What Is Nail Polish Made of: Science Behind It
Are you wondering what is nail polish made of? Before entering the fancy world of acrylics, shellac nails, as well as gels, you’ve started off easy, with nail polish. Long have been the days when the polish was discovered. Way back in China, 3000 BC. Back then, nail polish was used to signify class rankings: the lower class had nude and light colors, while high society painted their nails red. Lucky us nowadays, wearing whatever we want and looking super posh and cute all the time. We use nail polish to decorate our fingers as well as to make us feel better about ourselves. Nail polishes have a nice finish, amazing colors, and endless possibilities. If applied they won’t chip a lot and will stay flexible on our fingers. However, since it is that strong, it is full of chemicals that you are not aware of.
How Nail Polish Is Made?
You are required to have some chemistry knowledge in order to understand this better. Nail polishes are made from nitrocellulose which is dissolved in ethyl acetate. That nitrocellulose can form a shiny film. However, nail polishes usually contain loads of other ingredients. Such as:
#1: Solvents
You are required to add a solvent so that way you can mix any other ingredients into the nail polish. It kind of acts like a glue so that all the other ingredients can mix better. Once the nail polish is added, the solvents will disappear. An example of a solvent is ethyl acetate and alcohol.
#2: Formers
Picture of a Nitrocellulose Structure
You know that smooth surface you have at the end of the manicures? Well, with the help of film formers you will end up with that top coat shine.
#3: Untypical Glue
Nail polish is made out of some type of a weird glue. This picture is a picture of resin, which is being used to glue down the whole process. Without this ingredient, you wouldn’t be able to have any type of a gloss, and your nail polish would never harden completely.
#4: Plasticizers Give Us Flexibility
If you want to know what is nail polish made of you got to understand the basic chemistry, which we will break down for you. Your nail polish would have been extremely flaky and with a minimum capability of flexibility if there were no plasticizers. These plasticizers are a type of chemicals which keep your nail polish very flexible so that it can spread out everywhere evenly on your nails. Your manicures will be chip free, as well as long lasting.
#5: Pigmented Colors
If you want to know what is nail polish made of, you got to love and adore the pigments. Now, what’s the fun in this whole process if there is no pigment? We all love a good and vibrant nail polish color, and with pigments, we are able to achieve them. These have iron oxide in them which is found at any type of paint.
#6: Pearls
Those super shimmery, as well as glittery nail polishes, have got pearlescent minerals, which look like this in the picture. They are usually made out of titanium or ground mica. So a dusted powder is in control of your dazzling and shiny manicures.
#7: Something Else
Nail polishes could contain thickening agents and those help with the separation process. If there wasn’t for these agents, you would have discolored nail polish once you hit the sun or UV lights.
Know More About Trendy Gel Nail Polish
So how do you know what is nail polish made of? We hope you’ve had an A at chemistry during your school days because these ingredients are not that hard to catch up with, but it would make a lot more sense if you’ve been in any touch with them. If you weren’t, we have plenty of pictures for a better clarification. And now you know what it is that actually creates that pretty looking nail polish.
