A coffee with Anna
First thing’s first, can you tell us a little more about yourself?
Hi! I’m Anna, the founder of Maniac Nails. With our gel polish stickers, anyone can
get a salon-quality gel manicure at home in just 20 minutes. No hassle, no damaged
nails and they last for up to two weeks.
Marlot and I started Maniac 2.5 years ago with one goal: to make it easy for
everyone to always have beautiful nails. To make life not just easier, but also more
fun. Because let’s be honest, beautiful nails just make you happy!
I’ve always been a huge beauty lover and super passionate about entrepreneurship.
Being the founder of Maniac is truly my dream job. My passion has become my
profession.
Where did you grow up and where do you currently reside? How did the idea
for Maniac first come to you?
I was born and raised in Amsterdam, and I still live there with my boyfriend.
The idea for Maniac came when Marlot and I discovered that gel polish stickers were
already a massive trend in Korea and Japan. Korea is always ahead of us when it
comes to beauty.
The first time we tested the stickers, we thought: this is too good to be true! They
were so easy to apply, looked exactly like a salon gel manicure, stayed perfect for at
least two weeks, and didn’t damage your nails when removing.
We knew right away this was something so many women would fall in love with.
That’s when we decided to quit our jobs and start Maniac. Our launch was insane.
Our first batch sold out in less than a week. Clearly, a lot of women were looking for
an easy way to have perfect nails, and it makes us so happy that Maniac has
become that solution for so many.
What was the inspiration behind the name?
Maniac manicures were something completely new. The nail market hadn’t changed
in decades. It was all bottles and brushes.
We wanted a name that was bold, fresh, and a little disruptive.
One of the meanings of “maniac” is someone obsessed with color, and when we
heard it, we just knew it was perfect. It sticks. People even say, “Ik ga even
Maniac’en!” How fun is that? It’s become a verb, and we absolutely love that.
What did those first few months of starting Maniac look like? What role did
Korea play in founding Maniac?
The first few months of Maniac were a rollercoaster, in the best way. After selling out
within a week, we had a waitlist of 10,000 people for our second drop. Magazines
started writing about us, and top influencers wanted to collaborate and big retail
stores reached out. It truly felt like a dream way to launch a business.
Korea was a big source of inspiration for us. The way gel stickers had become a
beauty essential there showed us what was possible. We wanted to bring that same
innovation to Europe but in our own bold and playful way.
What’s your go-to manicure set?
I go through manicure phases, haha. Sometimes I’m obsessed with bright colors and
fun nail art, other times I’m into clean, minimal looks.
Right now I’m into my “cute manicure era”. French tips with a little glitter, baby pinks,
baby blues, and flower nail art.
We love seeing all your influencer collabs! How do you stay true to your
brand’s style while highlighting each collaborator’s personal style?
What we love most is how each collab really reflects the personality and style of the
person we work with.
For example, Lizzy van der Ligt has such a bold, colorful vibe and her designs totally
reflect that. They’re vibrant, playful, and full of energy. Zaar Goedemans has more of
a clean girl aesthetic, so her Maniac manicures are soft, neutral, and super cute.
What all of our collabs have in common is a shared love for the product and, above
all, fun. Whether it's the meetings or the shoot days, we’re always having fun. And
you feel that energy in every collab.
How do you relax after a long day at work?
Pilates! It totally resets my mind. No phone, no distractions, just focus and calm.
And our favorite question here at the club, how do you take your coffee?
Matcha latte with coconut milk. My absolute favorite!
