Manucurist secures Inflexion investment to accelerate US and retail expansion

The French nail care brand will use backing from Inflexion’s Enterprise Fund VI to develop its international business, widen retail distribution and invest in new products.

Manucurist has agreed an investment from European mid-market private equity firm Inflexion, bringing new financial backing to the French nail care company as it pursues further growth in the US and other international markets.

The investment will be made through Inflexion’s Enterprise Fund VI. Neither the value of the transaction nor the size of the stake being acquired has been disclosed.

The Manucurist name began with a professional nail salon opened in Paris in 1996. Gaëlle Lebrat Personnaz took control of the business in 2016 and repositioned it as a consumer-facing nail colour and care brand, drawing on her previous experience in luxury fashion. Today, the company is best known for Green Flash, its at-home LED-curing manicure system, alongside conventional nail colour and targeted treatments.

Headquartered in Paris, Manucurist now sells through direct-to-consumer, retail, pharmacy and marketplace channels in more than 40 countries. Its principal markets include France, the UK, wider Europe and the US, while the company has built an online community of more than one million followers. The brand also maintains a professional presence, with its products used by salons and spas in France and overseas.

Inflexion’s backing is intended to support a larger US operation and further retail distribution, alongside continued investment in ecommerce and marketplaces. Funding will also be directed towards Manucurist’s team, operating systems and product development, with the company seeking growth across nail colour, lamp-curing manicures and treatment-led care.

Enterprise Fund VI closed at £975 million and typically invests in lower mid-market businesses valued at up to £150 million, taking either majority or minority positions. No valuation has been given for Manucurist.

Tom Pemberton, Partner, Head of Enterprise Fund and Consumer at Inflexion, commented, “Manucurist is exactly the kind of business we like to back – a brilliant founder-led brand that has disrupted the market through product innovation and outstanding brand execution. We are extremely excited to support the team to accelerate its international growth story, particularly in the US, and to help build it into the global leader in clean nail care.”

The deal follows Inflexion’s investment in British skincare company Medik8, which provides an important point of reference for its ambitions in beauty. During Inflexion’s four-year involvement, Medik8 more than quadrupled sales and tripled its headcount while expanding internationally and across new sales channels. L’Oréal agreed to acquire a majority interest in Medik8 in 2025, with Inflexion retaining a minority shareholding.

Gaëlle Lebrat Personnaz, Co-CEO and Founder of Manucurist, commented, “From the start, my conviction has been that beauty and nail integrity should never be a compromise. That is how we have shaped products and a brand that actually takes care of our consumers' nails. We are proud to have a community of more than 1 million followers, who are our best spokespeople, and this growing community requires more innovation and retail investment from us to meet their needs. In Inflexion, we have found a partner who shares that vision and has a proven record of helping founder-led brands grow internationally. We look forward to working together on the next stage of our journey.”

Manucurist already has strong consumer recognition in Europe. Its next task will be translating that position into sustained US retail growth while continuing to serve the professional and direct-to-consumer channels that established the business.