Our Story

Welcome to SHi® Professionals, where professional education, real salon experience, and purpose-built tools come together to help nail professionals work smarter.

SHi® Professionals was founded by Long Nguyen, professionally known for many years as Tom Nguyen and today also known as Mr. SHi. With more than 25 years of hands-on experience behind the nail table, Long has experienced the profession from multiple perspectives, as a nail technician, nail artist, salon owner, educator, and product creator.

SHi® grew from a simple observation: nail professionals work incredibly hard, but working harder is not always the answer.

Sometimes the better answer is understanding the problem, improving the technique, choosing the right tool, or creating a smarter workflow.

That thinking became the foundation of SHi® Professionals and our philosophy:

Nail Smart, Not Hard.

We believe professional growth begins with understanding.

Instead of simply telling nail technicians what product to use or what technique to follow, our education focuses on helping professionals understand why something works. When you understand the principles behind your craft, you can make better decisions, adapt your technique, solve problems with greater confidence, and continue improving throughout your career.

That same philosophy guides our product development.

Our products are inspired by real challenges encountered behind the nail table. We look at workflow, precision, control, efficiency, safety, consistency, and the everyday frustrations professionals experience, then ask:

Is there a smarter way?

The Birth of SHi®

SHi® isn't just a name; it's a reflection of our core values and aspirations. It's an acronym that embodies everything we stand for – excellence, innovation, and empowerment. Each letter represents a pillar of our commitment to you, our valued customer.

But what exactly does SHi® mean, and why did we choose this name?

The name SHi® represents three principles that continue to guide our brand.

• S stands for Superior Craftsmanship – reflecting the exceptional quality and meticulous attention to detail in every product we create. Professional tools should be designed with purpose. We value quality, precision, thoughtful details, and performance that supports the demands of professional salon work.

• H stands for High-End Elegance – symbolizing the luxurious and sophisticated nature of our brand. Professional performance and thoughtful design can coexist. We believe the tools professionals use every day should feel refined, functional, and worthy of their craft.

• I stands for Innovation – representing our commitment to creativity and pioneering new trends in the nail industry. For us, innovation is not about creating something new simply because it is different. It is about identifying a real problem and finding a better way to solve it.

Education Is Part of the Product

At SHi®, we believe selling a professional tool without helping someone understand how to use it leaves part of the job unfinished.

That is why education has always been at the heart of our brand.

Through tutorials, professional education, MasterClasses, technical demonstrations, and years of shared salon experience, we teach techniques alongside product use so nail professionals can understand not only what to do, but why they are doing it.

We are always learning, always sharing, and always teaching.

The nail industry continues to evolve, and we believe professionals should evolve with it. Our goal is not to create fear around change. Our goal is to provide knowledge that helps professionals think critically, make informed decisions, and continue mastering their craft.

Built for the Working Nail Professional

SHi® is not built around trends or shortcuts.

It is built around the realities of professional salon work.

Nearly three decades behind the nail table have taught us that small improvements can have a significant impact. Better product control can improve consistency. A better workflow can save valuable time. Understanding the science behind a technique can replace uncertainty with confidence.

Those lessons influence the products we develop and the education we share.

We don't believe nail professionals simply need more products.

They need the right tools, the right knowledge, and a better understanding of how to use both.

What We're Most Proud Of

Our greatest accomplishment isn't a single product.

It's seeing professionals grow.

SHi® Professionals has trained more than 1,000 nail technicians and connected with hundreds of thousands of nail professionals through education, demonstrations, products, and our online community.

But numbers only tell part of the story.

What matters most is helping a professional understand something that once frustrated them, improve a technique they struggled with, work with greater confidence, or discover a more efficient way to serve their clients.

That is the kind of impact we want SHi® to continue making.

From Long Nguyen, Mr. SHi

I didn't build SHi® for trends.

I built it for real work.

After spending most of my professional life behind the nail table, I understand that in a real salon environment, speed matters. Control matters. Consistency matters even more.

I've also learned that the answer isn't always another product.

Sometimes it's a better technique.

Sometimes it's a better tool.

Sometimes it's changing the workflow.

And sometimes it's simply understanding why.

That is what "Nail Smart, Not Hard" means to me.

Everything I've learned through years of working, teaching, experimenting, succeeding, failing, and improving has shaped the way I approach SHi® today.

My goal is simple: share that knowledge, create tools with purpose, and help the next generation of nail professionals build stronger skills and sustainable careers.

Long Nguyen
Professionally known as Tom Nguyen / Mr. SHi
Founder, SHi® Professionals

Join us in redefining the nail game and making every creation a masterpiece without the hustle.