9-year-old offering $1 manicures at curbside salon

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - At a time when most kids her age are enjoying their summer vacation, Rhuin Stevens-Masterman is hard at work. But even though her pop-up salon at 34th and Columbus Avenue S. in south Minneapolis is hopping now, that hasn't exactly always been the case.

Rhuin is pretty good at selling things, including herself.

So when her mom said she wanted to help homeless kids get healthy food, Rhu offered to do nails and hair on the corner for $1 to help out.

"It makes me feel good inside because its one of my favorite things to do," Rhuin said.

At first, Rhuin had a tough time getting anyone to take her seriously.

"I'd say 'Hey guys would you like to get your nails done?' They'd say 'No. Not today', which Rhuin said made her feel a little sad.

But just when she was about to call it quits, she got her first customer, who posted her experience on Facebook.

"A couple of my friends had shared it on their page and I was like 'Oh what a sweet story'. Then when I got to the bottom. I saw the picture. I was like that's my daughter," Rhuin's mother, Sarah Stevens said.

Since then, there's been a steady stream of customers in her chair and plenty of tips and not just the money kind.

Customer Jessie Scarborough-Ghent gave Rhuin a note that said "Don't give up on your dreams. We believe in you."

"I just thought it was cool that she's out here doing this and that someone wanted to bring attention to the fact that we don't really take the time to stop and make people's small dreams come true," another customer, Sarah Parker, said.

And who knows? Maybe one day, ruining your nails won't be such a bad thing after all.

"I''m here. I'm pretty good at doing nails. and just, you know. I want them to feel good," Rhuin said.

Rhuin's family set up a Facebook page for her salon where customers can schedule appointments. Find the Facebook page here.