The Real Reason Nail Techs Are Undervalued (And How This Brand Is Changing It) with Nicole Tran and Michael Lam

Sponsored by Function of Vex https://f-vex.com/  Interview with Nicole Tran and Michael Lam NICOLE TRAN — Creative Director & Co-Founder Nicole Tran started as a self-taught nail artist studying Korean and Japanese artists on loop, chasing a feeling the industry hadn't given her yet. She earned her license, built a career, and hit every milestone the industry had to offer. And then she built something the industry didn't. Function of Vex was born from frustration, obsession, and the belief that nails aren't an accessory — they're the art. Every product she creates asks one question: why doesn't this exist yet? Function of Vex is the answer — built for every artist ready to ask the same thing. MICHAEL LAM — COO & Co-Founder Michael Lam is the backbone of Function of Vex — the infrastructure behind the vision. While Nicole dreams big, Michael makes sure the foundation holds. The finances, the hard calls, the reality checks. He believes passion isn't enough. That a great company has to take care of its people first — employees, community, the artists Nic is building for. Where Nic is focused on impact through product, Michael is focused on impact through people. That tension — and that trust — is exactly what makes Function of Vex work. Honesty and difficulty have always gone hand in hand. Links: https://f-vex.com/pages/new-about-page?srsltid=AfmBOopv6Yieba2cTsMnFCDn8Ye2xyAV1DTcep_qHiJL-tm32WOeHEQh https://www.instagram.com/nictrick/ https://www.instagram.com/functionofvex/  News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/a-unique-new-collab-between-the-sassoon-academy-and-jeremy-jairdoeshair-pugh-comes-together-this-april/ https://www.thetease.com/80215-2/  Obsessed or Over It? ALIX EARLE'S SKINCARE BRAND YELLOW FOR SPRING  WHY YOU SO OBSESSED More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: [email protected]   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/