Taja Slydell, Ty Slydell, Tianna Hill, Toi Sharae

Co-Founders of IV KULTURE

Our story began in 2015 with the desire to create a more inclusive beauty brand that kept Black health at the forefront of the ingredients. As four sisters, they recognized the need to create more healthier nail care options and launched their nail lacquer line from their hometown of Riviera Beach, FL.

IV KULTURE (pronounced ‘Four Culture’) is a family-owned vegan nail lacquer line that offers a safer beauty option that is vegan, cruelty-free, and eliminates ten harmful ingredients that have been linked to skin, fertility, and other health issues. When they started to dive more into the beauty cosmetics industry, they realized that many of the most harmful ingredients used in beauty products are targeted toward Black women (which studies support). This became the driving force behind their brand.

As four women whose careers span across entertainment, health, and the non-profit industries, they wanted to influence the way women think about the products they put on their bodies as much as women think about the food they put into their bodies.

“The Cosmetic Act that regulates the beauty industry hasn’t been updated in over 80 years - meaning brands aren’t required to ensure their product is safe and free of harmful ingredients,” says co-founder Tianna L. Hill. “So when we created a vegan nail lacquer line, we knew that it would be challenging to get consumers to think of beauty cosmetic products synonymous with health because, unlike the food industry, the space is fairly unregulated.”

Today, IV KULTURE has grown to include not just nail lacquers but also custom press-on designs curated by Black Nail technicians around the country, says co-founder Ty Slydell. “During the height of the pandemic, many nail artists found themselves at a disadvantage with nationwide salon closures. We worked closely with many artists to curate press on nail designs that didn’t require on-site visits for application. It became our newest and most valuable product launch that helped support many nail technicians and launched the beginning of our 2% Nail Technician Initiative, supporting equity and inclusion in the nail community.”

“We have a mission through our 2% initiative to build a Black nail tech directory that spans across 50 states in the U.S., help 400 Black nail techs obtain their license to operate, locate apprenticeship opportunities, and support the cost of nail insurance and cosmetology school testing fees. We are the clean beauty solution - for the people and for the culture,” says co-founder Taja Slydell.

Since launching IV KULTURE, they have caught the attention of many notable celebrities and influencers, including Kandi Burruss (Real Housewives of Atlanta) and Karlous (Wild ‘N Out, 85 South Show), among others. Cofounder Toi Sharae, who also serves as a Certified Personal Trainer in the health community, said, “People often make the assumption that beauty and health can’t coexist with one another, but IV KULTURE nail lacquer proves that sometimes the best nail care option can also be the healthiest.”

To learn more about IV KULTURE, please visit www.ivkulture.com. They offer a variety of products to choose from.

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