5th Studios: A Conversation with Savvy Giang and Kailey Wilkens
Living in San Francisco means embracing a whole new culture of style, from head, shoulders, knees, and.. nails. With our limited budgets as college students, we are launched into finding a way to find our own paths and to spend money in a reasonable fashion, and sophomore Savvy Giang has found a way to master both. Savvy has created his own nail business in his humble Gillson dorm starting in 2023. By purchasing his own supplies and adding more with each successful client, Savvy has found a way to create a small business within his own student population while also maintaining a career in social media. “How does he do it, and when can I book another appointment?” are both questions I had for him when I got to interview him.
Tell us more about yourself!
I’m a second year
I'm from Fremont CA
I started doing nails in my Gillson dorm room freshman year April 2024
What does your average weekly schedule look like?
My weekdays start at 8/9 am where I work at the UC 4 for SLE and then I will have classes till 3 or 4pm. Then I will usually take a nail appointment and then my days end around 7-8.
How has the influence of nail design from third-party apps infiltrated your creative outlook on nails today?
I love it! I love being able to see so many different styles and incorporate different techniques into my work. I mainly see it as resources that I can pull from for inspiration or new techniques to incorporate into my work.
Has living in San Francisco or rather does the setting around you inspire you to fulfill this creative path?
I don't think being in San Francisco specifically influences my creativity, but it's more about being on a college campus with such amazing people that inspires me to branch out.
Have you always dreamed of taking on an entrepreneurial route unrelated to your studies?
Yes! I’ve always felt an urge to have an entrepreneurial route whether its one way or the other. I don’t exactly know how, but I know I got what it takes.
What has been the most difficult (both nail design-wise and concept of the business-wise) and what has shocked you the most?
I guess the most difficult aspect is trying to keep up with the demands of the business. With such a high volume of customers, it's hard to keep a good work-life balance while still being a student. Then again, the amount of clients I get has been so surprising and heart-warming. Although it's a learning curve, I love that I’m able to constantly learn new designs that clients request.
Do you wish to expand the brand in any way, using different services or a larger group of clients, or keep it to a routine that you find pleasurable?
At the moment, I haven’t thought about expanding as it is so far. I just want to follow where the business goes and do what feels right! To me, the system I have right now works perfectly with my lifestyle.
Has your career in social media affected the way you incorporate trending styles into your nails, or perhaps does your creative branching of doing nails help inspire even more creative outlooks of your brand?
I guess aesthetically, social media has helped me find what I like and dislike when it comes to my branding. When it comes to nails, most of the “trendy styles” come from my clients.
Is there something you wish your clients would know beforehand?
I guess one thing is that I’m still learning too! It hasn’t even been a year since I started doing nails so I would still consider myself a beginner. I am always trying to improve one way or the other, so if it means one appointment at a time, then so be it.
And of course, what are your current details for anyone reading who may want to book?
It's easy! Dm me through my insta @5th.studios_ and I will send you a link to my availability calendar where we can book an appointment together!
