The story behind Manicure Project's brush is one rooted in dedication, perseverance, and a deep understanding of manicures, human anatomy, and creativity. At the heart of this journey is the brand’s founder and designer, Natalie Havariyoun, whose professional path from healthcare to product design has set a new standard for manicurists.

Natalie’s career began in the National Health Service (NHS), where she dedicated ten years to medical imaging, working in emergency departments, wards, clinics, and surgical theatres. Her passion for patient care and fascination with imaging technologies made healthcare a natural path. Specialising in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound, she earned a postgraduate certificate in medical ultrasound with distinction, which included a significant focus on preventing repetitive strain injury and understanding ergonomics in the hand, wrist, and elbow.

During the pandemic, as hospital pressures mounted and the second wave heightened, Natalie found herself mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. Working in a field as sensitive and emotionally challenging as obstetric and gynaecological imaging, supporting women and their partners through pregnancy complications, was profoundly demanding, especially at a time when distancing regulations and restrictions were in place, and staffing levels had fallen to less than half. Despite these challenges, Natalie remained committed to providing compassionate care and professional support throughout. Once the worst of the crisis had passed, she finally had a moment to breathe and reflect. Realising the significant impact the past year or two had taken on her wellbeing, Natalie made the decision to step away from her NHS career, and to focus on a new path.

In this time of reflection, Natalie turned to something that had always brought her solace. Years earlier, she had pursued a nail technician diploma purely out of a passion for the art and earned a distinction, and now she found herself drawn back to it. Natalie had always been particularly interested in nail health and the manicure process, more so than product application, and made it her goal to become highly proficient in this essential part of nail artistry.

Throughout her advanced manicure training, Natalie’s background in ergonomics became invaluable. She noticed that manicurists were using brushes that restricted their movements, causing disruption and contributing to the potential of repetitive strain injuries (RSI). With her expertise in ergonomics Natalie recognised a crucial need for ergonomic manicure brushes tailored specifically to manicurists.

This insight reignited her passion for design. Natalie’s talent for both creativity and technical precision was evident from a young age, demonstrated through her success in fine art earning multiple awards. Combined with her love for physics and her deep understanding of hand mechanics and the manicure process, she envisioned a brush that was not only ergonomic but completely reimagined for the manicure process, a manicure brush. The first and, until now, only brush purpose made from its foundation for manicures.

The brush needed to be wearable and tailored to be adaptable to different angles to facilitate precise brushing during various parts of the process. For instance, the angle required around cuticles and sidewalls differs from that needed for free-edge filing to maintain a neutral hand and wrist posture. It needed to be lightweight, shaped to naturally fit the hand, and tailored to stay secure during brushing for superior control, efficiency, and comfort. It had to support the manicurist’s natural movements, allowing unrestricted hand motion, a comfortable tool grip, and consistent precision without causing strain. The outcome was precisely what she envisioned.

The response was overwhelming. This creation fast became a favourite among manicurists worldwide, including educators and session and celebrity manicurists. Praised for its unrivaled comfort and functionality, it became a staple in salons, training academies, and prestigious settings such as the BAFTAs, Oscars and Golden Globes. It featured in London, New York and Paris Fashion Week consecutively since its launch. Recognition from industry leaders and notable clients like Cara Delevingne, along with coverage in Vogue, cemented its reputation as an essential tool for the professional manicurist.

Following this success, Natalie’s commitment to her brand led to a second design phase, emphasising on infection control, and sustainability.

Drawing from her NHS experience, where she completed Level 2 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) training and served as her department's infection control lead, Natalie was acutely aware of the importance of maintaining hygiene standards. She had firsthand experience using aseptic techniques during sterile procedures, such as intravenous injections and phlebotomy.

Through her time in healthcare, Natalie learned that the NHS advises against the use of conventional nail brushes as their bristles can cause minor skin abrasions and harbour microorganisms. This insight is particularly relevant during the manicure process, where repetitive brushing is focused on delicate areas of the hands, including the nail folds and sidewalls. In the absence of better alternatives, manicurists have had to use such brushes for years as part of their manicure process. Nail brushes are considered unhygienic due to the numerous crevices around the bristle attachments, which can trap microorganisms and increase the risk of infection. As a result, the NHS recommends that, if deemed necessary, nail brushes should be single use and disposed of immediately after use to maintain hygiene standards. Guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) further support this stance, recommending the use of a nail pick instead of a brush for removing visible dirt during aseptic handwashing. In line with this guidance, the NHS advocates for the use of nail picks over brushes for nail cleaning in clinical areas, prioritising both infection control and sustainability in healthcare practices.

As well as nail brushes, suppliers are increasingly incorporating makeup brushes, such as those used for foundation and blush, or adaptations of these, into their offerings for the manicure process. Studies have shown that makeup brushes can harbour significant bacterial and fungal growth, worsened by their slow drying and moisture retaining structure. Moreover, there is a fundamental contradiction in the disinfection practices for these brushes. For proper disinfection brushes should be fully submerged in disinfectant solutions. In contrast, brush sellers typically advise cleaning only with mild detergent, while avoiding soaking the brushes or exposing the adhesive to moisture. The ferrule, enclosed fibres, and adhesive must remain dry to prevent weakening of the soft metal and glue, which can lead to shedding and permanent damage.

In certain areas within our industry, manicurists are required, either through their education, insurance policies, or in some cases, by law, to autoclave tools. Where this is not possible, such as with brushes, they must be discarded after a single use.

To date, the brushes available to manicurists, who use either disinfection protocols or autoclave protocols, are in many respects less than ideal and pose a significant infection control and sustainability issue.

Recognising the severity of this hygiene conflict and the sustainability challenge it poses, Natalie identified critical issues and was determined to find solutions. This pursuit was far from straightforward, involving over a year of complete brand focus on research, prototyping, and rigorous product testing to perfect the product.

The Manicure Project brush is specifically engineered to meet the demands of manicures, treatments requiring stringent disinfection or even autoclaving, as mandated by regional regulators. Although most manicures are not inherently medical, they still need meticulous attention to infection control and client safety.

Worn at the midpoint of the finger, our brush rests in the perfect place. Lightweight and tailored, it feels like a part of you. Adaptable to every stage of the manicure process, it moves with you effortlessly, so natural you forget it’s there.

Its ferrule is crafted from stainless steel, a material celebrated for its strength, resilience, and enduring elegance. Stainless steel allows the brush to withstand harsh environments, while remaining timelessly beautiful in both function and form.

Crafted with top-tier fibres our brush offers superior performance. The purposeful shape of our fibres ensures accurate reach. Our fibres’ material and structure promotes efficient drying maintaining professional standards.

For the delicate art of combining, we sought an adhesive that can withstand the harshest of environments like those faced by materials at sea. In discovering this rarer compound, we’ve given it a place where it can perform its strength with grace.

Our Signature Fibres were developed by specialists under the creative direction of our founder, Natalie Havariyoun. Their design concept is one inspired by infection control and sustainability. One per client, proper disinfection by submersion, sustainable, autoclave-safe, authentic in form and performance. Once they reach the end of their lifecycle, your fibres can be recycled. Our unprecedented approach allows effortless fibre replacement without compromising performance, uniting sustainability and professionalism in one designer brush.

Manicure Project brushes combine high-end design with precision functionality, setting a new standard in both form and performance. Crafted with the professional manicurist in mind, these brushes are more than tools, they are a testament to the industry’s need for purpose made solutions, not mere adaptations from other sectors. Where alternative brushes fall short, Manicure Project stands out, offering ergonomic comfort and the resilience to meet professional infection control standards. Designed to withstand the rigours of disinfectants and autoclaves, they provide the durability and safety that manicurists and their clients deserve. 

Through innovation rooted in both science and creativity, Natalie Havariyoun has transformed what a professional manicure brush should be. Manicure Project continues to set new standards in the industry, demonstrating that superior design goes beyond aesthetics, though integral to our design. It is about improving the professional’s practice in its entirety and their clients comfort and safety alike.

Every element of a Manicure Project brush is the result of purposeful design. We are proud to be the only brand globally to offer standalone, mono-material fibres. This authentic concept makes them both autoclave-safe and recyclable, created from the ground up with both performance and responsibility in mind.

We are the only brand to tailor your brushes and ensure that true ergonomic performance and accuracy, seamless and comfortable, with consistent praise by our clientele for precisely this.

Our configurations are original, registered designs, created for our community of manicurists and professionals who value tools made with intention. By protecting our designs and configurations, we are able to continue investing in meaningful ideas and solutions for the professionals who value authenticity as much as we do.