Nail polish: history of creation, composition, types, application rules and review of famous brands

The history of nail polish

There is still no definite information about who and when created the first nail polish. There is an assumption that in 3 thousand BC. The ancient Chinese used enamel nail coating. This varnish (red or pink) lasted for several hours and was prepared using the sap of the lacquer tree. In addition, representatives of noble families used especially long manicures (up to 25 cm) as an indicator that they were not fit to engage in manual labor like commoners. A long manicure was also a sign of wisdom, and therefore this decoration was often used by men.

Later, it was in China that a mixture was invented that resembled modern nail polish. The composition included gum arabic, wax, gelatin, egg yolk and natural natural dye. Just 6 centuries ago, gold and silver nails worn by the nobility became fashionable in these parts.

In Ancient India, nails were painted with henna, which was also absorbed into the plate and remained as a decoration for the hands for a long time.

The noble people of Ancient Egypt used bright red shades, while ordinary people could apply an almost colorless coating. Varnishes were made from natural resins such as amber and mastic. Already in the 8th century AD, varnishes were made from a mixture of nut, linseed and hemp oil, which dried quickly.

In Europe during the time of Queen Catherine de Medici, a bright and long manicure was considered a sign that a woman was practicing witchcraft, and therefore ladies preferred to cut their nails short and not cover them with colored varnish, so as not to incur displeasure from the church. However, the tradition of wearing short nails had another explanation: in the Middle Ages, various epidemics and diseases hit Europe every now and then. Given that long nails were the main cause of dirt accumulation, they were encouraged to be cut short to reduce the risk of infection.

In the mid-19th century, a fashion for a kind of “French” manicure appeared in Europe: lemon juice was mixed with water and applied to the regrown part of the nail, whitening it.

The insoluble varnish formula was first invented by Charles Revson in the 1930s. It is to the famous founder of Revlon that modern fashionistas owe such an interesting and useful discovery. Of course, the first attempts to create a coating were not very successful and the varnish peeled off after 2-3 days, and it could only be removed with ordinary acetone. Over time, the formula was improved and today fashionistas are offered a wide range of various varnishes that allow them to create a matte, glossy, iridescent finish that can stay on the nails for more than 7-10 days.

Detailed varnish composition

The main components of modern varnish are polymers, solvents, plasticizers and pigments. Let's look at each component separately.

Polymers

This component is the basis of any varnish. Presented in the form of nitrocellulose and tosylamide-formaldehyde resin (TSF).

• Nitrocellulose forms a beautiful, bright and shiny coating on the surface. Its formula is not dense enough to create a reliable bond to the surface of the nail plate.

• TSF is a polymer of synthetic origin that does not harm living tissues of the body. Thanks to the inclusion of this component, the varnish coating is durable and adheres well to the nail plate.

Solvents

This component is essential for the varnish to dry on the surface. Once the solvent evaporates upon contact with air, the varnish base becomes solid. The optimal solution is to combine several types of high-quality solvents, which allows the varnish to dry faster and form a reliable coating.

• Ethyl acetate promotes drying speed and guarantees high-quality film formation.

• Butyl acetate affects the uniform distribution of varnish over the surface of the nail plate.

• Hectorite allows pigments to be suspended and guarantees uniform coloring.

• Dimethicone is a silicone-containing component that allows varnishes to dry faster. This substance is often included in varnish dryer.

• Isopropyl alcohol is added to neutralize nitrocellulose, which is explosive.

Plasticizers

Substances due to which the varnish formula acquires the necessary elasticity and strength. The main ones are camphor and dibutyl phthalate.

• Dibutyl phthalate is a substance that is prohibited for use in the European Union due to suspected but unproven harmful effects on the human body. In America it is successfully replaced by pentanyl diisobutyrate.

• Camphor is a naturally occurring substance produced from various plants. Some manufacturers also refuse this component, since ambiguous reactions of the body are observed.

Pigments

Used to give a certain shade to the varnish.

• D&C Red, D&C Yellow, D&C Blue are the main pigments, when mixed, different shades are obtained.

• Mica – provides a shimmering effect.

• Titanium dioxide – gives white color and regulates other shades.

• Bismuth oxychloride – provides a shimmering effect.

• Citric acid – stabilizes the intensity of the shade.

• Silicates – provide excellent consistency of the coloring composition.

What is the difference between decorative and protective coatings?

Conventionally, all types of nail polishes can be divided into two large categories: decorative coatings (with colored pigments) and protective base-fixers (colorless compositions). All these tools are important and necessary, but they solve completely different problems. The purpose of decorative colored varnishes is to give your nails a beautiful appearance. It is thanks to them that you can create magnificent compositions and luxurious nail art on your nails. The purpose of fixatives is to protect your nail plates from the adverse effects of color pigments. Thanks to the transparent base, your nails are safe from aggressive chemical elements present in all colored polishes. Thus, the best thing you can do is to use these tools in combination .

What types of decorative nail polishes are there? Today there are hundreds of different brands on the nail industry market. The choice is so huge that one girl simply won’t be able to try all the coating options. Every nail art lover has her own favorites among different brands, so it is impossible to single out just one best polish. Usually everything is learned by comparison. It is much more interesting to pay attention not to brands, but to different types of decorative coatings. They can’t think of anything: glitter, matte, magnetic, mirror, sand varnishes and many other options can decorate your nails today. This means that every day you can make a unique manicure that will not be similar to all your past nail art. Would at least one fashionista refuse such an opportunity?

Types of varnishes

Creme

– opaque, enamel, glossy coating.

Neon

– varnishes of neon bright colors; To improve the effect, they should be applied to a white base.

Jelly

– a varnish that provides a jelly-like, transparent coating.

Shimmer

– varnish with small, shimmering particles.

Pearl (metallic, frost)

– iridescent varnish, saturated with pearlescent particles. Before application, it is necessary to level the surface of the nail plate, eliminating minor defects and irregularities.

Liquid Metal (foil, mirror)

- a varnish that forms a shiny surface, similar to mirror or foil.

Holographic

– a varnish that, when applied to the surface of the nails, creates a holographic effect that shimmers in the light.

Glitter

– varnish with glitter of various shapes and sizes.

Glass-flecked

– a coating with inclusions that form a smooth coating and are located inside the varnish layer.

Velvet (matte)

– a coating that forms a matte and velvety surface to the touch. Requires preliminary application of a leveling layer.

Crackle

- a varnish that, when dried, forms a coating on the surface of the nail plate, riddled with cracks.

Chamelion

- a coating that can change shade depending on the angle of incidence of light rays.

Color changing

- a coating that can significantly change color in bright sunlight or sudden temperature changes.

Aquarelle

– provides a coating that visually resembles undried varnish.

Peel-off

– a varnish that forms a single film, which is removed in a continuous layer. In fairness, it should immediately be noted that in the complex it is necessary to use a special base layer Peel-Off, which ensures easy removal of the coating.

Magnetic

– varnish, which contains special magnetic components. They are activated when a special magnet approaches and form special patterns on the surface of the nail plate. These include all kinds of stripes and “cat’s eye”, which allows you to get the effect of a semi-precious stone.

Gel polishes

– products that provide a particularly durable coating in the presence of an ultraviolet lamp.

Enamel, mother of pearl, gloss, satin

The enamel has a creamy texture , which makes it easy to apply without leaving streaks. And it holds up just as well. It is characterized by a slight gloss effect and opaque coating. This varnish is considered a classic and can be used both in everyday life and in a festive setting.

Mother of pearl has long been a hit, especially in the Soviet Union, where any nail polish was considered a luxury. It contains particles that provide a magical shine. Classic pearlescent varnish has pink shades, but manufacturers have learned to make this coating in any color. Its peculiarity is that the varnish emphasizes all the imperfections of the nail, and therefore requires special leveling. In addition, it is difficult to apply, as it can leave uneven stripes and contribute to the visual “aging” of the hands.

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Gloss finish is the granddaddy of all varnishes. A single-color coating with a glossy effect is easy to find on the dressing table of almost every lady who takes care of her hands. They come in bright or distinctly neutral shades. Very often this varnish is called cream. It fits well and holds up well.

Matte varnish is the opposite of its previous brother. It does not shine and still tops the ratings of nail decoration products. Combinations of pearlescent and matte shades are often used to create unusual manicures.

Reference. There are even special products that make a matte finish shiny and vice versa.

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How to apply nail polish correctly

1. The coating is applied exclusively to clean and dry nails. If there is a greasy film on the surface, it must be removed by wiping the nail plate with nail polish remover. Then wipe the nails with a dry and clean towel.

2. Apply base varnish. It can be colorless or white. The last option is used if you want to get a bright shade of varnish.

3. When opening the bottle, take out a brush and press it to the edges of the “neck” of the bottle to remove excess varnish.

4. Stepping back slightly from the edge in small strokes, apply varnish, moving from the center to the periphery. Then lightly press the brush, spreading it out and smear the varnish over the surface of the nail with gentle movements.

5. After the varnish has been applied to all nails, you should use a fixative and spray your nails with a special dryer - this will shorten the drying time of the varnish and make the coating more durable.

6. Using varnish, you can create nail designs and all kinds of designs on your nails. For this you will need special thin brushes.

With the effect of caviar, sand, liquid sand

The varnish with the structure of seemingly liquid sand is very reminiscent of its natural sandy “brother”; it is just as rough and filled with grains of quartz, but is a higher quality coating, has good durability and is quite easy to use.

The caviar coating resembles beads tightly placed on the nails.

Matte sand varnish creates a roughness that resembles fine sand in its structure. It does not require additional coating at all, since it loses all its charm, but it is quite difficult to use: it is not durable, and excessive application looks very sloppy.

Reference. Often this effect is achieved using special powder.

As you can see, modern industry and nail design artists are doing everything to create real works of art on their nails.

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Review of famous brands

Nail polish OPI (Oh Pi Eye)

The decorative cosmetics product is manufactured in the USA. The varnish is made on the basis of nitrocellulose with the addition of TSF, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and other components. The formula contains amino acids and natural silk particles.

Depending on fashionable world trends, the collection of shades is constantly updated. Today there are about 300 flowers on sale. The shape of the bottle is designed so that decorative fillers (glitter and mother-of-pearl) do not settle to the bottom. A brush made of natural material of a special shape is provided, which allows you to apply the varnish evenly and comfortably to the surface of the nails.

Nail polish Golden Rose

This amazing product from Turkish manufacturers is presented in several collections, each of which has a variety of colors and textures.

A distinctive feature is the presence of a wide brush, which allows you to apply the varnish carefully and quickly. The texture of the product is medium, not thick and not runny. The products are presented in the middle price category.

Nail polish Dance Legend

The Russian company offers unique varnishes that combine fashionable, rich shades, safe to apply, created on the basis of innovative technologies that allow you to create various effects. Today, the manufacturer offers more than 1,500 varnishes of various textures, presented in 30 series. Fashionistas will be pleased with the constantly updated collections. You can purchase professional varnishes with various visual effects (color changes depending on the temperature or brightness of the sun's color). Holographic and multichrome varnishes are available to customers.

Nail Look Nail Polish

Decorative coatings of this brand were created in England in 2010. Today the collection consists of a huge number of beautiful shades of different textures. Varnishes do not fade or crack when applied. The coating dries in 8-10 minutes and lasts about a week. The most saturated shades do not stain the nail plate because they contain pigments and other high quality ingredients.

Thanks to the convenient brush of 236 bristles and texture, the polish is easily applied and distributed over the surface of the nail. The volume of the container is 8.5 ml.

Nail polish Orly

Few people know that it was Jeff Pink, the creator of the Orly brand, who at one time first used French manicure, which became one of the most favorite options for applying varnish. The company was founded in 1975.

Varnishes of this brand are considered absolutely safe and are of high quality, and are also presented in a wide palette. In 2002, the company created its own unique cap with a brush, the outer surface of which is made of rubberized material. Thanks to this, you can open the polish with one hand, and the material completely follows the contours of your fingers.

Over many years on the market, Orly has managed to win 12 ABBIES awards, which is one of the most valuable in the world of cosmetology.

Thanks to their dense structure, Orly varnishes look great when applied in 1 layer. The line of cosmetic products includes varnishes produced in jars with a capacity of 5.3 ml and 18 ml. This allows you to purchase small samples, and if you like the color and it suits you, you can buy a larger bottle.

Essence nail polish

Presented in various collections: from neutral to rich and neon tones. The coating is quite dense and looks expensive on the nails, despite the quite budget price. For application, a convenient wide brush has been designed, which picks up a sufficient amount of varnish and distributes it efficiently over the surface of the nail plate.

In the bottle the product does not thicken for a long time and retains a liquid texture. However, when applied, the varnish dries within a few minutes.

Essie nail polish

The collection was created in 1981 by Essie Wijngaarten from New York, who came up with 12 shades of decorative varnish and 3 healing products. A distinctive feature of the collection is considered to be special durability and excellent quality. The secret formula allows the varnish to create a durable coating that lasts for about a week. Moreover, during this time the shade of the varnish will not change and will remain as bright as on the day of application.

Collections are updated once a year. The permanent assortment includes more than 250 shades. I would especially like to note the plastic brush, with which you can apply nail polish in one motion without staining the cuticle. The product dries quickly and acquires a beautiful glossy shine.

To be fair, I would like to note that the product line is quite expensive, although due to its excellent qualities, this type of product has many fans.

Varnish Vinylux

Provides a super durable coating that stays on the nail surface for up to 8 days. Does not require prior application of a base coat. It dries in 10-15 minutes, but unlike gel polish it does not require special conditions for removal - it is washed off with regular nail polish remover without acetone. Does not contain formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. One bottle of varnish is enough for 33 coats (if you paint in 2 layers). The product is applied in a thin layer.

Red Carpet Manicure Polish

This series presents gel polishes that are completely suitable for use at home. The coating procedure takes 10-15 minutes; a UV lamp must be used to harden the varnish. First, a base coat from the same series is applied, then the colored varnish is applied directly in 2 layers, each of which is dried under a lamp. Then the top layer is applied. The consistency of the coating is similar to regular varnish, which does not cause difficulties during application.

RGB Nail Color

Products are manufactured in the USA. We have several collections. Characteristic advantages are that it does not contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-containing resins, and does not contain camphor and toluene.

Varnish Avon Nails Inc

Decorative cosmetics for nail care are presented in several collections. The varnish contains diamond dust, panthenol, acrylic, as well as special polymers that guarantee shine. The coating lasts up to 10 days on the nail plate.

Each bristle of the brush has an angular bevel, which allows for the highest quality, precise and even distribution of the varnish. Rich tones are applied in 2 layers. After applying the first layer, you must wait 1 minute and apply the second layer.

Rimmel varnish

Decorative cosmetics of this brand are manufactured in the UK. The brand traces its history back to 1834, when the famous perfumer, who served Napoleon's wife, Josephine, moved to England and founded his own business. Today the company's products are the best-selling in the UK and rank third in Europe.

The varnish of this brand is of high quality. The coating is easy to apply thanks to the patented brush. The varnish dries in less than 60 seconds.

Revlon varnish

Products are made in Spain. When applied to prepared nails, the polish dries in less than 60 seconds. The decorative product is distributed evenly over the surface, since the individual bristles of the brush are cut in the shape of an angle.

The composition includes ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, panthenol, keratin, as well as diamond dust and other components. The manufacturer distinguished itself by introducing fragrant varnishes in one of the collections.

Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish

The brand was founded in 1998 by Ji Baek and literally translated means “Saving Beauty.” At first, a beauty salon arose, where work was carried out in especially sterile conditions. In parallel with the opening of the salon, the founder of the brand launched a new collection of cosmetics, in particular, varnishes.

The texture of the product is medium and very convenient for application. The brush is triangular in shape, medium thickness. The coating dries quite quickly. For a beautiful nail design, you need to apply the product in 2 layers. The polishes are not cheap and sell for $18 per bottle.

China Glaze Nail Polish

Decorative cosmetics are made in the USA. The main difference is that the composition is free of formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and therefore deserves the name “environmentally friendly”. To make nails stronger and harder, manufacturers add kaolin (white Chinese clay) to the composition. The assortment includes more than 300 shades. The varnishes are suitable for home and professional use.

Maybelline Colorama nail polish

The American company has been delighting its fans with new ideas and excellent shades for 100 years. The series presents quite bright and rich shades that are suitable for application at different times of the year. The affordable price of the bottle makes decorative coating affordable for many.

The manufacturer himself guarantees that the varnish stays on the nails for up to 7 days, but this property depends not only on the composition of the varnish, but also on the characteristics of the nails themselves. The kit includes a brush that guarantees convenient and accurate application.

The disadvantages of varnishes include the inclusion of toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde. To apply a rich shade, two layers are not always enough. In some shades, even 3-4 layers do not provide coverage without gaps.

Dior Vernis nail polish

The decorative cosmetics of this company will certainly appeal to those women who are not attracted to too bright, saturated, poisonous shades. Manufacturers took shades of famous spices as a basis, which means that you will find many natural colors in the collection.

The series includes various varnishes: with metallic or craquelure effects, with glitter and translucent. You need to apply the product using a special brush with beveled corners: thanks to the fairly wide and moderately flat shape of the bristles, they pick up the right amount of product and distribute it evenly over the surface of the nail plate.

Varnishes of this brand do not thicken or separate during storage. The natural composition has a beneficial effect on the condition of the nail plate, strengthens it and makes it healthier. The varnish does not stain the surface of the nail and can be applied even without a base coat.

Givenchy nail polish

This product provides reliable coverage that lasts up to 7 days. Thanks to the special formula, the nail plate is nourished. The texture of the varnish is quite dense, which allows it to be applied even in 1 layer. When applied, the varnishes dry quickly and create a special shimmer and shine.

According to some customer reviews, the varnish thickens quite quickly, which makes it much more difficult to apply.

Nail polish CND Shellac

The products of this brand are natural, and therefore can be used by allergy sufferers and even pregnant women. A special advantage is that the product stays on the nails for about 2 weeks - during this time the natural nail plate can grow significantly, since it has reliable protection against breakage.

The assortment includes many shades, from which it will not be difficult to choose the one you like.

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