There is a particular kind of disappointment that comes from freshly done nails. For the first few days, they are absolutely bangin’. Then the polish dulls, the tips grow out, the shape starts to drift. And just when you know it, you’re back to square one, googling appointment slots to remove those very nails, which I must tell you is quite an expensive affair. It’s this exact frustration that led Grace and Aami to start Nail Berrie, a Kerala-based press-on nails brand that makes reusable, salon-quality soft gel nails.
Grace and Aami have known each other for almost as long as they can remember. They grew up together in Kozhikode, went to different colleges, and chose completely different careers. Grace went on to become a Software Engineer. Aami followed Dance, becoming a performer and Semi-classical Dance Instructor. The careers couldn’t have been more different. Yet every time they met at their hometown, the conversation somehow drifted back to building something of their own. They went back and forth on plenty of ideas before finally nailing the idea of Nail Berrie.
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The Problem With Salon Nails
As I sat speaking to the two founders, they laughed about how their trips to the nail salon had become frustrating. Every time they got fresh nails done, it looked flawless for a while. But within days, they would run into the same problems. The colour no longer matched every outfit. As their original nails grew, the salon nails slowly lost their clean finish. Eventually, another salon appointment became unavoidable.
Then there was another issue they couldn’t ignore. “When you keep removing gel nails and doing them again and again, it affects your cuticle health. It’s not just the UV light used during the process. The repeated filing, acetone soaking, and cuticle manipulation can also dry out and weaken your natural nails over time. It just becomes a loop,” they explain. And they also talk a bit about how expensive it is to get fresh nails done and removed too.
So they did what most frustrated customers never actually do. They went looking for a way out, and when they couldn’t find one, they decided to build it.
Becoming Their Own First Customers
Grace and Aami ordered press-on nails from every brand they could find, certain that somewhere, someone had already solved this. Almost every set let them down. “The quality just wasn’t there,” they say. “Most of them were made of hard plastic. They didn’t feel or look anything like salon nails.”
Instead of giving up, they began researching what made premium press-on nails feel different. That search eventually introduced them to soft gel press-on nails, a material widely used internationally but surprisingly difficult to find in India. When they couldn’t find manufacturers locally who could produce the quality they wanted, they started reaching out to factories abroad. After months of sampling, testing and refining, Nail Berrie was born, bringing salon-quality soft gel press-on nails to customers in Kerala and across India.
All Things Nail Berrie
One thing I found interesting while speaking to them was how much thought had gone into understanding first-time nail press-on users. Most people don’t actually know their nail size. I certainly don’t. So instead of shipping one standard size, every Nail Berrie pack includes multiple sizes, along with nail fillers that let customers shape a fit of their own.
“You don’t have to worry about choosing perfectly,” they say. All their sets start from ₹599 and are priced under ₹999, which is more affordable than a single salon session, and reusable well beyond it.
Press-on nails have become one of the fastest-growing beauty categories globally. Unlike traditional gel manicures, they can be applied in minutes, removed without damaging natural nails and reused multiple times. For people who enjoy changing nail designs frequently, they also offer a much cheaper alternative to repeated salon appointments.
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On Building Nail Berrie
Building Nail Berrie turned out to be a far bigger undertaking than starting it. They’re constantly listening to customer feedback, understanding what people like, what they’d improve, and how they can make the overall experience even better. That mindset has shaped everything from the sizing options they include in each box to the collections they continue to design. Along the way, they’ve also been fortunate to have a strong support system. Friends helped bring their ideas to life in the early days, while their families stood by them through every launch, flea market and milestone. Looking back, they say Nail Berrie has never really felt like a journey they were taking alone.
Of all the memories they’ve made so far, there’s one they don’t think they’ll ever forget. During their first flea market, a tenth-standard student became fascinated by what they were building. The very next day, the same girl came back to help them run the stall. “She kept asking us questions because she genuinely wanted to learn,” they recall.
What’s Next for Nail Berrie?
Five months into the journey, Nail Berrie is still a young brand. The website has only recently gone live, and the founders are already working on festive collections for Onam. They’re also working towards launching on Amazon, Flipkart and quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto, making Nail Berrie easier to access across India.
From two school friends who kept saying, “We should build something together,” to finally packing orders with their families just a few years later, the journey has come full circle. Nail Berrie may sell press-on nails, but behind every box is a friendship that simply refused to let an idea remain just an idea.
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FAQs
What is Nail Berrie? Nail Berrie is a Kerala-based brand founded by Grace and Aami, making reusable, salon-quality soft gel press-on nails as an alternative to regular salon visits.
What are soft gel press-on nails? Soft gel press-on nails are a flexible, salon-finish alternative to hard plastic press-ons, offering a more natural look and feel. They are reusable and can be applied at home in minutes.
How much do Nail Berrie press-on nails cost? All Nail Berrie sets start from ₹599 and are priced under ₹999, making them a more affordable and reusable alternative to repeated salon appointments.
Where can I buy Nail Berrie press-on nails? Nail Berrie nails are currently available through their website, with upcoming launches planned on Amazon, Flipkart, and quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit and Zepto.
Are press-on nails reusable? Yes. Unlike traditional gel manicures that need to be removed and redone, quality soft gel press-on nails like Nail Berrie’s can be reused multiple times, reducing both cost and damage to natural nails.
