13 Black-Owned Nail Brands to Shop Now and Forever
- 1/12
13 Black-Owned Nail Brands to Shop Now and Forever
For many people, social media feeds once flooded with activism and #Blacklivesmatter content have returned to the old normal flow of memes and food photos. But the new normal is amplifying the voices of Black people, calling out racism as you encounter it, seeking information beyond social media, and using your dollars to support Black-owned businesses. Below, we've gathered the best nail brands to embrace now and forever.
In no way is this list exhaustive, and will be updated frequently.
Courtesy of brands: Pear Nova, Suite Eleven, LaPierre Cosmetics - 2/12
1) Suite Eleven
Arieal "Ari" Smith-Liburd began formulating her nail lacquers in 2015 after being forced to toss almost all of her beauty products due to several chemical and food allergies. Suite Eleven lacquers are 10-free, vegan, and PETA-certified, which makes them suitable for even for most sensitive skin.
Editor's Pick: Seal the Deal Topcoat, $9.50
suiteleven@Instagram - 3/12
2) Triple O Nail Polish
Triple O Nail Polish combines founder Symantha Wechie-Onyechi's love for nail polish and pre-colonial African history with several collections named after legendary states like the Bamana Empire and the Kingdom of Nri.
Editor's Pick: Nail Lacquer in Dia, $10
ooopolish@Instagram 
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- 4/12
3) Mented Cosmetics
Mented Cosmetics started as a journey to create the perfect nude lipstick for all complexions. Their nail polish collection matches that mission with universally flattering, flesh-toned colors.
Editor's Pick: Nail Polish in Brown & Bougie, $8
mentedcosmetics@Instagram - 5/12
4) Pear Nova
Founder Rachel James came up with the idea to create a luxury, vegan nail polish brand while studying fashion merchandizing in university. On her last day, she presented a project to a professor on a fake nail polish brand, and was subsequently encouraged to go work for a brand like OPI. Instead, she harvested her ideas into Pear Nova.
Editor's Pick: Gel Lacquer in Tipsy Tea Party, $18.50
pearnova@Instagram - 6/12
5) Mischo Beauty
When Kitaya Mischo King was pregnant with her first child, she couldn't find a chip-resistant polish with safe ingredients, which lead her to spend two years creating her own.
Editor's Pick: Nail Lacquer in Diana, $20
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- 7/12
6) Bernadette Thompson
Bernadette Thompson has its place cemented in history as the first Black-owned nail brand in the United States. The woman behind the eponymous brand has worked with celebrities like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Lady Gaga.
Editor's Pick: Restorative Nail Treatment Kit, $110
bernadettenails@Instagram - 8/12
7) Habit Cosmetics
Habit Cosmetics is the perfect example of a clean polish that doesn't compromise quality or sustainability. Each of these 10-free nail polishes are infused with myrrh extract to help strength the nails and are sustainably packed with a bamboo cap, glass bottle, recycled plastic parts, and FSC-certified paperboard.
Editor's Pick: Nail Polish in Belle Epoque, $18
habitcosmetics@Instagram - 9/12
8) Breukelen Polished
Breukelen Polished combines a love for nails and Brooklyn with 11-free polishes named after aspects of the NYC borough like "Marcus Garvey" (a street in Bed-Stey named after the Jamaican political and civil rights leader) and "It's Brick" (slang referring to cold weather).
Editor's Pick: Nail Polish in Cocoa Bread
breukelenpolished@Instagram Yahoo News is better in the app
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- 10/12
9) Auda B Beauty
Auba B's vegan, 10-free polish is touted for being long-lasting: it has a gel-like texture that is chip-resistant.
Editor's Pick: Nail Polish in French Rose, $18
auda_b@Instagram - 11/12
10) LaPierre Cosmetics
Founder Brandi Blocker created LaPierre Cosmetics so that her mother could safely wear nail polish while undergoing treatment for lung cancer. The brand harnesses its ingredient-conscious philosophy into other products like hand and body butter.
Editor's Pick: Intensive Therapy Cuticle Butter, $8
lapierrecosmetics@Instagram - 12/12
11) Rooted Woman
Rooted Woman was inspired by founder India D. Williams' blog, Rooted, which focused on fostering a nurturing space for working women of faith. She expanded the blog into nail polish when she recognized that it was one way professional women could both express themselves in the workplace and practice self-care.
Editor's Pick: Nail Polish Remover, $10
rootedwoman@Instagram
Put your money where your mouth is.
