THE BLACK SHEEP, THE BIG SISTER, THE BRAND YOU WISH EXISTED SOONER.
Function of Vex was created for the everyday artist. The self-taught. The late-night tinkerers. The weird ones. The pros who still feel like outsiders.
Because the nail industry has made you choose…
between clean ingredients and bold payoff, between creative freedom and gatekept tools, between artistry and accessibility.
We said no to all that.
Function of Vex makes safe nail art supplies that don’t flake, fog, or f*ck around.
Chrome that actually stays.
Aura designs without an airbrush.
Pro-grade pigments that behave, so you can misbehave.
Every formula solves a real problem. Every launch answers a question the industry’s been too slow to ask.
And every product is made without waiting for permission.
You bring the chaos. We’ll bring the chemistry.
Let’s flip the script on nail art, for good.
WHAT WE SOLVE | THE MISFIT MISSION
The problem? The industry’s been stuck.
Gel nails shouldn’t come with a side of asthma. Chrome shouldn’t flake off by lunch. And airbrush nail art shouldn’t require a $300 machine.
But until now, that’s been the norm. Artists (especially the self-taught and self-funded) have had to duct tape their routines together with mystery formulas, grainy powders, and tools designed without them in mind.
Function of Vex exists to fix that. We make clean, safe gel nail art supplies that don’t ask you to compromise. No more choosing between pigment payoff and breathability. Between long wear and gentle removal. Between cool looks and complicated steps.
Every product we make solves a real-world issue in nail artistry. No fluff. No filler. Just studio-grade gear that cuts out unnecessary steps, works on the first try, and puts creative control back in your hands.
From chrome nail art powders that don’t require a topcoat to aura and airbrush looks that don’t need an airbrush, we build for the artists who are tired of gatekeeping, tired of guessing, and ready for tools that actually work.
OUR ORIGIN STORY
This didn’t start in a lab. It started in a bedroom with bad lighting and big ideas.
2017: Our founder, Nicole Tran, becomes obsessed. She spends nights glued to Korean and Japanese artists on loop, studying each brush stroke like gospel.
2019: Graduates from Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology and hits the industry running… fuelled by grit, vision, and a hunger to make something different.
2020: COVID shuts everything down. Nic pivots, launches a press-on brand, and builds a loyal following through unfiltered creativity and pure persistence.
2021: Nic is named Nail Tech of the Year at the BEA Awards and partners with her idol ICEGEL on a limited edition collaboration.
2022: Function of Vex officially drops. We immediately find our people, proving the world is ready for an outsider’s take.
2023–2024: F(VEX) products start showing up on red carpets, runways, and editorials, from Pedro Pascal’s Met Gala look to Cardi B’s sculptural sets.
2025 and counting: Still building for the artists who DM us mid-manicure with brilliant, chaotic ideas. Still launching tools that fix what the industry won’t.
Our kink is making the future of nail art way more possible, for way more people.
HOW WE SHOW UP FOR ARTISTS
Hell yeah, we make innovative products.
But we also back the people who use them.
Function of Vex was built for the working tech, the nail school student who’s tired of guessing, and the late-night creator who wants to try something weird without breaking the bank.
We believe pro-grade products should be accessible. Education should be free. And creativity should never depend on how long you’ve been licensed.
That’s why we launched Vex Ed, a program made for artists-in-training. If you’re enrolled in a U.S. nail tech or cosmetology course, you can join. You’ll get exclusive offers, surprise product boxes, and real features on our channels… because you deserve support while you're still learning, not just after you're certified.
We’re here to make sure you never have to choose between quality and access, whether you’re looking for gel nail art supplies for professionals or beginner-friendly nail art kits that actually work. Every launch is shaped by what our community needs next, not by what’s trending.
REAL PROOF. UNREAL NAILS.
We love a celebrity moment, but what really gets us hyped is your group chat screenshots and before/afters.
Still, the receipts don’t lie:
- Pedro Pascal – Met Gala 2023 (nails by Christina Tran)
- Doechii – ABNH Tour, Colbert Late Show (nails by Rachel Sun)
- Noah Cyrus – WeHo Pride, Jimmy Kimmel Live! (nails by Rachel Sun)
- Cardi B – Press on sets by Holly Muniz
- Melitta Baumeister – Sponsored NYFW Debut SS25 (led by Michelle Tran)
- Fall Nail Trends 2024 – Sarah Chue mentions Function of Vex
These looks used our formulas, but they started with an idea. A sketch.
A moment of, “what if?”
We exist to make that moment easier to capture, easier to try, easier to repeat… whether you're backstage or at your kitchen table.
THE VEX WAY:
PRODUCTS THAT MAKE IT EASY
Function of Vex is what happens when pro-grade meets problem-solving.
Every formula starts with the same question: “Why doesn’t this exist yet?” If it’s overcomplicated, overpriced, or unsafe, we rethink it.
Here’s how some of our bestsellers are flipping the script:
OILWHIP
What it replaces: Traditional 3D gels that level out, chip easily, or require topcoat
Why it’s safer / easier / faster:
- HEMA-free. TPO-free. No topcoat needed.
- Satin matte finish straight out of the lamp.
- Whipped texture holds shape, no collapsing, no mess.
- Works like paint, pipes like frosting, and cures like a dream.
This is for the maximalists, the detail freaks, and the texture lovers. Built to sculpt, swirl, and swipe. No gloss, no rules, just pigment-drenched freedom.
Aura Melt Pigments + Parallelo System
What it replaces: Eyeshadow hacks, messy jars, and airbrush machines.
Why it’s safer / easier / faster:
- Pressed pigments made just for nails, no binders, no fallout.
- Refillable 1.5g pans that snap straight into the magnetic Parallelo Palette.
- Cleaner, smoother blends on matte surfaces (no patchy fades).
- Get the aura or ombré look in literal minutes.
- No cords, no overspray, no $300 airbrush setup.
Finally: aura + ombré nails without the hacks.
Build your own palette from 36 shades across our Cove, Garage, Cyber, and Splash collections.
Replace just the pan you finish, or rearrange your palette whenever the mood (or the client) changes. Just pat, blend, and swap when you get bored.
Pigments that evolve with your style, organized in the Parallelo system.
Flex Tint
What it replaces: Traditional rubber bases and builder gels
Why it’s safer / easier / faster:
- HEMA-free and soak-off safe
- Smooth, flexible formula that self-levels beautifully
- Wears like a dream, removes without damage
- Wear it solo or use it as a strengthening base under art
This is strength in a sheer tint. Moody, buildable, and made to move with your nails. No lifting, no cracking, no harsh removals.
Pressed Chromes
What it replaces: Loose chrome dusts, messy jars, chaotic kits
Why it’s safer / easier / faster:
- Solid format = no spills, no loose powder clouds, no accidental inhalation
- More control: grab just the right amount of pigment for less waste, less cleanup
- Travel-friendly and kit-friendly for mobile techs and pop-ups
- No more juggling dozens of tiny jars or wiping down every surface post-application
- Ultra-fine, high-grade pigments that go on smooth and stay put
These pressed chrome nail art powders take the mess and guesswork out of the equation. Just tap, seal, and go. Maximum flash, zero fallout.
FinePrint
What it replaces: Sticky gels, inconsistent detail tools, puddly art formulas
Why it’s safer / easier / faster:
- Non-wipe = chrome-ready right out of the lamp
- Medium viscosity = perfect for slightly raised details that really pop under chrome or topcoat
- Glossy finish without topcoat
- Great for fine lines, filigree, tile work, and line art
Precision without frustration. FinePrint gives you control, flow, and a finish that’s glassy AF, no extra steps, no surprise stickiness.
*SIGH*
Just another day of telling gimmicks to kiss our a**!
These are nail art tools and formulas created by people who have sat behind the desk and KNOW the struggle firsthand.
Every launch is built for speed, safety, and freedom with non-toxic, HEMA-free gel products that respect your lungs, your time, and your art.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
We’re not here to play it safe.
We’re here to back the artists with scrappy ideas and serious taste. The misfits, the visionaries, and the experimental creators who never quite fit the mold.
The ones pushing nail art into weirder, wilder, more expressive territory, not because someone told them to, but because they had to.
This brand is fueled by your chaos, your screenshots, your “wait, what if we tried…”
And is made without waiting for permission.
We’re just getting started.
So come raise hell, break molds, and disrupt everything they said nail art should be.