Everything, in the end, is an opportunity, local beautician Cindy Pham believes.

Great plans for an official opening of Cindy’s new nail and beauty business were, like so much of our lives recently, put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However the lockdown gave Cindy the perfect chance to get her home-based venture “8 Ramsay Nails and Beauty” set up just as she wanted it.

“I started in July this year, and during the whole time of lockdown, I focussed on setting up the business; because we couldn’t open, I’ve spent the time getting it exactly as I wanted,” she said.

“I was about to open before lockdown, but then we had lockdown so we haven’t had our official opening day, but I’m already open now – we’re open for everything.

“Friends online said, ‘Cindy only just opened, and then they shut her down.’ On the other side, I think it’s good, I was able to get my samples set up just right. In the end, I think it was a good thing,” she said philosophically.

Trained and accredited in the United States (Washington State) after growing up in Vietnam (Da Nang), Cindy is enthusiastic about her first big business venture.

“I focus mainly on acrylic nails, pedicures, waxings, and then do eyelash extensions as well... I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I like to get everything just right.”

Cindy explains carefully her craft using various lacquers, gels and highlights to create individualised and stylish nail extensions for each client.

“We put on a layer of gel, and then the colour, and then another layer of gel, with a special magnet to bring the colour through the gel... we can then apply a layer of colour on top of the nails,” she said, immersing herself in the process through the various samples she provides.

Her range of nail services includes full-set acrylic nails, full-set Ombre, full-set cat’s eyes, full-set chromes; full-hand nail art, and a variety of infills.

“I can talk about this all afternoon. I’ve been doing this a long time. I enjoy doing all this, it is very creative.”

“I’ve worked at a number of local salons, but this is something that I thought about doing for ages, it’s one of my dreams.”

Cindy also features the unique Signature Nail System (SNS) which offers unparalleled quality-control in results. “I have the best SNS stuff from America, you can’t get better,” Cindy said proudly. Her SNS services includes full-set SNS on natural nails, extensions, and take-offs.

She also offers manicures, pedicures, cutting, buffing, shaping of nails for hands and feet, as well as specialised shellac services including the deluxe pedicure and manicure with shellac.

“I also do waxing, faces, eyebrows, eyelash extensions, I do whatever people want.”

Eyelash tints she offers comprise eyelash tints, eye brown tints, and combinations of the two. Extension services comprise full-sets infills for one, two, three, and four weeks.

And don’t worry if you’re forgotten what your last visit included, because Cindy will already know!

“With the extension service, we will keep a record of your date of service and the size of your lashes to make sure, every time you come back, you have everything to check on,” Cindy said.

Her waxing services include eyebrows, upper lips, full-face, under-arm, and eyebrow waxes.

Like many businesses, the first few days after lockdown went boom-time, but she now has plenty of bookings available.

Cindy says that the interruptions of the past 18 months slowed, but never halted, her dream of her own business venture in the trade that she loves.

“I know I didn’t get my official opening, but I don’t think about it, I don’t worry about it, I just keep going and I know that I will eventually get there,” she said.

Cindy Pham Beautician. 8 Ramsay Nails and Beauty, 8 Ramsay Close, Orange. Open seven days. Phone 0451 851 314. Website: www.8-ramsay-nails-and-beauty.business.site.