New site promises to be Netflix for nail polish... But would you use second-hand lacquer?

PUBLISHED: 18:31 EST, 14 November 2012 | UPDATED: 11:19 EST, 15 November 2012

A nail polish rental service called Lacquerous launched today, giving lacquer addicts three designer shades to play with every month, for a fee of $18.

But the U.S. company warns subscribers that they can only use use each polish a maximum of three times before returning them, and it will monitor the level of paint in each bottle.

Refinery29 said the policy was the service's only flaw, writing: 'Seems a little Big Brother to us, but then, we understand how some shady types might try and exploit the rental concept, so the site does need to protect itself somehow.'

Novel idea: Nail polish subscription service Lacquerous launched today giving lacquer addicts three designer shades to play with every month

Although a spokesman for the company told MailOnline that the rule was based on internal research, that found on average people use polish three times a month.

They added: 'We don't plan on revoking memberships if we sense there was an additional coat. We trust that our fashion-savy members understand the need to stick to the rules.'

More...

Co-founder Ashlene Nand, from New York, said she came up with the business concept after realizing she couldn't 'squeeze in additional trips to the salon or justify buying a bottle of nail color every time I wanted something new'.

Lacquerous currently has nine brands - Tom Ford, Deborah Lippmann, NARS, Butter London, OPI, Chanel, MAC, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana - with over 70 shades to choose from.

Following the rules: The U.S. company warns subscribers that they can only use each polish three times before returning them after 30 days

All of the polishes are new or slightly used as customers must return their selection at the end of their rental period using the provided pre-paid label, so they can be sent to another member.

The website notes that the system works in a similar way to how 'polish is reused at a salon or testers at a department store except online'.

Members create a wishlist of polishes they want to try, and new shades and brands will continue to be added.

According to Refinery29, Lacquerous, which does not operate outside the U.S., already has a waiting list of over 2,500 people.

Describing its target audience, a company spokesman said: 'Women who want to try luxury lacquer without the splurge every time, and who simply don't want to hoard nail polish.'

Showbiz Roundup! K-Stew's sheer sexy jumpsuit & Ellen talks to Rihanna's 'HER'!!

Netflix For Your Nails: New Polish Club Lets You Rent Luxe Lacquers

Add your comments

Comments (16)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

It's not hygienic to share nail polish with unknown people.

- epta , somewhere in, Tonga, 16/11/2012 12:49

Click to rate Rating 1

$18 a month... I think I'll just buy my own thanks.

- Salvia , Nashville, United States, 16/11/2012 04:55

Click to rate Rating 13

So people would want to use a bottle of polish that someone else with nail fungus on their toenails has used? No thanks!

- L.T. , Napoli, 16/11/2012 04:42

Click to rate Rating 13

The amount of chemicals in nailpolish would kill all germs, and the brush stays in the bottle during transport, so any germs on them would die. Money is the dirtiest thing, think where that's been, how many wash their hands after picking up a note or coin?

- julia , london, 16/11/2012 02:34

Click to rate Rating 10

Not only is this dumb since it isn't that expensive to purchase bottles of nail polish outright, but it is also so unsanitary! I would never use nail polish that some stranger used. To those saying that using nail polish at a salon is miraculously more sanitary; you are wrong. Your hands are still coming into contact with others' during manicures and pedicures. No thanks; I'll just buy my own nail polish!

- Jennifer , USA, United States, 16/11/2012 01:59

Click to rate Rating 6

you forgot to mention their outrageous TOS that include RUNNING YOUR CREDIT (I know I would sure love to have my credit dinged for RENTING nail polish). There is also a part in there about how they assume NO responsibility for the polish once they drop it off at the post office, meaning even though it's insured if it arrives to you broken you are SOL and they can charge you lord knows how much for it. Not to mention this is just gross, yes I realize that germs/bacteria and the like cannot live in polish but what happens when someone who rented the polish before you dropped the brush somewhere gross (i.e. a floor covered in pet hair) then just stuck the brush back in the bottle without cleaning it.

- Annie14 , London, 16/11/2012 00:20

Click to rate Rating 5

people saying yuck probably also visit nasty salons for cheap manicures...they just dont want to admit it!

- Nicole23 , London, United Kingdom, 15/11/2012 23:48

Click to rate Rating (0)

Yuck.

- Jeanne , Boston USA, 15/11/2012 22:07

Click to rate Rating 14

how is this legal? this is extremely unsanitary. maybe they'll do it with lipsticks next.

- ceeli , USA, 15/11/2012 19:25

Click to rate Rating 21

I went to cosmetology school and study the nails, those diseases... I'm a bit traumatized..lol No Thanks!