LINH NGUYEN

Reconnecting Through Art: My Path to Nail Artistry

My name is Linh, and I’m a press-on nail artist based in Toronto. I was born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, and moved to Canada in 2019. Before moving to Canada, art was my life. I would spend hours making illustrations wherever I could, and I knew early on that I was the happiest when I sat down and created something.

After moving here, the stress of living on my own in a foreign country changed me. Like many of us, I was just trying to find my place in this competitive city. I knew that I had to grind to survive, and without realizing it, I slowly stopped drawing. I had given up the one thing that made me feel alive.

Something that was once a crucial part of me wasn’t present anymore,
and I had to come to terms with it.

For a few years, I felt numb creatively. But things started to fall into place the moment I realized my art didn’t have to be confined to just one medium. It could evolve and adapt, just like me.

My discovery of nails was inevitable.

I’ve always loved having my nails done, but I didn’t have the luxury of time or money to get them done often. I liked the idea of being able to wear a piece of art on my nails—something sophisticated and expressive. Naturally, after doing some research, I decided to try to do it myself, and that’s where this journey began.

It was challenging to get used to a new medium at first, but being able to apply my art to something I enjoy made me happy.

I was creating again. It felt like I reconnected with a part of myself that I thought had died.

Over the year, I kept practicing by making sets for myself, testing my limits, and discovering my creative potential. Then one day, I was eager to take this a step further and make sets for others too. I’ve had a lot of support from the people around me who appreciate what I do, and with each set I’ve made for friends and clients who trusted me, I’ve felt more and more passionate about doing this. Creating personalized sets of nails tailored to each person, inspired by what they love and what they resonate with, is incredibly meaningful and fulfilling for me.

The best part of it all is being able to share my art with the world and seeing people enthusiastically wearing the nails that I crafted for them.

I didn’t expect to go in this direction, but I have always known in my heart that I am passionate about art.

So, I’m thankful to have found a craft that allows me to express this part of myself.

As things stand,
I will be walking down this path filled with excitement and gratitude.

Explore more of Linh’s nail art @hlhl_nails