Different formulations, terms, and ingredients are available for a single beauty product. Competition among other brands and products is bringing up more and more ideas and products to the market. Nail polish was just a nail polish until water-based and oil-based ingredients separated this item. With time, awareness of using different products and the side effects of using some ingredients has also changed the game. So, let’s find out the difference between these nail polishes.
Water-Based Nail Polish
Water-based nail polish uses water as its main ingredient instead of oil or other chemicals. As water is the main ingredient, thus, this nail polish is considered safer to use than the conventional one. You can get this nail polish from all-natural or organic stores. Also, they are available online.
There are always some pros and cons for every product, so here are some for water-based nail polish:
Advantages
- It contains non-toxic colorants, which makes it less harmful to use for children.
- Water-based nail polish is safer to use with no toxic chemicals, so it has a less negative impact on the environment.
- No chemical odors upon opening the bottle
- Children can apply this nail polish themselves.
- You can apply a non-toxic clear top coat onto the water-based nail polish to avoid chipping it off.
- Many brands have introduced non-chemical nail polish remover.
- You can also use rubbing alcohol to remove water-based nail polish.
Disadvantages
- You might need to get more coats as some believe that this nail polish doesn’t work as other nail polishes do
- You might need frequent replacing because of extra coats.
- This nail polish is more likely to chip off after the application.
- Most of them as slow to dry
- They are more expensive than other chemical nail polishes.
Oil-Based Nail Polish
The oil-based nail polish is the typical nail polish you can find easily at drug stores and salons. It is also known as solvent-based nail polish because it uses an oil or chemical solvent as the base to provide a long-lasting finish using different ingredients. Let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of using oil-based nail polish.
Advantages
- Easy to apply, as almost everyone knows how to use a nail polish neatly and nicely
- A vast range of colors availability
- It can be removed easily using acetone-based nail polish remover, which you can find almost everywhere.
- Oil-based nail polish dries quickly.
Disadvantages
- Harsh chemicals are used in nail polish remover, which can be harmful to nails as well as to cuticles.
- Dark colors in oil-based nail polish can leave their color on the nail for some time after removing the nail polish. It can cause nonpermanent discoloration of nails.
The Difference between Water-Based and Oil-Based Nail Polish
The significant difference between the two nail polishes is the ingredients.so, let’s compare them and see the differences in other ways:
Ingredients
The main ingredients in water-based nail polish are water, colorants, and acrylic polymer emulsion. At the same time, the elements present in oil-based nail polish are nitrocellulose, volatile solvents, pigments, and other additives.
Properties
Water-based nail polish has acrylic and water, which are inflammable. Therefore it is safer to use and transport. Oil-based nail polish has nitrocellulose and chemical solvents, which are flammable; therefore, it is dangerous to use them near flames. Also, this nail polish is shipped through ground delivery to avoid inflammation.
Chemical solvents in oil-based nail polish give it an unpleasant toxic smell, whereas water-based nail polish has a slight odor. Water-based polish takes about 10 minutes to dry up, or it requires 6 hours to fully dry, while regular nail polish dries quickly.
Look
They both can look the same after they dried up entirely. Water-based nail polish can have a creamy, sheer, sparkling, or metallic look. This nail polish can also provide an opaque look upon one or more coats, while other nail polishes are transparent even after many coats.
Wear
Water-based nail polishes are difficult to remove over time compared to oil-based nail polishes. Water-based nail polishes can last for about a month, which is not the case with oil-based nail polishes.
What Does Non-Toxic Nail Polish Mean?
Regular nail polishes are made with toxic ingredients that can harm your health more than you can even imagine. Fortunately, a solution has been developed that is safer to use and yet comes with fewer or no toxic ingredients. Non-toxic nail polishes come in different variants. Each type of variant excludes chemicals and components that can cause harmful effects on our health. Non-toxic nail polish substitutes harmful ingredients with safe ingredients.
These variants of non-toxic nail polishes are 3-free, 5-free, 7-free, and 10-free.
3-Free
This formula of non-toxic nail polishes excludes the three most harmful ingredients that can cause many diseases like cancer and diabetes. Three ingredients are known as Toxic Trio, which include:
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
5-Free
This nail polish omits five ingredients that are:
- Toxic Trio (above mentioned 3 three components)
- Formaldehyde resin
- Camphor
7-Free
This nail polish is free of these seven ingredients:
- Toxic Trio
- Formaldehyde resin
- Camphor
- Ethyl tosylamide
- Xylene
10-Free
This nail polish formula is considered to be the safest form of them. Toxic chemicals that are omitted from the procedure are:
- Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
- Formaldehyde
- Toluene
- Formaldehyde resin
- Camphor
- Ethyl tosylamide
- Xylene
- Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP)
- Parabens
- Gluten
Different Types of Nail Polish
There are six different nail polishes now that can be informative for you to know. You can use them for various purposes, so let’s find out about them:
Basic
We all have been using basic nail polishes since our childhood. These are now available in matte, glitters, holographic, and natural finishes. These nail polishes don’t promise to be long-lasting like a week or more.
Gel
The nail technician applies gel polish. This nail polish uses UV light to cure.
It promises to stay for two weeks. This nail polish also gives you longer-length nails, just like acrylic nails.
Acrylic
Nowadays, acrylic nails are becoming common. It uses liquid and powder to make acrylic nails onto the bare nails. As this liquid and powder combination dries, the nail polish becomes hardened, and then you can give it the clients’ desired shape by filing. This technique is also used to provide natural nails an extra length. It stays for two weeks.
Breathable
This nail polish is the best of all. If you need to choose between any of them, then I suggest you pick this one. Because breathable nail polish allows oxygen and water to pass through the polish layer, it lasts for one week, just like regular nail polish.
Dip Powder
A technician applies this nail polish at nail bars or salons. After dip powder nail polish, a base coat is applied first then a layer of pigmented powder is applied. This process is repeated until an opaque manicure is done on the nails. A sealant or clear powder is applied at the top to provide a finished look.
Shellac
Shellac is a hybrid between gel and basic formulas. This nail polish is applied to bare nails and then cured using UV light at the end. This nail polish doesn’t extend the length of the nails. It lasts for two weeks.
Tips for Choosing Nail Polish Color for Your Skin
What color to pick and for what occasion? It is as confusing as buying a nail polish among thousands of colors. We can help you with this problem by choosing nail polish for your skin. Let’s see how:
Choosing Based on Your Skin Tone
You must choose nude shades if you have light or medium skin tone. For darker skin tones, go for pastel colors if you want to apply light shade. In case of any skin tone, pale, dark, medium skin, etc., you can use pink and blue shades without any doubt. Red and brown shades come in handy in any shades. You need to be careful while applying for any skin tone. For medium skin, you can choose a red-orange tint. For darker skin, choose deep wine red.
Select a Polish for an Occasion
For different occasions, you need different shades. For a job interview, you can apply a beige shade.
Just like that, wear neutral shades for formal occasions. You can use different colors for events like holidays, fun, festivities, etc. Neon, pastels, and shimmery colors will be an excellent choice for fun and holidays. You can also choose nail polish colors based on the season. Red, greens, pink, corals, and yellow, are the colors of summer, whereas purples, black, gray, and silvers are perfect for winters.
Picking a Polish Based on Personality
Personality is the first choice when choosing a nail polish color. If you have fun loving and partying personality, then metallics are for you, like metallic black, blue, and silver. Bright colors show how energetic you are, so wear orange or green if you want something active. And red is considered the color of confidence. So, why not wear a nail polish color that can enhance your confidence?
Tips When Using Nail Polish
Now you can do your nail paints at home using these tips to avoid salons and spending money on expensive manicures. Here’s how you can do that:
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Look for the nail polish remover that is non-acetone, and then clean your nails with it as a first step. It keeps your nails healthy and shiny too. Use cotton pads when removing nail paints to avoid scratching and damaging the nail’s surface.
Use Acetate Press-On Nails
Acrylic nails can damage your nail health, so to avoid any harm, you can use acetate press-on nails, which can cover up the damaged part of your nail and prevent your nail polish from seeping.
Always Use a Base Coat
It is the best tip while applying darker shades. You need to apply a base coat to avoid turning your nails yellow. Let the base coat dry for 4-5 minutes, and then use your desired nail color.
Apply Two Coats of Polish
It is a professional way of applying nail polish to have two coats of nail polish. But remember to let the first coat dry and then use the second coat.
Let Your Nails Dry
Waiting for your nail polish to fully dry can be difficult, but the wait will be worth the results. Otherwise, you might smudge your nail polish, and all your hard work will disappear in a second. So, enjoy your me time and don’t make a mess!
Conclusion
Your nails represent your personality. You need to take care of them first, make them healthy through diet and supplements, and then take care of your fingernails using chemical-free products. Whatever nail polish type you want to choose, remember to pick the one that shall not be harmful or dangerous to your health.