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Reunion 2024

Andrea Vieira's headshot

Andréa Vieira
Founder & CEO, nailsaloon

Born in Brazil, raised around the world, but most at home in Washington, D.C., Latina entrepreneur Andréa Vieira is the co-founder and CEO of nailsaloon, the first premier luxury nail and beauty parlor in the region. In 2014, she launched the flagship location in the Logan Circle neighborhood, with a second outpost in Capitol Hill thereafter, expanding with a third location in Chevy Chase, Maryland in 2023. Her growth plans include the launch of two additional salon destinations throughout the DMV area by 2024, with national sights in mind for the future.

What started off as a simple idea during a conversation with a friend, Andréa’s nailsaloon was the answer to a problem she realized she could fix: the need for an elevated nail and beauty experience in the D.C. area. She imagined a salon that was immaculately clean, had excellent customer service, provided a strong sense of community, and served specialty beverages while cultivating an atmosphere of kindness, mindfulness, and connection. 

Prior to diving into the world of salontrepreneurship, Andréa worked as a journalist and television producer, spending nearly two decades with the likes of the Discovery Channel, TruTV, HGTV, Animal Planet, and the Discovery Health Channel. As a reporter, Andréa covered stories of Latin American interest for Globo TV in New York; Telemundo in Washington, DC; and CNN in Atlanta. 

Prior to and while opening the nailsaloon, Andréa also worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest charitable organization in the world. There, she crafted speeches for both Bill and Melinda Gates, drafting and deliberating public-facing communications for the pair and their project at large. More importantly, it was there where she cultivated her lifelong commitment to serving those most in need. 

Today, Andréa has executed a best-in-class parlor of her dreams at nailsaloon, but what truly drives her is the impact her business venture has on a broader community. A trusted care provider for her clients’ cuticles and more, Andréa’s nailsaloon has amplified her civic duty, to support women, the free press, and organizations that address homelessness. Named a 2023 winner of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award, Andréa also commits nailsaloon to annual charitable donations. Since its creation, the nailsaloon has donated over $200,000 to causes including the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless and her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Maryland's Merrill College of Journalism, among others. 

Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, Andréa also holds a Global Executive MBA from Georgetown University and ESADE (Spain). She is a member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization, and sits on two Boards in our nation’s capital, the D.C. Coalition for the Homeless, and the Friends of the Art Museum of the Americas. Her proven record of cross-industry success has paved the way for her to drive seminal cultural and community impact through nail and beauty services.