A vegan nail polish blog. A celebration of colour and light, as well as of justice for nonhuman animals.

About

My name is Jo and I’m an abolitionist vegan who loves nail polish. Colours make me happy! Since I’m vegan, I’ve done quite a bit of research into which polishes are suitable for vegans, that is, without animal ingredients and without animal testing involved in their creation. I started Vegan Claws to share this information with others, as well as to post photos and reviews of vegan nail polishes.

Nonhuman animals are sentient beings and we humans don’t need to use them for cosmetics like nail polish, nor for food, clothing, or other purposes, so if you agree that it’s wrong to unnecessarily harm an animal, I hope you will take the steps needed to put your actions into alignment with the values that you already hold. It’s easier than ever to go vegan! For more information on veganism please see my Why Veganism? pages. Need advice, help or support with respect to going vegan? Feel free to contact me at veganclaws{at}gmail{dot}com!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the blog! 🙂

Comments on: "About" (25)

  1. Julie said:
    February 21, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    Hi, Love your site! do you have any recommendations for Vegan Nail Polish Removers? Thanks!!

    • ariix said:
      February 22, 2012 at 1:17 pm

      Hi Julie! Thanks!

      Aside from a soy-based one that didn’t work well, the only one I’ve used is Zoya Remove+ – it’s a great remover!

      But it’s kind of expensive for what it is, and I’ve heard that you can also make your own similar remover using acetone and glycerin. My bottle of Remove+ is running out and I’m going to try that next. I got a jug of pure acetone at Sally Beauty, the brand name is Beauty Secrets which is one of their own brands & not animal tested (be sure to get the clear acetone and not their pink acetone-based remover because that one isn’t vegan.) I found the vegetable glycerin at a health food store in the section with moisturizers, soaps etc.

      I saw the “recipe” on a blog I can’t remember right now, but it just said to add about 2 capsful of glycerin to 450ml/about 2 cups of acetone, so it was kind of a guideline to play around with & find what works best. The glycerin is just basically supposed to add a little moisturizing so that your cuticles don’t end up super-dry like they would if they’re in contact with pure acetone too long.

      If you just want to go out and buy one ready-made though, I recommend Zoya. 🙂

  2. Holly said:
    August 6, 2012 at 9:05 am

    Thank you so much for doing this site, soooooo helpful!!!!!

  3. Caddie said:
    December 5, 2012 at 5:28 am

    Hi Jo! I love your blog AND nail polish and have nominated you for a Liebster Award! Please check: http://suckitupnotin.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/i-got-a-liebster-award/

  4. Megaen Kelly said:
    February 1, 2013 at 4:53 am

    I don’t know what ‘abolitionist vegan’ means. It’s a new term to me. I do, however, love the double entendre of your blog’s name.

    Thank you for the valuable info and for doing the right thing by animals.

  5. blimbo2005 said:
    February 27, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    Hi, I nominated you for the versatile blogger award check it out here http://blimbo247.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/and-the-blogger-award-goes-to/

  6. sierra said:
    March 12, 2013 at 11:58 am

    Hi,

    I really wanted to stop by and thank you for all your hard work, research and information you post on here to help all us fellow vegans out. I really appreciate it.

    I just wanted to ask a quick questionif I could? I tried looking online for information into essence nail polish, from shoppers drug mart in Canada, and the info is soooo confusing on their site. I saw you have essence nail polish listed as vegan here on your site. Do you know if they are still vegan? The price is great and the colors are cute too, would love to go pick up a bunch but need to make sure they are suitable. Thank you again for everything you do.

    Sierra

  7. Tanya said:
    April 11, 2013 at 1:25 pm

    Hi,
    do you know of any vegan nail salons in the UK? I love a mani/pedi and have given them up since going vegan. Starting to think the only way I can get one is to start my own salon…so any advice would help.
    Thanks, Tanya

  8. ❤ Chelsea C said:
    May 2, 2013 at 11:33 am

    Hey there! Just wanted to say I really like your blog, it’s awesome that you put so much effort and research into finding vegan beauty products. I’m not a vegan but I don’t like using products that have been tested on animals. Anyway, good on you =)

    I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! If you’d like to accept, please check out this blog post: http://beautybycc.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/one-lovely-blogger-award-versatile-blogger-award/

  9. Cecilie Meyer said:
    May 26, 2013 at 4:20 am

    Hi!
    Thank you for keeping us updated on the good guys!
    I am really wondering if you know anything about Sephora by Opi? Are they cruelty-free? Cant find any info about it.. Really hope you can help:)

    • ariix said:
      June 30, 2013 at 9:28 am

      Hi! Yes, I contacted Sephora about them a while ago and they confirmed that they do not conduct/commission animal testing or use suppliers who do, for all of their house-brands. It was in Sephora’s contact form/portal thingy on their website though so I don’t have an email saved that I could copy-paste here on my site. 🙂

  10. Danielle Gillespie said:
    May 30, 2013 at 10:18 am

    HI! Thank you for creating such a great site – I recently contacted Orly (today – 5/30/2013) and received a response back that they are definitely cruelty free but are NOT vegan. I wasn’t sure if you were aware of this – but I wanted to pass it on!

    I got this response(my initial question is below that):

    Luz Jerman

    10:48 AM (19 minutes ago)

    to me
    Thank you for your inquiry.

    Our products are cruelty free. Orly is not a Vegan Line.

    Lucy Jerman| Sales Account Representative | Orly International, Inc. | p. 818.994.1001 x143 | f. 818.994.1144 ljerman@orlybeauty.com

    Like ORLY on Facebook Follow ORLY on Twitter
    _________________
    Name: Danielle
    Consumer
    Type of Inquiry: General Question

    Hi – I am a vegan and I love your products but I am in the process of switching over my nail polish and other beauty products and was wondering if your products are cruelty free first off? And also if they contain animal products at all? Also – I haven\’t seen your nail polish remover before in the store but I was wondering if you had a list of stores that offer that if it is vegan?

    Thank you in advance for your help and sorry for all of the questions!

    Best regards,

    Danielle

    • ariix said:
      June 30, 2013 at 9:35 am

      Hi Danielle, yes, Orly isn’t a vegan line and some of the nail treatments aren’t vegan. But most (all current/recent releases I think, but always best to double check the ingredients list under the sticker on the bottom) of the polish colours have no animal ingredients. There are some old ones that say “with natural pearl” on the bottle which contain guanine, so those aren’t vegan for sure. I haven’t seen it in any of the ingredients lists of more recent colours though, but as I said it’s always best to double check. 🙂

  11. Amanda Erickson said:
    June 23, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    Hi Jo: My name is Amanda Erickson, and I’m doing an upcoming podcast on vegan cosmetics. I’m wondering if you can tell me if all Zoya and No Miss nail polishes are still vegan? Thank you so much.

    • ariix said:
      July 1, 2013 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Amanda, yes, I believe Zoya states on their website that all their products are vegan (I’m on my phone right now or I’d add a link. I may have linked it on my Vegan Nail Polish Resource page. ) (The same company also makes Qtica products and NOT all of those are vegan, just to clarify. But all Zoya branded ones are.)
      I think all shades of No Miss are vegan (most of them are sold on stores like Veganessentials and Alternative Outfitters) but I just noticed they don’t actually use the word vegan on their website. I’d suggest emailing the company just to make doubly sure. 🙂

  12. Amanda Erickson said:
    July 9, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Hi Jo: I just wanted to tell you that I featured you on my latest podcast episode. The episode is called the Vegan Makeup Marathon and I was searching for vegan nail polishes and stumbled upon your AMAZING site! In Episode Three, I talk about bats and how important they are, so I love your latest post too!

  13. Sandra Lewrey said:
    February 12, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Hey there, you! I had no idea you’ve been at this nail polish/art stuff this long – great blog. 🙂

  14. Sandra Lewrey said:
    March 9, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    Hey Jo! I just wanted to give you a heads up that I gave you (and your blog) a shout-out on *my* blog. 🙂 It’s sort of one of those blogger-on-blogger award things (the Shine On Award, to be specific), and if you’re at all interested in participating, please do. But if not, I just wanted you to know regardless that I love swinging by your blog – thanks for giving me something fun to read and stare at every day. 🙂

    Shine On (or Becoming a Gracious Blogger)

    • ariix said:
      March 17, 2014 at 7:55 pm

      Hi Sandra, thanks so much!! I am definitely going to participate – but it might take me a bit to put it together! Having trouble finding time to post these days… But I’m honoured and I will get to it! Need to go check out your recent design creations too. I loved that stained glass design you did the other day! 🙂

  15. thehelpfulvegan said:
    April 2, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    Hi Jo! I’ve nominated you for The Liebster Award ♥

    • ariix said:
      April 10, 2014 at 10:23 am

      Thanks so much!! I don’t know if I’ll be able to respond any time soon unfortunately, but I really appreciate it and will try to get to it when I can ❤ 🙂

  17. Kathryn Polster said:
    April 23, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Do you know of any gel polishes that are vegan?

    • ariix said:
      August 10, 2014 at 10:04 am

      Nubar Gelicure, Fingerpaints Gel Polish, IBD Just Gel (same company that makes China Glaze), I *think* Orly Gel FX but check ingredients on individual Orly products…

Comments are closed.