What CND does

CND (Creative Nail Design) is a US-based professional nail care company headquartered in Vista, California, founded around 1979-1980 and operating as a subsidiary under Revlon. The company serves professional nail salons, certified nail technicians, spa operators, and end consumers globally across the nail color, enhancement, treatment, and professional tool categories. CND's portfolio centers on two flagship long-wear color systems: SHELLAC gel polish (a patented polymer system delivering 14+ days of chip-free wear with Butterfly Removal technology and a breathable coating that allows oxygen and moisture transfer through the film) and VINYLUX long-wear polish (a 2-step, no-lamp system using Pro-Light Technology to harden under natural light exposure for 7+ day wear in 8.5 minutes of dry time). Supporting these are three enhancement systems (BRISA Gel, PLEXIGEL, and the Liquid & Powder System), an extensive treatment line (SolarOil, LightningOil, StrengthenerRXx, RescueRxx, Cuticle Eraser, RidgeFx, Stickey, Super Shiney), a Pro Skincare range built around a Prebiotic Complex, and a complete professional tools offering including LED lamps, brushes, files, forms, tips, and remover wraps.

Underlying differentiation rests on proprietary formulation chemistry rather than software. CND holds registered patents on its SHELLAC gel polish technology and VINYLUX Pro-Light Technology, and maintains registered trademarks across its brand portfolio (SHELLAC, VINYLUX, BRISA, PLEXIGEL, SolarOil, LightningOil, OPTIFIL, Scentsations, RescueRxx, Butterfly Removal). The 2025 pipeline has added LightningOil (a vegan, fast-absorbing nail and cuticle treatment), SHELLAC VIVID (a hyper-pigmented SHELLAC color line), and SHELLAC EPIC Smoothing Base, indicating ongoing portfolio extension across both treatment and color categories. Seasonal trend collections (Quiet Luxury, Summer Guide, Fall Guide) drive recurring consumer engagement and salon traffic.

The business model is dual-channel and consumption-driven. Revenue is generated primarily through unit sales of professional consumables (gel polishes, sculpting liquids, powders, treatments, tools) sold via authorized distributors to a global salon network, with pricing that varies by product size tier (e.g., 4oz to gallon sculpting liquids; 0.125oz to 4oz cuticle oils). A secondary direct-to-consumer stream flows through the company website (operated on Revlon's Salesforce commerce platform), Amazon, and Ulta Beauty for select products like SolarOil. Education is a third revenue and adoption lever via SHELLAC Pro Certification and the Master Program, which both produce certification revenue and entrench CND systems within professional service menus. Pricing is quote-based for professionals and not publicly disclosed; there is no software, SaaS, or subscription pricing model in the portfolio.

Name

CND

Legal name

CND (Creative Nail Design)

Website

https://cnd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CND (Creative Nail Design) is a Vista, California-based professional nail care company serving nail salons, certified technicians, and consumers globally through patented SHELLAC gel polish, VINYLUX long-wear polish, BRISA and PLEXIGEL enhancement systems, and a treatment line, operating as a Revlon subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Nail Care & Beauty Products

NAICS

Nail Salons (812113)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Nail Color & Nail Art (Polish, Gel, Dip, Press-ons, Nail Art Color) (CRABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nail Salon Products (Polish, Gel, Acrylic, Supplies) (CRABALAE)

Keywords

• Professional nail care
• Gel nail polish
• Nail enhancement systems
• Cuticle treatments
• Hand and body skincare

Headquarters

HQ city

Vista

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Nail Products: CND generates revenue through selling professional nail care products (gel polishes, treatments, enhancements, tools) to nail salons and professionals through distributor networks. Products include SHELLAC, VINYLUX, BRISA Gel, PLEXIGEL, and related nail care products.
2. Consumer Products: Direct-to-consumer sales of nail care products through Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and the CND website. Products available include SolarOil, LIGHTNINGOIL, nail treatments, and select color products.
3. Professional Education & Certification: CND offers professional education programs including SHELLAC Pro Certification and Master Program through partner schools. This helps drive product adoption among nail professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CND (Creative Nail Design) manufactures and distributes a full portfolio of professional nail care products for salon professionals and consumers, centered on the patented SHELLAC gel polish and VINYLUX long-wear polish systems, supported by BRISA, PLEXIGEL, and Liquid & Powder enhancement systems, a treatments line (SolarOil, LightningOil, StrengthenerRXx, RescueRxx), and hand & body skincare ranges sold worldwide through professional salon distributors, Amazon, Ulta Beauty, and the CND website.

Product overview

CND (Creative Nail Design) is a comprehensive professional nail, hand, and foot beauty company offering multiple integrated product systems. The portfolio centers on two flagship gel polish brands: SHELLAC™ (patented gel polish with 14+ day wear and Butterfly Removal™ technology) and VINYLUX™ (2-step long wear polish with 7+ day wear). These core color systems are supported by three enhancement systems: Liquid & Powder System (Retention+ and Odorless Sculpting Liquids with Perfect Color Powders), BRISA™ Gel System (Base Coat, Sculpting Gels, and Gloss), and PLEXIGEL System (Bonder, Shaper, Builder, and Color Builders). The extensive treatment line includes SolarOil™, LightningOil™, Strengthener RXx, RescueRxx™, Cuticle Eraser®, RidgeFx™, Stickey™, and Super Shiney™. Professional tools encompass LED Lamps, brushes, files, buffers, forms, tips, and Foil Remover Wraps. Service Essentials include SCRUBFRESH™, CUTICLE AWAY™, SOLARSPEED SPRAY™, and OFFLY FAST™. Hand & Body category features Pro Skincare (with Prebiotic Complex) and Scentsations™ lotions and hand washes in various scents. Seasonal color collections provide fashion-forward nail art trends. The company operates primarily through professional salons and distributes via Amazon and Ulta for retail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHELLAC: The original patented gel polish brand by CND, known for 14+ day wear without chipping or peeling
• VINYLUX
• BRISA
• PLEXIGEL
• SOLAROIL
• Scentsations
• Pro Skincare

Products and services

• CND SHELLAC Gel Polish Original patented gel polish system that delivers 14+ days of chip-free wear with LED-cure application and Butterfly Removal for damage-free removal; sold to professional nail salons and select consumer channels.
• CND VINYLUX Long Wear Polish Two-step long-wear polish system providing 7+ day wear via Pro-Light Technology, drying in 8.5 minutes without a UV/LED lamp; intended for professional salons and at-home wearers.
• CND Liquid & Powder System Complete nail enhancement system pairing Retention+ Sculpting Liquid / Odorless Sculpting Liquid with Perfect Color Powders for professional sculpting and extension services on lift-prone clients.
• CND BRISA Gel System Award-winning gel technology system for creating thin, natural-looking enhancements, including base coat, sculpting gels in multiple shades, and a UV-cured high-gloss top coat for nail professionals.
• CND PLEXIGEL System
• CND Nail Treatments Line Curated category of nail treatments including SolarOil, LightningOil, StrengthenerRXx, RescueRxx, Cuticle Eraser, RidgeFx, Stickey, and Super Shiney for salon professionals and consumer at-home care.
• CND SolarOil Award-winning synergistic blend of naturally light oils and Vitamin E that conditions cuticles and nails; available in Original, Amber Woods, and Jasmine Blossom scents at salons, Ulta Beauty, and Amazon.
• CND LIGHTNINGOIL Ultra-lightweight, fast-absorbing nail and cuticle treatment powered by Lightning-Fast Absorption Technology; delivers instant moisture with no residue.
• CND StrengthenerRXx Nourishing, strengthening nail coating that thickens and smooths the nail surface while resisting chipping and cracking for professional and consumer clients.
• CND RescueRxx Thin liquid keratin treatment applied directly onto the nail plate that deposits keratin where needed for professional and at-home nail repair.
• CND Cuticle Eraser Micro-exfoliating cuticle treatment with alpha-hydroxy acids that moisturizes cuticles and helps prevent hangnails.
• CND RidgeFx Nail surface enhancer and ridge filler powered by OPTIFIL TECHNOLOGY that smooths surface ridges and masks imperfections under color for chip-resistant wear.
• CND Stickey Base Coat Base coat that creates a soft, sticky anchoring layer to improve nail color wearability.
• CND Super Shiney Top Coat Hard, scratch-resistant top coat that delivers brilliant shine and long-lasting finish over color.
• CND LED Lamp LED lamp designed to completely cure all CND light-curable nail systems for proper adhesion, toughness, and wearability in professional salons.
• CND SHELLAC Quiet Luxury Collection (Spring 2025) Seasonal six-shade SHELLAC color collection of pink glitter, gold shimmer, sheer nude pinks, white pearl shimmer, beige taupe, and aqua blue shimmer.
• CND Summer 2025 Color Collections Summer 2025 seasonal nail art collections including animal prints, pastel bouquet/ombré designs, and aquatic-inspired nautical nail art.
• CND Fall 2025 Color Collections Fall 2025 seasonal nail art collections featuring cow print, boho paisley folk patterns, and dark botanical/embroidered aesthetic designs.
• CND SHELLAC VIVID New hyper-pigmented SHELLAC gel polish line providing smooth, streak-free color application.
• CND SHELLAC EPIC SMOOTHING BASE Two-in-one SHELLAC base and smoothing layer that plumps the nail surface for resilient, flexible wear.
• CND Pro Skincare Systemic professional skincare regimen for hands, arms, feet, and legs featuring Prebiotic Complex; includes exfoliating scrub, mineral bath, intensive hydration treatment, hydrating lotion, exfoliating sea salt scrub, and callus smoother in vegan formulas with sustainable packaging.
• CND Scentsations Lotions & Hand Washes Hand and body care lotions and hand washes across eight scents including Black Cherry & Nutmeg, Citrus & Green Tea, Lavender & Jojoba, Mango & Coconut, Tangerine & Lemongrass, Jasmine & Cedarwood, Rose & Peach, and Strawberry & Prosecco.
• CND Retention+ Sculpting Liquid Sculpting liquid for lift-prone clients that creates Liquid & Powder enhancements with superior adhesion, available in 4 fl oz through gallon sizes for professional nail technicians.
• CND Odorless Sculpting Liquid Low-odor alternative sculpting liquid for the Liquid & Powder System, designed for a more pleasant salon experience and adaptable to all skill levels of nail professionals.
• CND Perfect Color Powders Advanced sculpting powders in a spectrum of sheers and opaques (Clear, Natural-Sheer, Blush Pink-Sheer, Pure Pink-Sheer, Intense Pink-Sheer, Warm Pink-Opaque, Cool Pink-Opaque, Pure White-Opaque) used with CND Sculpting Liquids.
• CND Professional Brushes Professional Liquid & Powder Brushes and Sculpting Brushes in sizes #6, #8, #10, and #12 for precision product application.
• CND Files & Buffers Professional shaping and smoothing tools including Blizzard Files, Kanga Files, Koala Buffers, and Boomerang Padded Files in various grits.
• CND SCRUBFRESH Nail Surface Cleanser Professional nail surface cleanser that cleans and dehydrates the nail plate to improve adhesion, reduce lifting, and extend gel service life.
• CND CUTICLE AWAY Professional Cuticle Remover Thick gel cuticle remover that dissolves dead skin and breaks down tough calluses for professional manicure and pedicure services.
• CND SOLARSPEED SPRAY Quick Dry Spray Vitamin E- and sweet almond oil-infused spray that sets nail polish in seconds with nourishing properties.
• CND OFFLY FAST Moisturizing Remover Moisturizing nail polish remover that safely removes SHELLAC gel polish, Liquid & Powder enhancements, and VINYLUX; infused with macadamia and vitamin E oils.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14+ days of chip-free wear with SHELLAC gel polish
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Professional Nail SalonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCND partners with nail salons globally through a certification and distribution model. Salons gain access to CND's professional product line and brand recognition in exchange for using CND systems and completing professional training. The Salon Locator tool drives consumer traffic to certified locations.
• CND Partner SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCND partner schools offer professional education programs including SHELLAC Pro Certification and Master Program. These schools provide career-building courses to help nail professionals master CND products and services, driving product adoption and professional expertise.
• DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCND distributes through authorized distributors globally who supply nail salons with professional products. Distributors are supported with locator tools and access to CND's full product catalog including SHELLAC, VINYLUX, enhancements, and treatments.
• AmazonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCND products are available through Amazon marketplace, including SolarOil, LIGHTNINGOIL, nail treatments, and professional products for nail technicians. Amazon provides consumer access to CND products.
• Ulta BeautyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUlta Beauty carries CND SolarOil nail and cuticle care products both in stores and online, providing retail access for consumer purchases.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Olive & June: Olive & June is an emerging player popularizing at-home gel/mani kits with strong D2C momentum — an emerging threat to CND's professional salon channel by enabling consumer self-application of long-wear polish.
• Static Nails: Static Nails is an emerging D2C gel polish and press-on nail brand competing for consumer share of long-wear color outside the salon channel, intersecting with CND SHELLAC/VINYLUX on positioning and wear claims.
• Dazzle Dry: Dazzle Dry is an emerging player offering long-wear, non-UV nail polish systems positioned as healthier alternatives — a category disruptor that competes with VINYLUX's no-lamp long-wear value proposition.

Direct peers

• Bio Sculpture Gel: Bio Sculpture is a direct peer in professional gel nail enhancement systems, with a comparable certified-salon distribution model and overlapping product architecture to CND BRISA, PLEXIGEL, and Liquid & Powder.
• LeChat Nails: LeChat is a direct peer offering professional gel polish (Perfect Match, Dare to Wear) and nail enhancement systems sold through nail salons, comparable to CND's core SHELLAC, VINYLUX, and BRISA lines.
• OPI: OPI is the closest direct competitor to CND: a professional nail color and gel polish brand (GelColor) sold through the same salon distribution channel, with a comparable category-leading heritage and similar lacquer + gel + treatment portfolio.
• Entity Beauty (Gelish): Gelish is a direct competitor in the professional gel polish category, offering soak-off gel systems to nail salons and competing head-to-head with CND SHELLAC on wear time, color range, and pro-channel distribution.
• Morgan Taylor Lacquer: Morgan Taylor is a direct peer in professional polish and gel color sold through salons and beauty supply distributors, with a comparable fashion/color-drop strategy that overlaps CND's seasonal collection cadence.

Broad incumbents

• Essie (L'Oréal): Essie is a broad incumbent in color cosmetics with a strong nail polish franchise (including gel couture line); part of L'Oréal's larger beauty portfolio, it competes with CND on color, gel polish, and consumer brand recognition, though less focused on the salon pro channel.
• Sally Hansen: Sally Hansen is a broad incumbent nail care brand under Coty with Miracle Gel and consumer polish lines that overlap with CND's VINYLUX and SHELLAC on at-home wear time claims, though primarily retail-led rather than salon-professional.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/cndvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/cndworldfan
• Instagraminstagram.com/cndworld
• TikToktiktok.com/@cnd
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cndworld
• Xx.com/cndworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CND