About Essie
Essie is one of the world's most iconic nail polish brands, founded in 1981 by entrepreneur Essie Weingarten. Armed with just $10,000 in savings and a vision to challenge the stale colour palettes of industry giants Revlon and L'Oréal, Weingarten launched her brand in Las Vegas, strategically targeting showgirls, dancers, and cocktail waitresses who needed to be impeccably groomed. The brand's original 12 unconventional colours included timeless shades still sold today: Blanc, Bordeaux, Baby's Breath, and the legendary Ballet Slippers. Within a year, Essie polishes were stocked in over 10,000 American salons. Celebrity endorsements followed rapidly - Joan Rivers mentioned Essie's Jelly Apple on The Tonight Show in 1983, catapulting the brand into mainstream consciousness. Perhaps Essie's most prestigious endorsement came in 1989 when Queen Elizabeth II's hairdresser wrote to request Ballet Slippers, establishing it as Her Majesty's colour of choice. This royal connection helped cement Essie as the nail polish of discerning, sophisticated women worldwide. L'Oréal acquired Essie in 2010 when the brand was generating $28 million annually across 107 countries. Today, Essie maintains its position as a salon favourite, available in over 25,000 professional nail salons in 100+ countries, with a range exceeding 300 shades from nudes to bold colours and specialty finishes.























