DARK BY RIOR — a brand built by nail professionals, for professionals

DARK BY RIOR: More Than a Brand — A Professional Standard

This year, DARK BY RIOR celebrates six years on the market — backed by over 15 years of hands-on industry expertise.
Born from the vision of a seasoned nail professional, DARK BY RIOR has grown from a high-volume salon environment into a complete, performance-driven product system designed for nail technicians across Europe and beyond.

From Working Hands to Product Development

The brand was born out of necessity. After years in the treatment room — managing high client flow, daily technical demands, and non-stop challenges — we recognised a gap: the market didn’t offer truly reliable tools that combined comfort, consistency, and salon-grade performance.

So, we created them ourselves.

Every DARK BY RIOR formula is built on real-life insight, practical usage, and the ambition to provide uncompromising results — day in, day out.

The Roots of Excellence

Our journey didn’t begin with a product. It began with the craft.

Since 2009, we’ve been deeply immersed in the daily rhythm of the salon. Over seven years, we trained professionals across Ukraine, sharing our methods and standards in nail architecture, coating techniques, and client safety.

By 2021, we had built a powerhouse studio — a team of 17 top-tier technicians and a 99% booking rate. This level of trust brought new responsibility: we needed materials that matched our standards. And when they didn’t exist, we created them.

Our first shop — just 17 square metres in the heart of Dnipro — opened in September 2017. With minimal stock, self-painted walls, and a passion for change, we laid the foundation for what would become one of the most respected professional brands in Eastern Europe.

From Studio Floor to Full System

The concept of DARK BY RIOR was never about rapid scaling — it was about getting it right.
We launched the brand in 2019 with a clear focus: create foundational base products with superior safety, handling, and reliability.

The response was immediate. Technicians resonated with the language of functionality, consistency, and technical trust. From there, we scaled — not in speed, but in precision.

Our product ecosystem evolved from a small selection of base coats to a fully integrated system that allows pros to work smarter, faster, and more confidently. Every product is rigorously tested under real salon conditions — across different lamp types, speeds of application, and technician experience levels.

Today, DARK BY RIOR is trusted in 16+ countries, with a growing international community of professionals who rely on our products to deliver predictable, high-performance results.

Expertise in Every Bottle

We didn’t watch the industry from the sidelines — we helped build it from the inside out.

Each DARK BY RIOR product is informed by the technical realities of salon work:
– Daily time constraints
– Client expectations
– Variable lamp types
– Technician fatigue
– The demand for effortless precision

Our materials are tested in real service flows — with real clients, under real pressure. We refine each formula until it behaves exactly as it should: no burning, no unexpected viscosity changes, no streaking. Just clean, consistent performance.

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced technician, you’ll find our products responsive, intuitive, and technically forgiving.

Beyond Product: A Full Professional Ecosystem

At DARK BY RIOR, we believe support goes beyond what’s inside the jar.
We offer guidance, technical education, and product explanation — not just to help you use the product, but to grow with it.

From colour theory to brush control, we share insights that empower technicians to elevate their work and stay ahead of evolving industry standards.

A Brand Philosophy Built on Confidence and Control

Our aesthetic isn’t loud or excessive. We design for those who appreciate structure, refinement, and technical balance. Our philosophy reflects that:

Manicure is not a show. It’s a part of personal style — clean silhouettes, architectural form, minimalism in detail. This is what holds professional standards in place.

We stand for confidence, calm precision, and honest conversation. No exaggeration, no trend-chasing. Just smart, elevated tools for people who want to do exceptional work.

Not Just a Brand — A Professional Network

DARK BY RIOR is more than a product line — it’s a professional growth platform.

With us:
– Newcomers become confident, in-demand technicians
– Salons reach full-booked status and build strong reputations
– Nail academies train with stable, didactic-friendly formulas that empower their curriculum

We bring together a community of professionals who strive for more:
– Consistent results
– Aesthetics in every detail
– Growth without compromise

Join DARK BY RIOR and experience what excellence feels like — from the very first application.