Unlabeled products – nail products without prominent manufacturer branding – give nail salons the opportunity to stand out from the competition. They are flexible, economical and ideal for giving your salon its own consistent look. In this article we explain why unlabeled or neutrally decanted products are so useful, how to use them sensibly and what you need to consider legally before selling them to clients.

What does “unlabeled” mean?

“Unlabeled” or “unbranded” means that the product isn't centred around the logo of a big manufacturer. In practice there are two approaches:

• Neutral working containers: You decant your gels, oils and liquids from bulk sizes into uniform, neutral pots and bottles, giving your workstation a consistent salon look.
• Your own salon line: You put your own logo on products and offer them to clients for sale – for example a nail oil for home care.

Building an exclusive brand

Unlabeled products help you strengthen your own salon brand:

• Your own branding: With your logo on them, the products become part of your salon concept.
• Consistent appearance: Matching pots and bottles at the workstation look calm, tidy and professional – ideal for social media photos too.
• Individual touch: Your own scents or colour names make your services unmistakable.
• Client loyalty: Anyone using your care product at home thinks of your salon every time.

Saving money

• No brand mark-ups: You mainly pay for the product, not for elaborate packaging.
• Use bulk sizes: Many salon classics come in large sizes that you portion yourself – for example BNC Profi Gel or BNC Studioline 1-phase gel clear up to 1000 ml, or BNC Cleaner Clear 5 litres, which according to its description is ideal for refilling. Read more in Why large pack sizes are ideal for nail salons.

The right containers

For a consistent salon look you need clean containers that close well:

• For gels and acrylic: the BNC designer pot 6 ml with lid and inner lid – according to its description ideal for gels, acrylics, creams and for decanting.
• For nail oil or polish: the BNC nail polish bottles 10 × 10 ml made of white glass, suitable for filling with nail polish and cuticle oil.
• For liquids at the workstation: the BNC dispenser 200 ml with pump head for clean dosing, for example of cleaner.

You'll find more pots, jars and bottles in the empty containers category.

Flexibility for your salon

• Different uses: Use neutrally decanted products for your treatments – and, once you've clarified the legal points, for retail too.
• Wide choice: From builder gels and cleaners to care products such as nail oils, lots of things can be presented consistently.

Important: labelling and legal aspects

As handy as neutral containers are, there are a few rules you should definitely follow:

• Always label working containers: Product name, batch or filling date and shelf life belong on every pot. That way you always know what's inside – important for clients' allergy questions and for workplace safety. Keep the safety data sheets of the original products to hand.
• Selling under your own name: Anyone who sells cosmetic products to clients under their own name usually takes on the obligations of the “responsible person” under the EU Cosmetics Regulation. These include a safety assessment, notification in the EU CPNP portal and complete labelling (e.g. ingredients, batch, shelf life, address). Clarify this with expert advice before you start selling.
• Decant hygienically: Use clean spatulas, clean containers and light-proof pots for UV gels.

Find out how to store products properly in Tips for storing nail products correctly. Why quality matters when it comes to what's inside, we explain in Why high-quality nail products are the better choice.

FAQ: Unlabeled products in the nail salon

What are unlabeled products?

Products without prominent manufacturer branding, or products you decant into neutral containers and give your own design.

Can I sell decanted products to clients?

This comes with obligations: anyone placing cosmetics on the market under their own name is usually considered the responsible person in the EU. Get advice before you start selling.

What needs to be on a decanted working container?

At least the product name, filling date or batch and shelf life. That way you can always trace which product you used.

Which products are particularly suitable?

Anything you use frequently and buy in bulk – such as 1-phase and builder gels, cleaner or nail oil.