Helen Bui launched her nail art business in Toronto in 2021 before moving to Ottawa when she began her studies at Carleton University.
Now working out of her home studio, @tinted_tips has built a following of more than 10,000 people on Instagram, plus 16,000 on TikTok, for her bold and intricate acrylic nail designs.
In addition to running her own business, Bui is a third-year communications and media studies student.
The Charlatan spoke with Bui about her creative process and what it’s like to balance running a business while pursuing a university degree.
The Charlatan (TC): How did you get your start in nail art?
Helen Bui (HB): I started doing nails near the end of Grade 11. I have a background in visual arts, and nails felt like another canvas for me to be creative. It started as a passion project during the COVID-19 pandemic, where I started by making press-on nails and selling them online because I was stuck at home and couldn’t take in-person clients.
When I moved to Ottawa for school in 2025, that’s when I really expanded into doing nails on actual people.
It’s been about a year now, and it’s been really fun meeting new people through my work.
TC: Did anyone in your life influence or encourage you to take nail art seriously as a business?
HB: My sister played a huge role. She was the one who really pushed me to take it seriously — in a very older sister way. She helped me come up with the name, branding and marketing. My logo is actually her artwork. From there, I built my own style.
Being Vietnamese, nails have always been a big part of my culture — my mom worked in nail salons when she immigrated to Canada.
She wasn’t supportive at first because she knows how demanding the industry can be, but doing nails independently gives me more freedom than working in a shop.
TC: What’s the meaning behind the name “@tinted_tips”?
HB: It’s funny because there isn’t a deep meaning behind it. My sister and I were just brainstorming names in the car, writing things down in our notes app, and nothing felt right.
In Vietnamese culture, nicknames are really common. My family calls me “Ti Ti,” and my sister has a similar nickname, too.
So “tinted tips” came from playing with the letters “TT.” In a subtle way, my name is incorporated into the brand, even if people don’t realize it. I don’t think about it much anymore, but looking back, it’s a cute family thing.
TC: How would you describe your style in your own words?
HB: I wouldn’t say I have a specific style, but it’s definitely not plain. I actually don’t offer solid colours or classic French tips. When you book with me, the nails have to be fun and have some sort of design element — gems, colours or something else that stands out.
If someone wants plain nails, there are so many salons in Ottawa that do that perfectly.
I feel like my strength is doing bold, playful designs where each finger can be different. I think it’s actually harder for me to do plain nails than detailed ones, so my style is really just about having fun with it.
TC: What are some behind-the-scenes parts of running a nail business that people might not think about?
HB: There’s so much more than just doing nails. You’re managing your social media, editing videos, taking photos, setting up booking sites and answering DMs.
It’s everything.
It kind of feels like you’re working 24/7 without actually working 24/7. A lot of that labour is invisible to clients because they only see you during the appointment. What makes it manageable is that it’s creative work, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. It’s just things that need to get done, and I enjoy the process most of the time.
TC: What’s it like to balance both running this business and being a full time university student?
HB: Nail art has always been a creative outlet for me, even before university. Having this business before school actually helped me, especially because my communications degree supports the marketing and digital side of what I do.
At the same time, balancing everything is hard. I live alone, so sometimes things like schoolwork or even basic life stuff fall behind because I want to keep working. I’m still trying to find that balance.
It feels like an ongoing process, but I’m grateful that I genuinely enjoy what I do while figuring it out.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured image by Simon McKeown / The Charlatan.
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