Lana Kars is a self-made entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ Russian immigrant on a mission to empower other women to reach their full potential. She leads by example, and her story is one of creativity, resilience, and empowerment. Her tenacity and business acumen led her from operating a small studio to developing a chain of salons and an academy in Manhattan.
Kars’s passion for the beauty business enabled her to build a sustainable and scalable company that serves as an inspiration for anyone wanting to follow a similar path. She openly shares her knowledge and experiences, helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
Building and Scaling Beauty Empires
Kars is a self-made entrepreneur specializing in building and scaling successful beauty businesses. She began her entrepreneurial career by founding Russian Nails, which she later sold for over 20 times her initial investment. Now, her mission is to teach other women how to launch and grow their own successful ventures in the beauty industry and beyond!.
Kars has continually redefined the boundaries of nail artistry while creating a sustainable, highly profitable business model. She actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, educating them about operations, management, quality control, and beauty industry expertise.
The lessons she shares are deeply personal. She recalls the night before signing the exit papers for Russian Nails, describing a wave of emotions—happiness, sadness, and uncertainty. These experiences shape her approach to mentoring, as she helps entrepreneurs navigate the emotional complexities of business ownership.
From $100 to Multi-Million
Kars started Russian Nails with just $100, growing it into a thriving salon chain across Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, as well as launching the Russian Nails School.
Her journey began in 2019 when she opened her first salon with only two seats. What started as a cozy space quickly transformed into a thriving enterprise with an annual revenue exceeding $2 million. Kars’s ability to identify market needs, innovate around customer demands, and provide exceptional service played a key role in her rapid success.
Lessons, Insights, and Mentorship
The lessons Kars learned through her entrepreneurial journey, and her insights, set her apart from others. Through her mentoring programs, she teaches aspiring entrepreneurs how to spot market gaps, develop a strong brand identity, and build a scalable business. The night before she opened her successful salon, she felt disoriented about what emotions were “appropriate” to experience. Through her mentorship, she hopes to ease the journey for others by sharing practical business strategies and the emotional realities of entrepreneurship.
Kars overcame the obstacles through her responses to situations. She learned how to spot market gaps, primarily recognizing a lack of high-quality nail services catering to a specific technique, and she built a brand around it. Kars also listened to her customers, enabling her to deliver precisely what they wanted. These ideas led Kars to transform a niche idea into a thriving business, and she now aims to offer these critical lessons to others.
Vision for the Future
After a rapid rise to success, Kars is focused on helping other entrepreneurs surpass their dreams in the beauty industry. Her story is proof that resilience is a key factor in achieving success. Because of her business acumen, she started with a single salon and grew it into a successful chain. Now, she aims to share her story with others, which will benefit not only entrepreneurs but the beauty industry as a whole.
Written in partnership with Tom White
