How DARK was born: The journey of a nail artist who became a brand

DARK BY RIOR — A brand created by a master for masters

DARK BY RIOR is more than just a glossy jar on a shelf. It is a continuation of real professional experience. The answer to daily challenges familiar to every master sitting at the workstation.

This is a brand created by a master — for a master.

• So that every base, every gel polish, and every top coat works conveniently, predictably, and stably.
• So that the result is perfect from the first layer.
• So that no lamp lets you down, and the product gives you control from the very first brush stroke.

Today, DARK BY RIOR is gel polishes for nails, top and base coats for gel polish chosen by masters in Ukraine and abroad.
Products that can be ordered in our gel polish online store or found in RIOR NAILS offline stores.

However, the path to this was long — and it is what shapes our approach.

From the Master's Table to Brand Launch

It all started with hands — not with a plan, not with investments, but with the actual work of a nail master.
In 2009, the founder of DARK BY RIOR began her journey in the nail industry. Every day meant dozens of clients, complex tasks, and responsibility for the result. Key things became clear in the work right away: consistency, self-leveling, polymerization time, and comfort under the lamp.

Later — a transition to teaching.
Seven years of training masters all over Ukraine.
Courses, seminars, real stories, real pain points. A teacher sees more: where a beginner struggles, where a professional makes mistakes, what is missing in materials, and how to teach correct techniques from the very first time.

In 2017 — a successful team of 17 masters and a full schedule months in advance.
This was the peak.
Yet even with a refined working system and a strong team, the main question remained:
Why do we still have to adapt to materials? Why does the base run? Why doesn't gel stay on thin nails? Why should a master think about formulas instead of focusing on shape?

To solve these issues, in 2017 we opened our own store — RIOR NAILS.
A small 17 m² space, the first $5,000, a sold moped, and walls painted by ourselves.
We wanted to gather the absolute best for ourselves and masters like us.

Yet this very store became the point where we witnessed the industry's weaknesses every day:

• Materials that look good only on Instagram,
• Products that cannot handle the pace of a salon,
• Lack of consistency: it holds up once, but runs the next time.

And this became the trigger: if the perfect product doesn't exist — we will create it ourselves.

The Birth of DARK BY RIOR: A Brand That Works For You

In 2019, we took a logical and deliberate step — launching our own trademark.
DARK BY RIOR emerged from deep experience and practice, not from hype or the desire to make a "name". Behind every product is a real story from the master's table, the salon, and teaching.

We created a tool that provides a sense of confidence at work:

• Stable coverage,
• Predictable consistency,
• Smooth application,
• Perfect architecture even on difficult nail types.

The brand's position is direct and honest:

• We do not chase hype,
• We choose professional premium classics,
• We focus on those for whom results equal reputation.

Top and base coats for gel polish, gel polishes for nails — everything is designed for masters accustomed to trusting only what has been tested in real work.

The mission of DARK BY RIOR is to make the master's work confident and comfortable.

Formulas that both beginners and top technologists can easily work with.
A product that helps you focus on shape, color, and quality rather than wasting time fighting the material.

How DARK BY RIOR Products Are Created: Not Formally, But From Within the Profession

We do not release a product until it has passed every single stage of our internal review. This is a principle.
Because a brand created by a master cannot afford formalities.

It all starts with analytics:

• What works,
• What gets in the way,
• What is missing on the market,
• Which gel polishes and bases behave unpredictably, and which ones are stable only under ideal conditions.

We don't just follow trends — we study their depth: which textures are in demand, which techniques appear in real studios, and which top and base coats for gel polish help masters save time versus those that complicate work.

Formula development involves:

• Testing on various types of nail plates;
• Analyzing product behavior under different lamps — budget, mid-range, premium;
• Refining self-leveling speed, ease of application, whether it runs on the free edge, whether it provides a gloss shine, and whether the brush glides effortlessly;
• Wear stability in real salon conditions — with temperature fluctuations, water contact, and household loads.

A product does not move forward until we see:

• Clear leveling without pooling;
• High-quality results in a short time;
• Beginner use — without trouble and fear;
• Professional use — without compromises on pace.

We create a gel-polish base that behaves identically in the hands of an instructor, a salon master, and a student in training.
Because that is what a professional approach is: versatility without loss of quality.

Products That Have Become a Standard for Masters

Every formula in DARK BY RIOR is not just a "new jar", but an answer to a real request in a master's workflow. We don't create trends — we set a standard that you get so used to that you won't want to work any other way.

Here are three items to start your acquaintance with the brand:

DARK Pro Base

This is a gel-polish base used by both beginners and advanced technologists.
The low-acid formula ensures maximum comfort for the client, while the medium-dense consistency gives full control to the master.

• Suitable for leveling.
• Provides stable adhesion to the natural plate.
• Wears well even on problematic nails.
• Self-levels quickly — ideal for salon pacing.

Smart Builder Gel

This is a builder gel that adapts to you, not vice versa.
It is plastic, glides easily, does not run, and holds architecture perfectly.

• Suitable for strengthening, modeling, and correction.
• Comfortable viscosity — does not slow down the process.
• Suitable even for teaching — easy to explain, easy to repeat.

Gel Polish DARK

These are gel polishes for nails that apply smoothly in just 1 coat, with deep pigment and stable shine.
They don't streak, peel, fade, or change shade after polymerization.

• Highly pigmented formulas.
• A convenient brush providing precision from the very first stroke.
• A wide palette featuring both trends and eternal classics.

All these products can be ordered both in our official Dnipro locations and through the gel polish online store, where the full lineup, specifications, support, and guidance are available.

DARK BY RIOR Today: A Presence That Speaks For Itself

The brand that started with the feeling "we can no longer work like this" has today become the choice of professionals in over 16 countries.
DARK BY RIOR is represented in Europe, Canada, the USA, as well as in salons, training centers, academies, and the best gel polish online stores.

We grow not through advertising, but thanks to the trust of masters who work with our formulas every day.
Because when a material is convenient, fast, and stable, it stays in your hand for a long time.

We don't have "seasonal products" that live for half a year.
We have items that work for years.
We improve formulas, listen to technologists, and test at all levels to remain a brand that works alongside you.

Choose Confidence — Choose DARK BY RIOR

We don't teach how to work — we work alongside those who create results.
Choose gel polishes and bases that give you control. Choose a product that adapts to you.