Quick Answer: A'DOR Clean Vegan and Lavis HEMA-Free are two of the cleanest gel polish systems available at DTK Nail Supply — both fully HEMA-free, both vegan, both engineered for safe wear without the monomer most often linked to gel allergies. A'DOR delivers 280 affordable shades across three collections plus trend-forward nail art products like Drip Base/Top, ideal for salons stocking a wide budget-friendly clean-beauty library. Lavis delivers a trend-forward California aesthetic with HEMA-free Cat Eye 9D, Builder Gel BIAB, and Jelly Gel — ideal for home studios and salons chasing the latest Instagram-driving nail trends. This guide compares both side by side so you can pick the right one (or both) for your service menu.
What A'DOR Clean Vegan Is
A'DOR is a gel polish brand carried at DTK Nail Supply, positioned on affordable clean beauty. The brand's core promise is straightforward: HEMA-free, TPO-free, fully vegan gel color at a price point that lets salons stock a wide range without budget strain.
A'DOR's gel color lineup spans three collections totaling 280 shades:
- Color Me Gel-ous (64 shades): The starter collection. Often bundled at DTK with a free LDS Cat Eye gift for new customers. Covers core neutrals, brights, classic reds, and an essentials seasonal palette.
- Signature Shades (144 shades): The premium pro-tier set. Built for high-volume salons that want full color depth in one collection. The largest single A'DOR collection by shade count.
- Gel-Ons (72 shades): Two separate 36-shade sets, each shipped with removable magnetic tip sample boards. The sample boards let clients preview each color against their own nail before committing — a strong differentiator for salons that consult-and-pick during the service.
Critically, A'DOR's clean-beauty positioning applies only to the gel color products. The brand's nail art lines — Wave Gel, Crack Gel, Spider Gel, Marble Ink (a 5-color metallic set: Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper, Bronze), and the Drip Base / Drip Top system for the viral raindrop nail trend — are not claimed as HEMA-free. A'DOR does not produce a builder gel. The formula complies with FDA standards for approved ingredients.
One useful data point: A'DOR has the lowest average discount rate of any brand at DTK over a three-month sales window. Customers consistently pay full price, which signals the brand does not need heavy promotion to move units.
What Lavis HEMA-Free Is
Lavis is a California-based, trend-forward gel polish brand carried at DTK Nail Supply. Where A'DOR's positioning is affordable clean beauty across a wide shade library, Lavis's positioning is trend-forward clean beauty across a curated story that includes specialty products A'DOR does not produce.
The Lavis HEMA-free lineup includes:
- Cat Eye 9D — 18 CE collections: The viral magnetic cat-eye gel. Lavis's hero product. All 18 Cat Eye collections are HEMA-free per the brand's current product information. This is one of the few HEMA-free cat-eye gels on the US market — a real differentiator for clean-beauty-positioned salons.
- Builder Gel BIAB — 36-color Builder Cover plus Builder Base and Builder Top: The brand's structural builder gel system. Engineered for 6 to 8 weeks of wear on prepped natural nails. The full three-line system is HEMA-free.
- Jelly Gel — 17 C-series specialty collections: Translucent gel formulas that read as soft tinted washes rather than fully opaque colors. The Instagram-driving "jelly nails" trend. Includes shades like C01 Jelly Jamboree and C14 Secret Garden.
- Standard Gel Polish: The brand's everyday color range covering core neutrals, brights, and seasonal trends in a HEMA-free formula. Pairs with the Diamond Top Coat for cat-eye and specialty gel finishes.
Lavis's color philosophy leans heavily on California trend-forward aesthetics: pastel powders, jelly translucents, milky neutrals, and viral-ready palettes designed for Instagram and TikTok content. The brand is mid-range professional in price, sold primarily through US nail supply retailers, and built for techs who want trend-driven content hooks alongside everyday salon staples.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Feature | A'DOR Clean Vegan | Lavis HEMA-Free |
|---|---|---|
| HEMA-free (gel color) | Yes — 280 gel color shades | Yes — across Cat Eye, Builder Gel, Jelly Gel, and standard color |
| TPO-free | Yes — gel color products | Check individual product spec sheet |
| Vegan / cruelty-free | Yes — vegan, no animal-derived ingredients | Yes — vegan, cruelty-free |
| Total gel color shade count | 280 (64 + 144 + 72) | Curated trend-forward range across multiple specialty lines |
| Cat Eye 9D | None | 18 HEMA-free Cat Eye collections (hero product) |
| Builder Gel / BIAB | None | Yes — Builder Base + Builder Cover 36 shades + Builder Top |
| Specialty / nail art | Wave Gel, Crack Gel, Spider Gel, Marble Ink (5 colors), Drip Base / Drip Top | Jelly Gel (17 C-series collections) |
| Wear time | 14-21 days with proper prep | 2-3 weeks gel polish; 6-8 weeks Builder Gel |
| Price tier | Affordable — set pricing favors bundles | Mid-range professional |
| Ideal user | Budget-conscious salons + clean-beauty focused clients | Trend followers + Cat Eye/Builder Gel demand |
| Where to buy | DTK Nail Supply | DTK Nail Supply |
Who Should Choose A'DOR Clean Vegan
A'DOR is the right pick if you want the widest HEMA-free gel color library at the most accessible price. With 280 shades across three collections, A'DOR covers seasonal palettes, core neutrals, brights, and trend shades without forcing multi-brand sourcing. For a salon stocking 5 to 15 chairs, or a home studio building inventory carefully, this shade depth in one brand saves both money and shelf space.
A'DOR also makes sense if you serve allergy-conscious clients. The HEMA-free and TPO-free combination is a real differentiator, and A'DOR's price point lets you offer a clean-beauty service tier without raising menu prices dramatically. The brand is also strong for trend content with its dedicated Drip Base + Drip Top system for the viral raindrop nail look, plus the 5-color Metallic Marble Ink set (Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper, Bronze) for editorial-style finishes.
Pick A'DOR if you want:
- The largest HEMA-free shade range under one brand
- HEMA-free and TPO-free across the entire gel color lineup
- Affordable pricing for high-volume salon stock
- Trend-product hooks for social content (Drip nails, Wave Gel, Marble Ink)
- A budget-friendly clean-beauty service tier addition
Who Should Choose Lavis HEMA-Free
Lavis is the right pick if you want a trend-forward clean-beauty system with specialty products A'DOR does not produce. Lavis Cat Eye 9D is the brand's hero product and one of the few HEMA-free cat-eye gels on the US market — for salons whose clientele asks specifically for cat-eye nails, this is materially differentiated.
Lavis Builder Gel BIAB is the second hero. With Builder Base + 36-shade Builder Cover + Builder Top in one coordinated HEMA-free system, the line delivers 6 to 8 week wear on prepped natural nails. This is the strength-tier service upgrade for any salon menu, and it's not duplicated in the A'DOR catalog.
For home studios chasing Instagram-driving content (jelly nails, milky French, soft pastels, viral cat-eye looks), Lavis is built for that aesthetic. The brand's color philosophy and content hooks align directly with what's trending on TikTok and Instagram for nail content.
Pick Lavis if you want:
- HEMA-free Cat Eye 9D — 18 collections, one of the few clean-beauty cat-eye gels available
- HEMA-free Builder Gel BIAB for 6-8 week structural overlays
- Trend-forward California aesthetic for Instagram and TikTok content
- Jelly Gel specialty collections for the translucent-nail trend
- A premium clean-beauty positioning that supports higher service menu prices
Application Method Compared
Both A'DOR and Lavis follow standard soak-off gel application sequences. The differences are in the specialty products each line carries.
A'DOR Clean Vegan — Standard Application
- Prep the natural nail: cuticle work, light file or buff, dust removal, acetone wipe.
- Apply dehydrator. Wait until matte.
- Apply HEMA-free base coat. Cap the free edge. Cure under LED.
- Apply A'DOR gel color in a thin first coat. Cap. Cure.
- Apply second color coat for full pigment payoff. Cap. Cure.
- Apply HEMA-free top coat (or Diamond Top Coat if pairing with cat-eye finishes). Cure.
- Wipe tacky layer if top coat requires it (no-wipe variants skip this step).
- Finish with cuticle oil.
For Drip Base / Drip Top: apply Drip Base under the gel color, then apply Drip Top through a clear top coat layer to create the viral raindrop water-bead effect. Cure between layers per the product instructions.
Lavis HEMA-Free — Standard Gel Polish Application
- Prep the natural nail: cuticle work, light buff, dust off.
- Apply dehydrator and primer or protein bond.
- Apply HEMA-free base coat. Cap the free edge. Cure under LED.
- Apply Lavis gel color in a thin first coat. Cap. Cure.
- Apply second color coat. Cap. Cure.
- For Cat Eye 9D: apply the cat-eye color, then hold the magnet over the nail for 5 to 10 seconds before curing to draw out the 9D effect.
- Apply Diamond Top Coat (required for cat-eye finishes; standard top for other gel polish). Cure.
- Finish with cuticle oil.
For Lavis Builder Gel BIAB: substitute Builder Base for standard base, apply Builder Cover in the apex-build technique (medium bead at apex, gravity-flip to self-level, cure), then Builder Top instead of standard top. Builder Cover doubles as both structure and tint.
FAQ
Are both A'DOR and Lavis fully HEMA-free?
Both brands are HEMA-free in their gel color products. A'DOR is HEMA-free across all 280 gel color shades (Color Me Gel-ous + Signature + Gel-Ons). Lavis is HEMA-free across its Cat Eye 9D, Builder Gel, Jelly Gel, and standard gel polish lines. A'DOR's nail art products (Wave Gel, Crack Gel, Spider Gel, Marble Ink, Drip Base/Top) are not claimed as HEMA-free.
Which brand has more shades?
A'DOR has 280 gel color shades in one curated lineup, which is the wider single-brand HEMA-free color library. Lavis's strength is not raw shade count — it's specialty product depth (Cat Eye 9D, Builder Gel, Jelly Gel) that A'DOR does not produce.
Can I stock both brands at the same salon?
Yes, and many salons do. The two lines complement each other rather than compete. A'DOR handles wide-shade everyday gel polish service. Lavis handles Cat Eye services, Builder Gel structural overlays, and Jelly Gel trend content. Together they cover everyday volume plus specialty premium tiers under one clean-beauty positioning.
Which brand wears longer?
Standard gel polish wear time is comparable — both deliver 14 to 21 days with proper prep. Lavis Builder Gel BIAB delivers materially longer wear (6 to 8 weeks) because it is a structural builder, not a standard gel polish. A'DOR does not produce a builder gel equivalent.
Which is better for allergy-prone clients?
Both lines remove HEMA, which is the monomer most often associated with gel polish allergic reactions. Neither is certified hypoallergenic — a client with a previous gel reaction should patch test first. A'DOR's gel color also removes TPO, which is an additional safety improvement. For maximum allergy reduction, stay within A'DOR's gel color lineup for those clients (avoid the nail art products which are not HEMA-free claimed).
Where can a US nail tech buy both A'DOR and Lavis wholesale?
Both brands are carried at DTK Nail Supply with verified wholesale accounts, Net-15 payment terms on qualifying orders, bundle pricing, and same-day US shipping. DTK offers starter kits, full collections, and individual shades across both lines — and can build a custom cross-brand kit based on the salon's target client mix.
Bottom Line
A'DOR Clean Vegan and Lavis HEMA-Free are not competitors — they are complements. A'DOR delivers the widest HEMA-free and TPO-free gel color library at the most accessible price, ideal for budget-conscious salons and clean-beauty service tiers. Lavis delivers trend-forward California specialty products (Cat Eye 9D, Builder Gel BIAB, Jelly Gel) at a mid-range professional price, ideal for home studios and salons chasing Instagram-driving nail content and longer-wear structural services. Most salons that stock one end up stocking both, because together they cover the full clean-beauty service menu — everyday gel through specialty trend work — under one wholesale supplier at DTK Nail Supply.