Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Nguyen.
Hi Jimmy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t take the traditional path to get where I am today. My story has a lot of ups and downs, and honestly, that’s a big part of what made me who I am.
I came from a Vietnamese immigrant family. My father came to the United States in 1980 looking for a better life for our family. Growing up, though, I struggled to find my own direction. I ran away from home at 12, got involved with the wrong crowd and gangs, and eventually made decisions that led to me spending nearly 15 years incarcerated.
Prison could have been the end of my story, but instead it became a place where I started changing my mindset. I earned my GED and began tutoring and helping other people with their education. That experience showed me something about myself that I didn’t realize before: I loved teaching and helping people gain confidence in themselves.
After coming home, I was determined to build a different life. I worked on 18 wheelers, got involved in trucking, dispatching and repair, and eventually found my way into the nail industry. What started as learning a new skill became something much bigger.
I built Lobo Nailz and became a nail educator, traveling around the country teaching nail professionals. Eventually, I founded LBC, Let’s Build Confidence, because I wanted my classes to be about more than just nails. My goal is to create an environment with no gatekeeping where people can learn, make mistakes, ask questions and leave believing more in themselves than when they walked in.
Today, I work with students, nail professionals, brands and businesses across the country. I’ve had opportunities to teach, demonstrate at major beauty shows and work alongside some amazing people in this industry.
When I look back, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that where you start doesn’t have to determine where you finish. I went from being incarcerated and uncertain about my future to building a career where I get to travel, teach and help other people build confidence. That’s what makes everything I went through worth turning into something positive.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest challenges has been overcoming my past and learning not to let it define my future. After spending nearly 15 years incarcerated, I came home knowing I had to rebuild my life from the ground up. There were doors that were closed because of my background, and there were times when people judged me based on who I used to be instead of who I was becoming.
When I entered the nail industry, I faced another challenge. I was stepping into an industry where I didn’t look like what some people expected a nail educator to look like. I had to prove myself through my work, my consistency and the way I treated people.
I’ve also learned that success comes with its own challenges. Building LBC, traveling, teaching, running a business and being there for my family requires sacrifice. Not every class sells out. Not every business decision works. I’ve had partnerships and opportunities that didn’t turn out the way I hoped. But every setback teaches me something.
My past taught me how quickly life can change because of the decisions we make. Today, I try to use those lessons to make better decisions, help others and create opportunities instead of excuses.
I don’t hide where I came from because it’s part of why Let’s Build Confidence means so much to me. I had to rebuild confidence in myself before I could teach other people how to build theirs.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a Master Nail Educator and the founder of LBC, Let’s Build Confidence. I travel across the country teaching nail professionals everything from acrylic application, structure and shaping to nail art, e file techniques, builder gel, polygel and more.
But what I’m really known for is teaching in a way that makes people feel comfortable learning. My motto is “No gatekeeping.” I don’t believe knowledge should be held back. If I know something that can help another nail tech grow, I want to teach it.
What I’m most proud of is seeing students come into my workshops nervous or doubting themselves and leave excited, confident and ready to take their career to another level. LBC has become more than just nail classes. We’ve created a community and a family where everyone supports each other.
What sets me apart is that I teach from real experience and I keep it real with my students. I want them to understand not only how to do something, but why they’re doing it. My goal has never been to create another version of me. My goal is to help every student discover what they’re capable of and build confidence in their own work.
That’s why we say, “We are 1.” LBC isn’t just about nails. It’s family.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience. I believe the most important quality behind my success is the ability to keep going no matter what life puts in front of me.
I’ve had plenty of reasons throughout my life to give up or believe that certain opportunities weren’t meant for me. Instead, I learned how to turn setbacks into motivation. I’m not afraid to fail, learn, adjust and try again.
That same mindset is what I bring into the nail industry and what I teach through LBC. Let’s Build Confidence isn’t just a name. I truly believe confidence is built by pushing through the moments when you doubt yourself.
I may not always be the smartest or most talented person in the room, but I will always be willing to work, learn and keep going. That resilience has taken me places I never imagined, and I believe it’s one of the biggest reasons I am where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lobo_nailz/
