DAYNA TANAKA -- Working

Story by Young Chang

SHE IS

all ears as she works on fingertips.

ALMOST LIKE HOME

Dayna Tanaka’s clients know they can come in wearing a dress or shorts

or, if they so feel, pajamas. The Mood Escape in Costa Mesa, where Tanaka

has been a manicurist for 20 years, is that kind of place, she said.

While she sits across from clients, with 50 to 100 bottles of nail

polish cluttered around her, Tanaka hears about the joys and pains of her

regular customers.

“It’s more like a family,” said the Costa Mesa resident. “All of mine

are regulars, and I probably have about 40.”

SHE’S ALL EARS

Tanaka knows about the bad boyfriends, the misbehaving kids, the

engaged woman excited to get married and the problems at work. She’s

experienced joy with the pregnant woman who couldn’t wait to have her

child and concern with the longtime mom whose kids are trying to grow up.

She said listening to people has never interrupted her work. Her job

is as much about painting nails as it is about working with people and

helping out.

“They always say, with your hairdressers, they can help you with your

problems and stuff. Same kind of deal,” Tanaka said.

NAIL SCIENCE

She studied her craft at Golden West College in Huntington Beach. She

learned about the bone structure of a hand, fungi, chemicals relevant to

maintaining nails and, of course, the technique of applying acrylic nail

tips.

Today she specializes in manicures, with the most requested styles

being French manicures or solid colors. Tanaka does not do pedicures, and

she doesn’t decorate the nails with designs or jewels. Her style is more

one-color hands with French nails in the summer and festive reds for

holidays.

IN THE MOOD

Though her work space at The Mood Escape is simple -- a table, a chair

and bottles of polishes -- the decor usually fits the mood of the season,

Tanaka said. It’s a comfortable place, where people relax and leave with

beautified hands.

“It’s a homey feeling,” she said, “And [the clients] feel like they

can trust us.”