Spotlight on Glaize: How Gina Farran is Reshaping Beauty with Passion and Resilience
Glaize offers custom-fit, toxin-free stick-on gel manicures and pedicures that provide salon-quality results in under 10 minutes.
For many, a manicure is a simple act of self-care. For Gina Farran, it became the foundation of Glaize, a sustainable nail care brand that’s redefining beauty with innovation, quality, and a deeply personal touch.
Recently featured in Entrepreneur UK, Farran’s story is more than just about launching a brand—it’s about building something that truly matters. From her early days in finance to nearly running out of funding, her journey is a testament to persistence, adaptability, and the power of loving what you do.
From Finance to Beauty: Finding a Market Gap
Farran’s passion for manicures started long before she became an entrepreneur. But her demanding finance career left little time for salon visits.
“When I was working in finance, my hours were very long, and I just never had time to go to the salon.” She saw a clear problem: DIY nail solutions on the market didn’t deliver salon-quality results without the time, cost, or hassle. So she set out to build what she wished existed—a beauty brand that prioritized both convenience and sustainability. “Despite nail care not being as large as other categories like hair and skincare, it’s still a massive industry. There’s a lot of work to be done before we think about exploring other beauty segments.”
Glaize is proving that even in an industry dominated by trends, focused execution and a clear mission can cut through the noise.
Building Glaize with Intention and Control
Unlike many beauty brands that rely on third-party manufacturers, Glaize built its own factory. This decision was critical in keeping quality, innovation, and sustainability at the heart of the business. “All our gels are made in-house from scratch by our London-based team—we’ve got our own formulation chemist and production technicians.” Owning production means Glaize can move faster than competitors, launching new colors and designs without the burden of large inventory commitments. “This allows us to test more and understand what sells and what doesn’t, without investing heavily in design or color-specific stock.”
For Farran, building a brand isn’t just about selling products—it’s about continually improving them. “Product improvement is a continuous journey for us—both from a quality and sustainability standpoint—and this is something we’ll never compromise on.”
Overcoming Challenges: A Startup’s Toughest Test
Every entrepreneur faces setbacks, but Farran’s resilience was put to the test early on. Shortly after launching, Glaize nearly ran out of funding.
“The market had shifted, and we were too small to attract venture capital. We almost went bust multiple times.”
Instead of walking away, she doubled down. With support from friends and family—and her husband joining as co-founder—she kept the business alive. “Looking back at this time, I feel like it definitely made us a better business.” This experience shaped Glaize’s lean, sustainable growth strategy, ensuring that the brand remains focused, efficient, and built to last.
The Secret to Lasting Success: Build What You Love
Farran’s advice to entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: start with love. “I personally think it’s really important to build something that you use and love. It gives you an edge.” But she’s also quick to dispel the myth of ‘founder freedom’: “People think that starting a business will give them more free time. If you want to build something big, it will consume you. You’ll have to learn how to switch off.”
For Farran, Glaize is a labor of love—a brand built not on trends, but on authenticity, quality, and resilience. “Build something you truly believe in. That’s where the magic happens.”
With sustainability, innovation, and a deep commitment to quality, Glaize isn’t just another beauty brand—it’s a reflection of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. And as Gina Farran’s journey shows, when you build with love, the results speak for themselves.
Read more on Entrepreneur UK
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