Today we’d like to introduce you to Nani (Nhan) Zhou.
Hi Nhan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Nani Zhou — a Vietnamese woman of Chinese heritage who followed her husband and built a new life in Sugar Land. I didn’t arrive with a grand business plan — only a quiet dream I had carried for years: to create a beauty space where women feel seen, heard, and respected.
Before moving to the U.S., beauty was already a part of my life — not just as a service, but as a way of connecting with people. I grew up noticing how women transform when they feel understood: their posture changes, their tone softens, and their confidence becomes visible. That memory shaped everything I wanted to build. I didn’t want to simply “open a salon.” I wanted to build a space with intention.
I chose not to follow the crowded path of big, multi-service salons that offer everything at once. Many believe “more is better,” but I’ve always trusted the opposite. I wanted one specialty, one focus — done with precision and authenticity. So I built a small lash studio instead of a large commercial space, a studio that values quality over scale and intimacy over traffic.
That is how Hong Kong Lash Bar was born. I drew inspiration from the Hong Kong film aesthetic I grew up loving: warm lighting, cinematic mood, private corners, nostalgic beauty, and stories hidden in small details. Our studio isn’t loud or crowded. It feels more like a quiet room in a hidden alley café, where two women can talk softly about life while lashes become art. Clients aren’t rushed, their privacy is respected, and every set of lashes is crafted as if it belongs to its own movie character.
Today, clients come not just to “get their lashes done,” but to escape the noise, relax in a personal space, share their stories if they wish, or simply enjoy the silence. They leave with lashes that fit their personality — not a trend — and with the feeling that someone took time to understand them.
This journey has taught me that success doesn’t need to be loud. Sometimes it is as soft as a whisper, as simple as doing one thing beautifully, and as powerful as giving women a place where they can just be themselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey hasn’t been smooth at all. It has been quiet, slow, and at times, painfully uncertain. But maybe that’s what makes it real. When I first started, the biggest challenge wasn’t money or skill — it was identity. As a Vietnamese woman of Chinese heritage, newly married and building a life in a new country, I often questioned whether I was “allowed” to dream this big. Many people looked at the beauty industry as something small, temporary, or frivolous. Some assumed I should find a “more stable job,” something typical for immigrants. Others believed beauty work is easy, like we just make things “pretty.” But making a woman feel confident, safe, and respected is not “easy” — it’s emotional labor.
I didn’t have a large network, so every connection started from zero. I wasn’t fluent socially here, so every conversation took extra effort. And I chose a path that wasn’t popular: a small, specialized studio, not a big, crowded salon with many services. That choice raised eyebrows. People asked: “Why so small?” “Why only lashes?” “How can you grow without adding more services?” But I believed in depth over variety — in doing one thing well instead of everything half-heartedly. That belief kept me going.
Another challenge was the emotional side of working with women. In a private, quiet studio, clients bring their stories with them — heartbreak, exhaustion, motherhood, loneliness, ambition. Sometimes I’m not just creating lashes; I’m giving someone space to breathe, cry, or simply exist without being judged. Holding that space takes patience, empathy, and boundaries — things no one teaches you in beauty school.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. But it’s honest. And every struggle has slowly shaped Hong Kong Lash Bar into what it is today: a small space with a big soul, built with intention, resilience, and the belief that women deserve more than just beauty — they deserve dignity, privacy, and peace.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Hong Kong Lash Bar, I specialize exclusively in lash artistry — not as a trend, but as a form of personal storytelling. I don’t believe lashes should look the same on every woman; instead, I design them based on who she is, her lifestyle, natural features, and even the quiet parts of her personality. While many studios focus on heavy volume or dramatic looks, I’m known for natural elegance with a cinematic touch — lashes that feel like they belong to a character in a movie, not a beauty filter.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the technique, but the experience: women come into my studio and feel safe enough to relax, to stop performing for the world, and to simply be themselves. What sets us apart is intention, privacy, and subtlety; we don’t chase trends or rush appointments. We don’t try to change women — we highlight what already makes them beautiful in their own narrative.
In a world that tries to make women look alike, I choose to celebrate individuality, one pair of lashes at a time.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The quality that has shaped my success the most is quiet intention. In the beauty industry, people often chase trends loudly, but I believe in moving slowly, listening deeply, and creating with purpose. I don’t force a style onto anyone — I observe, I learn who they are, and I design something that belongs to them.
This intention isn’t glamorous, but it builds trust, privacy, and authenticity. Clients don’t return because I “change” their look; they return because I respect who they already are. In a world full of noise, quiet intention becomes powerful — it allows me to create beauty that feels personal, thoughtful, and real.
Pricing:
- Classic Cinematic Set: Starting at $120 → soft, natural, film-inspired look
- Hybrid Artistry Set: Starting at $145 → a balance of natural elegance and expressive texture
- Hybrid Artistry Set: Starting at $145 → a balance of natural elegance and expressive texture
- Hybrid Artistry Set: Starting at $145 → a balance of natural elegance and expressive texture
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hongkonglashbar.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkonglashbar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BRRMxrnx1/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/amiOUsxuYa
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LuG7zeVLgEjya3LE9
Image Credits
– photo by DUY NGUYEN –
