press-on brand I once gave up on.
Every morning I wake up grateful to create sets that make my clients happy, and to lead training sessions that exceed my students' expectations.
I finally felt ready to restart the project I began in 2021. What once felt like wasted effort was really just seeds being planted for today. Along the way I've had the chance to share, connect, and learn so much from my clients — who have become more like sisters to me. I'll truly miss these connections when I return to Vietnam.
Teanails is my story of moving across the world: trying, failing, rebuilding, and finally finding my way. To everyone who has been part of this story — thank you 🤍
Bring us an idea and we'll build it by hand, or start with the collections and find the mood that fits. Either way, it's made for your hands only.
The work — and the inspiration — lives at @teanails.au
