Salon Today
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

I'm Not Really A Waitress: The Inspiring Story Behind OPI Nail Products

Suzi Weiss-Fischmann went from nail biter to nail queen.

Anne Moratto
Anne MorattoDirector of Brand Content Strategy, MODERN SALON and NAILS
Read Anne's Posts
March 21, 2019
I'm Not Really A Waitress: The Inspiring Story Behind OPI Nail Products

 

SEAL PRESS

1 min to read


Suzi Weiss-Fischmann is the cofounder, brand ambassador, and creative visionary behind OPI Products, Inc.She has written a book to tell her story and to inspire women to pursue their own colorful dreams. I’m Not Really a Waitress: How One Woman Took Over the Beauty Industry One Color at a Time tells the story of how Weiss-Fischmann transformed a small dental supply company into a beauty brand around the world.

Today, OPI is famous for its trend-setting nail colors, unforgettable polish shade names, and celebrity collaborations with the biggest stars from film, television, music, and sports. But behind all the glamour is the little-known tale of OPI’s unlikely origins-an intimate and inspiring story of a timid schoolgirl who arrives in this country with little money and no English and becomes the business leader and industry game-changer known worldwide as “Suzi, the First Lady of Nails.”

Ad Loading...

This book is available on Amazon


Originally posted on Modern Salon

More In The Know

A man cuts a man's hair
In The Know|Articles|Aug 6, 2026

In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

Volunteers at HairToStay Does the Bay
In The Know|Articles|Jul 30, 2026

Take the Plunge with HairToSay Does the Bay

In October, volunteers plan to walk and take the plunge during at the annual event, HairToStay Does the Bay. Find out how you can participate and support the organization that grants subsidies to cancer patients so they can receive cold cap treatments to save their hair during chemotherapy.

Ad Loading...
Headshot of Sheue Pella
In The Know|Articles|Jul 28, 2026

The Invisible Work of a Rebrand

In this rare essay, the president of a haircare brand takes us behind-the-scenes into a world we never see when we pick up a product off the shelves--the arduous, thought-probing, second-guessing journey of rebranding a legacy product line. Not only is her reflection fascinating, but it is also incredibly useful for any salon owner or manufacturer contemplating their own brand.

Ad Loading...