Okay, real talk — the first time I tried vegan nail products, I genuinely thought my nails would either fall off or look like I dipped them in soggy chalk.
They didn’t. They looked gorgeous. And more importantly? My cat didn’t give me the side eye like he does every time I spray something chemically. You know the look — judgment with a touch of “you’re killing the planet, Karen.”
I’m not even vegan. I mean, I tried once, for like… 10 hours. Then I walked past a taco truck. You get it.
But cruelty-free nail care? That I can actually commit to.
The Day I Swore Off Regular Polish (A Tragedy in 3 Acts)
Let’s set the scene:
I’m late to brunch (as usual), I try to fix one chipped nail with a toxic-smelling polish I found in my glove compartment (ew, I know), and suddenly I’m sitting in my car high off fumes with a streaky mess on one hand and blueberry syrup in my hair.
And that was the moment.
Right there. I decided to break up with my old nail stuff.
Because why was I willingly using something that could take the paint off furniture if I spilled it?
🧼 Wait, What Is a Vegan Nail Product?
Glad you asked, imaginary friend I made up to make this blog sound more like a conversation.
So, vegan nail products = no animal-derived ingredients (yep, some polishes have gross stuff like crushed beetles) and no animal testing. Cruelty-free and guilt-free.
Also, the good ones are usually non-toxic — as in free from the infamous “toxic trio” (formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP — sounds like something you’d find in a villain’s lab, honestly).
Products That Slapped (In a Good Way)
So here’s where I get into the good stuff. My ride-or-die vegan nail products. Like, if I was stranded on a desert island and somehow needed to paint my nails before the mermaids arrived to save me? I’d bring these.
1. Olive & June – The Mani System
Y’all. Olive & June is like the Glossier of nails. Super Instagrammable, but it actually works.
- Vegan ✔️
- Cruelty-Free ✔️
- Comes with this weird little brush handle thingy that makes it impossible to mess up your non-dominant hand.
I got their shade “LD” and felt like I had my life together. I didn’t. But my nails told a different story.
2. Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish
You ever walk into a Target and suddenly black out and buy things you don’t need? That’s how I found Pacifica’s polish.
Turns out it’s:
- 100% vegan
- 7-free (fewer toxic chemicals)
- Super affordable — like, less than a fancy coffee
I wore “Red Red Wine” on a night out and my friend thought I got a salon mani. I didn’t correct her. (Sorry, Emma.)
3. ella+mila – Cute AF and Safe
Okay, the elephant logo? Already won me over. But this polish stays. Through dishwashing. Through crying while watching Pixar movies. Through me scratching off mystery labels on Tupperware.
Bonus:
- They even have a “Mommy & Me” line.
- Smells way less toxic than your usual nail lacquers.
- Their top coat is the MVP.
I recommend “Pink Me Up.” It’s like Barbie-core but with a conscience.
4. Tenoverten – If Luxury and Hippie Had a Baby
This one’s for my “I only use coconut oil but also buy $80 candles” friends.
Tenoverten is:
- Non-toxic
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Expensive but worth it if you like feeling like you have your life in order (even if your laundry’s still in the dryer from last Tuesday)
Pro tip? Their Celery Oil is basically nail rehab in a bottle. I’d bathe in it if I could.
Real Talk: Why It Matters
So yeah, I love shiny things. I love pink nails. I love not chipping polish every time I type angrily at work (happens more than I want to admit).
But beyond the aesthetics, using vegan nail products means I’m not lowkey funding animal testing. Or coating myself in ingredients that belong in a chemical spill.
And if you think “It’s just nails, who cares?” — well, that’s what I thought too. Until I found out that some polishes are tested by dripping them into rabbit eyes.
Yeah. That ruined my lunch.
Other Cruelty-Free Nail Stuff You’ll Want to Hoard
- Butter London Nail Foundation – Think primer, but for nails. Chef’s kiss.
- Habit Cosmetics – Packaging = so cute it hurts. Also plant-based, and they plant a tree for every purchase?!
- Zoya – Oldie but goodie. OG in the non-toxic scene. Their color selection is unhinged in the best way.
Lazy Girl’s Guide to a Guilt-Free Mani
If you’re chaotic like me, here’s the routine:
- Half-heartedly file nails during an episode of Love Is Blind.
- Slap on Tenoverten Celery Oil and pretend you’re at a spa.
- Paint with ella+mila. Smudge one. Curse softly.
- Paint again. Apply top coat. Get distracted. Touch phone. Mess it up.
- Repeat.
- Take a photo like you crushed it on the first try.
- Post. Hashtag it #CrueltyFreeQueen.
Insert a chaotic GIF of someone trying to dry their nails while eating chips here.
Because that’s the real struggle.
Final Thoughts (aka Me Rambling More)
Going vegan with your nails isn’t gonna change the world overnight. But it’s one of those little things that adds up. Like bringing your own tote bag or not falling for those $5 fast fashion leggings that rip in 2 wears.
And hey — your nails will look dope.
I mean, if I can go from glove-box polish fumes to cruelty-free glam without completely falling apart, you’ve got this.
Let me know what you end up trying, or if you find a hidden gem I need to try. Bonus points if it smells like cupcakes and makes me feel like a fancy forest witch.
I’ll be here — spilling glitter on my sweatpants and calling it a “creative accident.” https://kohopoho.com/nail-art-for-special-events/.
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