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Function of Vex was created for the everyday artist. The self-taught, the late-night tinkerers, the weird ones, the pros who still felt like outsiders. Founded by licenses nail tech Nicole Tran in 2022, the brand was born out of frustration with an industry that often felt inaccessible, sterile, and soulless.
After years behind the chair– and a car accident that forced her to reimagine her future– Nicole set out to create the products no one else cared to. From 3D sculpting gels to airbrush-free pigments, every item is built with intention, inspired by an international artistry, and engineered to solve real pain points.
Every product is created by a nail tech who asked, “Why doesn’t this exist yet?” and refused to wait for permission.
Function of Vex brings pro-grade, innovative formulas with a wonderfully weird, misfit spirit. Here, artistry isn’t dictated by seasonal trends or rinse-and-repeat color stories.
It’s driven by experimentation, rebellion, and raw creative energy. This is a nail brand that merges beauty with brain, edge with empathy, and where nail products lead to expression–not conformity.
Best known for flipping the script on chrome and airbrush designs
What used to be intimidating, inconsistent, or overly technical is now streamlined and foolproof thanks to a suite of highly specialized innovations:
Chromafix
The foil transfer gel that changed the chrome game. A Function of Vex exclusive, this custom formula cures to a perfectly sticky finish for flawless foil transfers, chrome designs, and ultra-isolated metallic detailing. With its sheer-black tint and paintable viscosity, artists can freehand chrome effects with complete control.
Fineprint
A medium viscosity, non-wipe art gel that makes embossed chrome easy. It cures with a grippy finish, so chrome powders cling only to the raised designs you create. Texture, linework, and dimension – all in one swipe.
Slick Matte
The secret to crisp, isolated chrome. This ultra-matte topcoat is engineered for precision, giving chrome powders a sharp, clean contrast without sticking where they shouldn’t. With its non-reflective finish and perfect grip, artists can frame metallic accents with clarity– no dust, no halo, no hassle.
Flex Tint
The base coat that works twice as hard. This HEMA and TPO-free, self-leveling rubber base builds strength and color in one swipe, cutting down layers without compromising performance. Sheer but buildable, its flexible formula moves with natural nail for a long-wearing, chip-resistant foundation– ideal for overlays, soft structure, and gel manicures.
Heavy Metals
Pressed solid chrome pigments in a convenient palette– no mess, no fallout, just flawless shine. These lung-friendly solids deliver smooth, consistent chrome coverage with every use.
Aura Melt
Our cult-favorite pressed pigment palettes that create seamless, soft-focus airbrush effects without the airbrush. Artists can now achieve smooth ombrés, aura nails, and gradient illusions with just a brush and sponge applicator. No dust. No clean-up. No healthy risks. Just instant payoff and compact convenience.
“This brand was born in late hours, through injury, obsession, and a dream of creating tools for artists who feel like outsiders– who build beauty from chaos. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong in this space, this brand is yours” – Nicole Tran, Founder & Creative Director
A multi-media artist with roots in self-taught obsession, Nicole’s journey began in 2017 hunched over her desk, watching Korean and Japanese artists on loop, studying each brushstroke like gospel. After graduating from Mason Anthony School of Cosmetology in 2019, she stepped into the industry fueled by vision, grit, and a hunger to create something different.
Then the world shut down.
COVID ended her salon career overnight, but instead of folding, she pivoted like many others– launching a press-on business and building an online following through frenzied creativity and persistence.
Nicole quickly made a name for herself through intricate hand-painted designs and 3D gel enhancements. When in-person services resumed, she served as Director of Manicuring at a high-end salon in Columbus, OH, where she trained staff, developed curriculum, and worked with high-profile clients. In 2020, her work caught the attention of ICEGEL, one of her longtime idols, leading to a limited edition collaboration. By 2021, she was awarded Nail Tech of the Year at the BEA Awards. Nicole had hit the industry sprinting– achieving what many would consider the pinnacle of career and self fulfillment.
But even then, something felt missing.
As she reached those milestones, Nicole realized that nail art wasn’t just a craft–it had transformed her life. In the quiet moments of experimentation and in the deep connections she built with clients and students, she saw firsthand how expressive nails could empower, liberate, and bring joy. However, sharing this transformative experience wouldn’t be without its challenges. While gel artistry was evolving, the industry’s barriers remained the same–still inaccessible, with brands gatekeeping products, restricting education, and overlooking DIY-ers.
Having started as a self-taught artist, Nicole knew the struggle intimately–the frustration of trail and error; the endless search for safe, effective products. She wanted to change that. Function of Vex became her answer–a brand built on accessibility, innovation, and community.
Function of Vex gave her a way to reshare the industry, making high-quality products available to all and ensuring that no artist, professional or beginner, had to navigate the journey alone. More than just a brand, it became a collective vision–one that pushes the industry forward while allowing a diversified community of artists to share in the metamorphic nature of self expression.
Function of Vex isn’t just a product line–it’s a sanctuary for the misfits, the visionaries, and the experimental artists who never quite fit the mold.
This is where memes meet moodboards, and where creativity flows as freely as paint on a canvas. Pictorials aren’t just guides– they’re sources of inspiration. Each month, the VexVision email newsletter serves collages that spark ideas, drawing influence from sculpture, fashion, digital art, and beyond. The brand’s ambassadors are more than partners– they’re family, and their customers. Co-conspirators in a shared mission to revolutionize the industry.
Function of Vex has already made its mark on iconic nails– from the Met Gala stage, gracing Pedro Pascal’s fingertips, to WeHo Pride festival, shining on Noah Cyrus, and landing on the nails of trailblazers like Doechii and Cardi B. But what truly matters is how the brand shows up for the artist behind the brush.
And they’re only just getting started.
