Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Ha.
Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but my love for business started when I was a kid sitting in my mother’s nail salon. She was a single mother managing every part of the business on her own, and watching her work planted something in me. I still have the clearest memory of me picking up a bottle of nail polish when I was 11 years old and trying to replicate the strokes, holding the bottle like a nail tech would.
After dropping out of high school and feeling disconnected from the traditional path of college, my mom encouraged me to learn a trade. I got my manicurist license at 17, but I started working in the salon long before that. My mother came to the US as a Vietnam war refugee, and we grew up with limited resources. Money was tight and shopping or having more than one pair of shoes weren’t options for us. Instead of feeling discouraged, I learned early on to find creative ways to earn what I wanted. Doing nails for my friends and trading it for things I couldn’t buy became my way of creating opportunities for myself starting at the age of 14.
I got hired by Aveda at 17, and that experience shifted my perspective. I was trained in professionalism, proper consultations, massage techniques, and a client-centered service approach. It was very different from the fast-paced environment of traditional Asian-owned salons where speed often came before connection. Over the years, I worked in multiple salons and treated each one as a place to learn. I paid attention to how owners managed their staff, how clients responded to energy, and how small details could transform an experience. I realized I didn’t just love doing nails. I loved creating moments of care and building relationships. Even the toughest clients became meaningful to me because it felt like a chance to shift someone’s entire day through service.
There was a time when I began hand-making skincare products like scrubs and body butter using raw ingredients and a KitchenAid mixer, packing them into mason jars and selling them out of my home. Quality has always mattered to me, and that belief continued today in our salon through clean, vegan, cruelty-free product choices.
Eventually I decided to return to school. I went to college later and earned my degree in business. In July 2024 I purchased my first nail salon. It was a run down neighborhood spot that had been around for more than 30 years. The space had history and a loyal community but needed vision and heart. I wanted to take everything I learned from my mother’s resilience, my time in the industry, and my business education and bring them together. I didn’t just renovate a salon. I rebuilt an experience with intention.
My hope is that every client who visits our salon feels a sense of warmth, presence, and genuine care. I also hope to inspire other nail technicians to take pride in their craft, slow down, and recognize that their work is more than a service because it has the power to uplift and change someone’s day. You become their place, the one they return to throughout the seasons of their life. A nail salon doesn’t just make people look better, it becomes a safe space where they feel seen, remembered, and cared for over and over again.
I’m deeply thankful for every person who walked through our doors, gave us a chance, and helped shape this journey with their support.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wish I could say it’s been a smooth journey, but honestly I just feel grateful to have landed where I am. I didn’t come from a traditional or privileged background. I dropped out of high school and was often seen as the troubled child. Being raised by a mother who came to the U.S. as a Vietnam war refugee and a single parent meant financial stability and a solid family foundation was never something we had, although my mom tried her best. Confidence wasn’t something that came naturally to me either. Stepping into a leadership role after years of being underestimated and underestimating myself was intimidating. I was scared people would see right through me and question what right I had to lead or own a business.
I soon realized that heart, intention, and consistency matter more than having a perfect background. Once I embraced who I am and where I come from, I found my strength. I allowed room for grace, learning, and becoming. That mindset became the foundation of my business as well. I wanted my salon to be that same kind of space for others, a place where people feel welcomed exactly as they are, without judgement, where they decompress, be seen, and be cared for in the smallest but most meaningful ways.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sandy Nails?
My salon is more than a place to get your nails done. It’s a space built with intention, empathy, and care. Every service comes with presence, patience, and attention to detail. It’s anchored in slow beauty and mindful connection. We’ve also got a playlist with purpose — music that calms, energizes, and makes the space feel like your happy place.
What sets us apart is our philosophy. A manicure or pedicure may seem simple, but it can be someone’s one moment of peace in a long week. It can be their ritual, their reset, their safe space. We prioritize connection, clean practices, and quality over volume, and we consciously keep our prices accessible so clients can enjoy quality and services without compromise. We’ve had instances where someone arrives feeling embarrassed about their feet, and they leave better than when they came in. That’s what defines success for us, when a client trusts us and feels safe and comfortable in our space.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising would be how deeply my work is connected to well-being, inner peace, and mental health. Most people see nails and beauty services and assume it’s just about aesthetics, but for me, it goes much deeper. Growing up as a first-generation Asian American was challenging, trying to honor my mother’s strict Chinese values while also finding my own identity in a world that felt completely different from what I was raised with. Working closely with my mother at the nail salon hasn’t always been easy but it’s taught me resilience, empathy, and adaptability. We’re a mother-daughter team so there’s a lot of love, history, and growth woven into this space.
There is an emotional focus and constant effort to grow and improve behind every aspect of my life and work. I’m still on a journey to find my purpose in this world. I’m committed to creating a space where healing, beauty, and connection coexist together. You often hear that getting your nails done is cheaper than therapy, and it’s true. Some parts of the process come with regulating nervous systems, creating safety, and serves as a small form of emotional care. Over the years, inner peace became a personal priority, and that journey led me to pursue my master’s degree in mental health therapy. The salon was my first therapy room — just with warm water, polish, and gentle conversation. (or even no conversation, just quiet safety.)
Pricing:
- Manicure $20
- Pedicure $30
- Gel Add On $15
- Acrylic Full Set $55
- Gentleman’s Pedi $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sandysatblvd.com
- Instagram: @sandysatblvd
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sandy-nails-san-diego-4
