Nicki Minaj has once again proven her prowess as a trendsetter by launching her luxurious press-on nail brand, Pink Friday Nails. The collection, which debuted on March 13th, 2024, has taken the market by storm, with most styles selling out rapidly in a few hours due to high demand.
The designs are nothing short of dynamic, featuring matte and chrome bases, camo patterns, and a wide range of colorways. One notable design even pays homage to a memorable moment in pop culture history: a recreation of the press-on set that famously fell off during Nicki Minaj's MTV VMAs performance, which later sold for $55,000 on eBay.
Nicki hired her actual nail designer Yvett G to design the brand's product and oversee production. Four custom shapes were molded – stiletto, coffin, square, and almond – in five lengths, including short, medium, long, XL, and XXL. The shapes are curvy with a high apex and are thick and durable, delivering a contemporary look and quality that until now can only be achieved in a salon. A set typically lasts two weeks when applied with glue and application time is just 10-15 minutes.
"When I became a mom, I couldn't spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, QUALITY press-on nails," said Nicki Minaj, Founder of Pink Friday Nails.
"I told my team when we started Pink Friday Nails that if I don't want to wear them, I'm not going to even ATTEMPT to sell them because our customers aren't stupid. Pink Friday Nails are the ACTUAL nails I wear designed by my ACTUAL nail tech. And I have VERY small nail beds, so normally press-ons are way too big and don't hit the same. Our nails come from short to the longest length I wear, in ALL shapes, all sizes, and polishes."
The brand's quick sell-out reflects the excitement and anticipation that had been building since its launch was announced. Fans and beauty enthusiasts alike scrambled to get their hands on these luxurious press-ons, leading to a frenzy of online purchases that left many styles out of stock. Each nail pack comes with nail glue, adhesive tabs (for short-term wear, such as matching nails with a specific outfit), a cuticle pusher, file and buff, and alcohol pad.
Nicki Minaj took to her Instagram to share a sneak peak days leading up to the launch to generate buzz:
@nickiminajquennz Those nails are mad cute 😍 #nickiminaj #barbz #harjukubarbie #redruby #queensleezeera ♬ original sound - nicki.editz83
"Now, that you will be able to do, you will be able to get any size. I have very tiny nail beds, but you will be able to pick the length and the shape. And if you are not an over-the-top girly, then it will be short, coffin shape or pointy."
"I said if I cannot wear them, I will not sell them."
"I want you to first your eyes of the Q-U-A-L-I-T-Y!"
@trendmood Replying to @Queenkeekey Here is a closeup 💗💅🏼 xo #Trendmood #nickiminaj #pressonnails #nickiminajnails #pinkfriday #pinkfriday2 #nickiminajpinkfriday #pinkfridaynails #nailsart #newmakeuplaunches2024 #newmakeupcheck #newbeautylaunch #beautynews ♬ Pink Friday Girls (Sped Up) - But Girls, They Wanna Have Fun - Hiko
A user on Tiktok shared her review stating, "For me it feels like pretty good quality and pretty sturdy, I would recommend putting a clear coat."
"I love the shape of these"
Another user on Tiktok shared a video showing the packaging and commentators were super impressed with it, with one saying "They're so pretty, and the packaging is so cute!"
@heymichellelee Unboxing @Pink Friday Nails by @Nicki Minaj 😱🎀 #pinkfridaynails ♬ HBIC - Sabby Sousa
Pink Friday Nails seeks to disrupt the press-on market and fill a void, bridging the gap between inexpensive brands with lower quality and low-fidelity designs and custom sets sold by nail artists on social media for hundreds of dollars. Now for an average price of $19.99 - $24.99, Pink Friday Nails delivers the high-end look and quality found on social media at an accessible price.
A post on Reddit, also caught the attention of users with commenters saying:
"I’ve never actually seen such long detailed designed press ons, it’s expensive as hell to get that in a salon so I feel like it’s filling a gap in the market."
"Not an oversaturated market in the celebrity beauty lines. This is smart."
"I’ve paid around $400 at vanity projects for a full set with attachments like these, so ordering two accent sets for $80 for a full set is more than reasonable. Standard sets include 28 nail. For the accent nails it’s important to choose the correct size, so take your measurements first and look at the size guide."
"Absolutely is!! i’m obsessed with all of these especially for 20-42 dollars per set?? like that’s an amazing price for some of these especially the deco ones."
"This is a celebrity brand that makes sense to me and not just something for money. Will I buy it? No but I get it. I’m surprised that this hasn’t happened before or at least I can’t think of others"
For those who missed out on the initial release, there is a glimmer of hope. The brand's website, pinkfridaynails.com, encourages customers to stay updated for restocks and new releases. With such a successful launch, it's clear that Pink Friday Nails will continue to be a sought-after brand, setting trends and empowering individuals to showcase their personal style through innovative nail art.
