Sustainable Spotlight: Dazzle Dry
In this week’s Sustainable Spotlight, we chatted with Dr. Vivian Valenty, Founder of Dazzle Dry, a socially and environmentally conscious nail brand. If you aren’t already familiar with Dazzle Dry, it’s really a must-try nail collection. I distinctly remember the first time I tried Dazzle Dry because I was blown away by its performance. It looked as great as a gel and lasted, yet it isn’t a gel or a hybrid. It’s also free of harsh chemicals. Before Spa & Beauty Today, I was the Digital Director for several trade beauty magazines including two top nail publications, so as you can imagine I’ve tried a ton of different nail polish brands. And I mean A TON! Dazzle Dry is one of my absolute favorites.
Tell us about your background and what inspired you to found Dazzle Dry?
I am a chemist with a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (with specialty in bio-organic chemistry) from The Pennsylvania State University (aka Penn State). I have been a chemist for 56 years, 40 of which have been devoted to creating products that solve problems.
In 1989 I was convinced that traditional nail polishes have problems:
They take too long to dry (normally requires 60 minutes or more for them to be functionally dry so that we can go about our normal day without ruining our freshly applied polish),
They don’t last (they chip within a day or two) and
They turn nails a yucky yellow.
I was obsessed to create not only an effective but also a safe solution to these problems and in 2007 launched Dazzle Dry® – a four step nail polish system that:
Dries rock solid in 5 minutes without the use of UV light and no chemically reactive ingredients,
Stays on nails chip free for up to two weeks (sometimes more), like a gel and
Will never turn nails yellow because it is nitrocellulose-free.
Dazzle Dry Mini Kit
What makes Dazzle Dry’s nail care system different from other nail care systems?
Traditional nail polishes have been around for about a century and have used nitrocellulose which turns nails yellow, as the primary film former. Dazzle Dry is not like a traditional nail polish as it does not contain nitrocellulose, is not a hybrid because it does not contain chemically reactive ingredients and is not a gel because it does not use UV or LED light. Dazzle Dry stands in a class of its own. It is scientifically formulated using technical principles that I learned through my experience in diverse fields of chemistry and is therefore science-based. When all of the components of the system are used exclusively, healthy natural nails are the results.
Dazzle Dry Transform
Do you have a hero product and/or favorite product from the collection?
Aside from the complete Dazzle Dry system, my favorite product from the collection is Transform, a ridge filler that fills in the ridges on my nails, creating a smooth canvas for the Dazzle Dry system. The resulting polish looks like a gel without the risks associated with the exposure to UV or LED light and chemically reactive ingredients. I sometimes use Transform without nail lacquer nor top coat to give me the most natural look while providing mechanical strength to the nails. No wonder Transform is our best-selling product after the System’s components.
Dazzle Dry System
Is there anything you want customers to know about the ingredients and/or formulations?
The ingredients that we use are clean (free of toxic contaminants) and vegan (plant based and synthetic, not animal derived). We test every drum of solvent and reject any drum that has toxic contaminants such as formaldehyde, DBP, toluene, benzene, xylene, etc. Dazzle Dry formulations are free of known allergens (such as HEMA, other monomers, ethyl tosylamide and formaldehyde resin) and endocrine disruptors (for example, TPHP). All of the components of the system and Transform are free of nitrocellulose and therefore nails will not turn yellow when Dazzle Dry is used exclusively. Our formulations are all produced from scratch at our own facility in Chandler, Arizona and not tested on animals.
Transform System from Dazzle Dry
Any nail secrets or tips you can share?
Treat your nails gently, especially if your nails are weak, brittle, dry, or are prone to the formation of white spots, and do not use them as tools. Keep them at the length that is appropriate for your lifestyle.
Avoid using alkaline cuticle removers but instead apply Dazzle Dry Renew (formerly called Heels & Elbows Butter) and cuticle oil such as Dazzle Dry Maintain or Dazzle Dry Mend daily. Do not use metal implements to push cuticles back but push them back daily using a towel while they are wet after your daily bath or shower.
Favorite wellness tip?
Regularly treat yourself to a professional manicure and pedicure (or do it yourself at home if not ready to go to the spa or salon) and choose Dazzle Dry because I believe that what we put on our body affects our overall health. Well-groomed beautiful nails boost self confidence and when you look good, you feel good. Make this a habit and you will be on your way to achieving your wellness goals.
What steps does Dazzle Dry take towards being socially and environmentally conscious?
We take our environmental and social responsibilities very seriously. To help stop global warming, we partnered with WeForest in their reforestation efforts. For every retail order placed on dazzledry.com, we plant one tree. In just two years, we have planted about 104,000 trees. Our goal is to plant 2 million trees within 10 years.
We use boxes and packing materials made with recycled kraft paper and boxes made with molded pulp will soon replace plastic bubble wrap.
As soon as we found out that hand sanitizer was in short supply when the Covid pandemic hit, we pivoted a portion of our manufacturing to produce hand sanitizer. We donate and will continue to donate the total production to the Salvation Army for distribution to the front liners in the City of Chandler, State of Arizona and the Navajo Nation. We will continue this initiative until the pandemic is over.
We also give to non-profits that support education such as Girls Opportunity Fund (and soon to add Black Girls Code and A Call to Men) because I would not be where I am today without the education that I have managed to get.
Keep up with the latest from Dazzle Dry by following @dazzle_dry on Instagram and find the brand online at dazzledry.com.
[Images courtesy of Dazzle Dry]
Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy