The luminous nail polish that appeared on store shelves raises a lot of questions. Here are just a few of them: what are its varieties? Is its composition harmful? Suddenly he is poisonous? How to apply it so that the nails glow like in an advertising booklet? How much such a varnish will last and will there be unpleasant surprises?
To answer all the questions, you have to start with the chemical composition. Often such varnishes are called phosphoric, they even use this word in the name. But phosphorus is banned due to extremely high toxicity. How can this be? Just added to the varnish phosphors, which have a glow similar to phosphorus.
What are phosphors
This word has two roots: the Latin lumen, meaning "light," and the ancient Greek φορός, which means "bearing." So they decided to call substances that convert energy into light. The luminescence process of such a substance is called luminescence.
Inorganic phosphors are used in the manufacture of lighting fixtures, television screens, X-rays and fluorography. Organic lumogens are involved in the creation of paints for plastic, textiles, various jewelry and cosmetics. This type includes a special pigment, LDP, which contains lacquer glowing in the dark. It is non-toxic and non-radioactive. Its use in cosmetic materials is safe.
In what conditions does the varnish glow
LDP phosphor can accumulate light and give it only in a transparent medium, which is due to its texture. If you mix a luminous varnish with a dense color, wanting to give it brightness, there will be no effect. Therefore, with the independent use of the LDP pigment, it should be added only to transparent compositions. And he will be able to glow from three to twelve hours. The TAT33 pigment has a wider scope: it can be mixed with a white gel for a jacket, to then give off the accumulated light in artificial light and in the dark.
Both pigments in the composition of varnishes or gels do not manifest themselves in the light. On a white background, such a varnish will be visible 50% longer than on a dark one. Like luminous varnishes, translucent materials of neon collections (ordinary, without phosphors) are also applied to a white substrate, so sometimes there is confusion in the names. They are called neon for a very similar glow, and not for composition.
And what will happen if you try to drive the luminous pigment with a brush into the dispersion layer of gel polish? Get a glowing layer. It is fixed with the top so that the pigment holds well.
How to "charge" the luminous varnish
Phosphors accumulate direct light emitted by its source. Reflected light will not “charge" the varnish. In order to make the varnish glow, enough daylight during the day is enough. If you wish, before a party in a cafe where there will be artificial lighting, you can bring your nails to an incandescent lamp or an energy-saving lamp. After an hour of "charging" the varnish can glow very brightly for two hours. Then gradually the intensity will begin to decrease. Varnishes of green and blue colors shine most brightly.
How to make lacquer glow if it has faded at a party? For this, do not forget the principle of the glow of phosphors. As soon as the effect of direct rays ends, the glow process begins. It is impossible to accurately calculate the brightness of a manicure for a specific hour of the evening. Even when the room is light, but sunlight or lamp light does not get on the nails, "discharge" begins. Therefore, in this case, it is better to look for the source of light and bring your hands to it.
Especially strongly visible glow at twilight.
Fluorescent varnishes and their difference from luminescent
The disco includes ultraviolet lights and neon lamps to create a festive atmosphere. Such lighting makes varnishes with finely ground mineral fluorite shine. It reflects the light falling on him and shines very brightly in the twilight. Unlike luminescent varnishes, it does not glow in the dark.
In the afternoon, such a manicure looks very bright - it reflects the light that falls on its surface. And in the dim evening light, it shines and sparkles. In a disco under the light of ultraviolet lamps, it looks like a luminescent one: both are lacquers that glow in the ultraviolet. But if they suddenly turn off the light, the fluorescent light turns off, unlike the phosphor lacquer.
Phosphorescent varnishes and their differences from fluorescent
If “phosphoric varnish” is indicated on the vial, you should look at the composition indicated on it. Most often it is strontium aluminate or zinc sulfide. These compounds are not phosphorus, but have a long glow cycle - like phosphorus. They glow in the dark, but in daylight they present a dense, slightly matte varnish.
It glows in the dark with a bluish-green light, accumulating energy in the daytime. It will not sparkle and sparkle during the day, like fluorescent varnish in the sun.
This is because varnishes have a different composition: for fluorescent use sodium isothiocyanate (yellow-green color) or rhodamine (red color). These compounds have a short glow cycle, they quickly return to a calm state in the dark. Only constant exposure to ultraviolet light makes the fluorescent varnish glow.
Types and brands of varnishes
In the production of varnishes, the phosphor pigment is now more often used. Stamps of famous luminous varnishes:
- Domestic varnishes "Dance of Legends" worth 200 rubles per bottle of 15 ml. They are applied directly to the nail, as they have a base in the composition. In the daytime they look dense color coating, some with a shimmer. There are light and dark tones. In the dark, the varnish begins to glow and can change color: pink becomes green or blue, blue - green, coral - turquoise. These are the colors of phosphors.
- Domestic varnish "Phosphor" worth 150 rubles per bottle of 11 ml. It is applied on a white substrate. Three types of this varnish have a different color during the day: orange, white, transparent with a yellow-green tint. In the dark they shine with yellow-orange, blue-green and yellow-green light. When getting from the street to the room, a glow begins. You can charge the varnish from any lamp and from sunlight.
- Domestic brand "El Corazon" produces lacquer with phosphors. A bottle of 16 ml costs 179 rubles. Several dense colored varnishes glow in the dark with a greenish light.
- Lacquer ISHOWTIENDA, popular on major international trading Internet sites. A 7 ml bottle costs from 80 to 100 rubles. After application, it turns nails into small flashlights in the dark, resembling fireflies. For a brighter glow, it is applied to a white substrate.
There are many other brands on sale. It is difficult to determine their quality without seeing the composition. If the varnish contains radioactive light compositions with tritium, they should not be bought. Harmless pigments are MHB-4E, MHP-6D and TAT 33.
Types and brands of gel polishes
Many brands have released luminous gel polishes for nails. By purchasing them, you should choose well-known and respected brands in order to avoid buying low-quality products.
- Global Fashion neon gel polishes look bright in the afternoon and glow in the evening. The cost of the bottle is 299 rubles.
- Gel varnishes with phosphors Patrisa Nail, bottle capacity 8 ml. In the afternoon it looks like a varnish with glitter, in the evening the glitter begins to glow green. There is a bottle of 340 rubles.
- Luminescent gel varnishes Rio Profi with a bottle volume of 7 ml and a cost of 299 rubles. These dense rubber gels of various bright colors glow green, blue or orange.
You can buy a luminous gel polish for a lower cost on a large Internet site, but you should check for a quality certificate. Conscientious sellers go through the certification procedure and always provide a copy of it along with the goods.
Conclusion
The use of varnishes that glow in the dark expands the design. It has already become popular to do “water manicure” with their help. Against a luminous background, the craquelure and opaque decor elements - stars, kamifubuki and ribbons - stand out interestingly. A drop of varnish with a phosphor can cause a delightful glow of rhinestones.
Try one of these unusual varnishes. Maybe you will create your own unique design.