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A STORY OF TRANSFORMATION - QIANA AVILES HAS MADE THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY FROM SHARING A PRISON CELL WITH HER MOTHER TO A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS SUCCESS STORY.
Qiana Aviles is not only a fan of style and grace, she is also the founder and CEO of three businesses within the beauty space in New York City... and one of them is the buzz of the city's beauty scene.
Coming from a Puerto Rican background, Aviles was born and raised in the streets of Brooklyn, where she grew up in humble circumstances but surrounded by lots of love. Despite her family being very tight-knit and supportive, due to various circumstances, Qiana’s family also had a history of crime. She was arrested in New Jersey in 1998, at just 18 years old. Before turning her life around and implementing some severe changes in lifestyle, she even shared a prison cell with her mother.
Following her release, Qiana’s mindset was transformed. She made the decision to go back to school and pursue her life’s dream of becoming an entrepreneur by enrolling at the Baruch College for Finance. While dedicated to her studies, the businesswoman in her was already planning her next move. Suddenly, an idea came to mind that she couldn’t seem to shake. At the time, she was also working in real estate. She quickly realized that Washington Heights was missing a quality nail salon in the area, and that it was the ideal opportunity for her first business endeavor. Five months later, she opened her salon Nail Lounge on the corner of Broadway and Dyckman Street, with a totally new concept.
Nail Lounge is the perfect mix between a nail salon and a night lounge. Qiana wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere, where customers could come in, sit at the bar, and get pampered. The intertwined concept gained the hearts of many (along with its gorgeous nail art), and luckily for Qiana, it was a hit from day one. The salon has now hosted several A-list celebrities. It has also been featured by a variety of magazines and blogs.
"Despite her family being very tight-knit and supportive, due to various circumstances, Qiana’s family also had a history of crime. She was arrested in New Jersey in 1998, at just 18 years old. Before turning her life around and implementing some severe changes in lifestyle, she even shared a prison cell with her mother."
"Nail Lounge is the perfect mix between a nail salon and a night lounge. Qiana wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere, where customers could come in, sit at the bar, and get pampered. The intertwined concept gained the hearts of many (along with its gorgeous nail art), and luckily for Qiana, it was a hit from day one."
But that’s not the only trick Qiana has up her sleeve. She also runs a hair product business named Vida Essentials, which happens to be created from a formula her mom originated in her kitchen. The products contain 100% naturally organic, plant-based ingredients that help stimulate hair growth and restore damaged hair. Today, the Vida brand has a large e-commerce presence and its own manufacturing warehouse.
The Latina business woman also runs two more businesses on the side. One of the two is her own nail polish line by the name of Q&A Lux Lacquer, which carries over 20 stunning shades in both regular polish and gel polish. The other is a beauty med spa located next to Nail Lounge, which is operated under the brand name of Face & Body NYC.
Clearly, she has her hands full with four successful businesses. But Qiana also makes it a point to find time to give back to her community. Nail Lounge has done work for the local children’s hospital by providing free manicures for patients. They’ve also gotten involved with prom season and helped young girls get ready for their special day with a fresh manicure. “Nothing brings me greater joy than seeing the look of happiness on those girls’ faces,” Aviles says. “They remind me of what I lived and all I went through to get here.”
Qiana’s next goal is learning about prison reform and how she can get involved with helping the cause. As for her businesses, Nail Lounge is planning to make its way into Edgewater, New Jersey and Miami, Florida during 2021. The salon will be joined by her other two businesses, Face & Body and Vida Essentials. We tell her she’s already done it all, but she replies with “I haven’t done it all just yet.” Well, we’re eager to see what this determined and warm-hearted Latina does next.
Follow Qiana Aviles: www.instagram.com/qianaaviles
Shop Vida Essentials on www.vidahairgrowth.com