FunTimes Business Insider
With names like ‘Let Me Be Onyx’ and ‘Not a Kare-n-the World,’ Dr. Nicole Rayfield’s building a bold brand and a nail polish empire.
In the realm where beauty often feels like a performance rather than a practice, Dr. Nicole G. Rayfield is redefining what it means to be “polished.” But for her, polish is more than just appearance, it is about purpose. It is about power. It’s about being undeterred and, well, unbothered in a world that constantly demands otherwise.
The Philadelphia-born founder of Polish Me Unbothered is a beauty entrepreneur, a scholar, a leader in equity, and a woman whose life story blends vulnerability, resilience, and visionary innovation. And now, the result is the creation of her brand that caters to Black women, and it centers them unapologetically.
Dr. Rayfield’s story begins in a rowhome in West Philadelphia, surrounded by the steady presence of her mother, father, and siblings. As a shy child with a flair for art and creative writing, she was drawn to the power of language and the emotional pulse of TV commercials, unknowingly developing an early love for branding.
But her childhood took an unexpected turn at age 11 when she was diagnosed with Arnold Chiari malformation, a rare brain disorder that affected her speech and balance. After a harrowing 9-hour surgery, she privately made a promise to God: “If You let me live, I will do whatever You ask of me.”
That promise sparked something profound. While recovering, her purpose turned towards poetry and prayer. From there, she was never the same. She went on to pursue degrees in English and Communication, and eventually, a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership – all while nurturing her quiet yet unwavering spirit of entrepreneurship.
The idea for her beauty brand wasn’t born in a boardroom or a brainstorming session, it came during a simple self-care moment.
After a long day navigating the highs and lows of academia, Dr. Rayfield vented to a friend while getting her nails done. Frustrated, she blurted out, “I wish they had a nail color called ‘They Got The Right One Red.’”
They laughed. Then they paused. And then that pause became a spark. It was an “a-hah” moment.
What if there were a nail brand that reflected the emotions, humor, resistance, and resilience of professional Black women? What if nail color became a form of personal empowerment and collective healing?
With her academic research on leadership, race, and workplace identity as the foundation, Polish Me Unbothered was born; a vegan, toxin-free beauty brand that speaks directly to women who are tired of code-switching, tired of being overlooked, and ready to wear their truth on their fingertips.
Unlike other makeup, nail polish lives in plain sight. It travels with us through work presentations, caregiving, cooking, cleaning, writing, and the daily labor of womanhood.
According to Dr. Rayfield, doing your nails is more than beauty; it is a ritual. It is one of the few times that we slow down, focus on ourselves, and offer our hands, tools of survival – a personal moment of rest, and adornment. It is also a shared experience, often done in community or as solo self-care.
And for Black women, whose hands have built so much yet received so little rest, this ritual becomes a quiet rebellion: A form of healing, restoration, and remembrance.
Each shade in Polish Me Unbothered comes with a bold name and a message. From “I Got Time Today” to “My Pink Slip Is Showing,” these are polished names with declarations.
But what truly sets the brand apart is its commitment to community. Every bottle sold contributes to anti-violence and healing initiatives. For Dr. Rayfield, social impact is not a feature, it serves as the foundation.
“I didn’t want to create something that disconnected from the people it was meant to serve,” she says. “Embedding purpose from day one keeps us grounded and reminds us why we do what we do.”
With more than two decades in education and equity leadership, Dr. Rayfield knows the power of systems and the pain they can cause when they fail Black women.
Her experience working with first-generation college students and underrepresented scholars shaped how she approached business: with intention, structure, and a whole lot of courage.
“Entrepreneurs have to be fearless,” she says. “And that fearlessness is something I learned by watching education leaders fight for equity. It’s something I live out every day as a scholar and founder.”
Through her Ph.D. lens, she built a brand, an ecosystem of care, creativity, and cultural affirmation.
Of course, entering the beauty industry as a Black female scholar with no formal beauty background, came with its challenges. From product development to marketing to customer retention, every step required learning, listening, and adapting.
But Dr. Rayfield’s ability to blend academic rigor with brand storytelling became her superpower. She did not need to follow the beauty industry’s blueprint, she created her own.
By prioritizing customer feedback, investing in clean beauty standards, and doubling down on her bold messaging, she created a brand that resonates deeply because it was built from lived experience.
For Dr. Rayfield, being “unapologetically confident” does not mean being fearless, it means being faithful.
“Every space I walk into, even if I’m the only one who looks like me, I know I belong,” she shares. “God is for me. That’s my anchor.”
Her faith not only fuels her personal life, but it’s baked into the DNA of the brand. It’s why Polish Me Unbothered doesn’t water down its message. It’s why it speaks in a language that Black women understand and deserve to hear more often.
When asked what advice she would give to other Black women trying to merge scholarship, creativity, and entrepreneurship, she didn’t hesitate: “Embrace the fact that you weren’t designed to be normal.”
She urges women to see their pain points as launchpads. To take the risks. To step into rooms and ideas that scare them. Because, ultimately, it’s in that boldness that legacy is built.
As 2026 approaches, Dr. Rayfield envisions Polish Me Unbothered evolving into a full lifestyle and empowerment brand, with more products, more collaborations, and more community connection.
She also dreams of launching scholarships and innovation labs for young Black women who are interested in entrepreneurship. This mentoring vision is big because the mission is bigger.
“I want Polish Me Unbothered to be synonymous with empowerment,” she says. “When women wear our polish, I want them to feel proud, prepared, and powerful.”
At the end of the day, if Dr. Nicole G. Rayfield could sum up her legacy in one word, it would be: Unstoppable. And from surviving brain surgery at 11, to earning a Ph.D., to creating a promising and purpose-driven beauty brand that’s disrupting the narrative, she already is.
Oluwadamilola is a multi-passionate Creative Brand Strategist, Social Media Expert, and certified Medical Aesthetician. With a strong background in digital storytelling and global brand growth, she blends creativity with strategy to amplify community-driven narratives. Beyond the newsroom, she is building a personal brand at the intersection of skincare, technology, and remote work; empowering undergraduates and young professionals to build digital skills and explore future-forward careers. Deeply curious and always evolving, she thrives on learning, innovation, and creating impact through intentional content. Check out www.tuyifedami.com for more
