hitting the nail on the head

Nail Polish

nail polish, or nail varnish, is a lacquer applied to human fingernails or toenails to decorate and/or protect the nail plate. today’s nail polish is simply a refined version of the paint on vehicles. car paint alone would be unsuitable for human nails, as its brittle formula is designed for the rigid surface of a car. its formula has been revised repeatedly in order to prevent the cracking or flaking that occurs with the natural movement of the nail.

Katy Perry

most nail polishes are made of nitrocellulose dissolved in a solvent and either left clear or colored with various pigments. nitrocellulose is highly flammable. it is also called ‘flash paper’, or when intended to cause a flame, ‘guncotton’. nail polish ingredients often include toluene. solvents such as toluene and xylene are petroleum-based products that have been linked to cancer. formaldehyde (formalin) may cause allergic reactions and is unsafe for use by asthmatic people. it is a carcinogen.

nail polish makers are under pressure to reduce or eliminate toxic ingredients, including phthalates, toluene, and formaldehyde. in september 2006, several makers agreed to phase out dibutyl phthalate, which has been linked to testicular problems in lab animals and humans, in updated formulations. some makers eliminated formaldehyde from their products, others still use it.

Zooey Deschanel

Jessica Biel

water-based nail polish is based on an acrylic polymer emulsion and pigments similar to those used in watercolor paints. this is marketed as an environmentally-conscious product, since nail polish is considered a hazardous waste by some regulatory bodies such as the los angeles department of public works. in this application, the solvent (water) does not completely evaporate as in the case of the traditional nail polish; part of the water is absorbed through the fingernail

Shellac nails

a newer trend is called shellac, in which the manicure/color can last up to two weeks. shellac is also referred to as cnd after the creators of the product, creative nail design. the shellac method allows natural nail manicure seekers to gain some of the same benefits of their acrylic and gel nail counterparts. there are some negatives associated with the shellac process. shellac cannot be done at home, so consumers of the product have to go into to nail salons to have the service applied. The shellac manicure is often double if not triple the price of a regular manicure.

fash'on... BAM!