Nail Polish

Nail polish, nail enamel or nail resin (whatever you call it) comes in so many different shades of colors it’s unimaginable. From clear to multi color, manufacturers keep fresh colors rolling out. In addition to a tremendous amount of colors other tricks are used to further spice them up. Sparkling agents are often added to give a glittery, glitzy look. Some polishes can change color depending on the light, like Del Sol’s brand of color change polish, while others can even change color depending on your mood!

Many sources say that regular polish is rather toxic because it contains chemicals such as Dibutyl phthalates, toluene and formaldehyde. Although in large doses these chemicals pose health risks, when used in polish their quantities are so low they can be deemed negligible. The only real risk is from formaldehyde, because some people have a specific allergy to it and even in small doses it can cause allergic reactions.

For formaldehyde to be harmful to regular people through prolonged use it generally needs to be in concentrations of greater than 1%. Regular nail polish contains it in concentrations of about 0.0015% due to the presence of a needed substance called toluene sulfonamide formaldehyde resin or TSF resin that improves adhesion and durability. This substance is only harmful though if you already have an allergy.

Toluene is normally present at about 30% because it acts as a solvent. The solvent keeps everything nice and fluid so the polish can be applied smoothly. This amount of toluene generally cannot release enough vapor into the surrounding air to be harmful to us. Once used in a well ventilated area and you don’t sniff it like crazed school kids, you should be quite fine. The exception being if you are pregnant and you are trying to be safe by avoiding all vapors. Toluene is an extremely good solvent though producing livelier coats after drying that resist peeling and chipping.

Dibutyl phthalates is included in about a 5% concentration in nail polish. After being studied extensively, phthalates have been shown not to produce adverse effects even in rodents when given daily dosages suspected of being harmful to humans. For humans to achieve the dosage used in the tests that produced no effects in the lab rodents, they would have to absorb all the Dibutyl phthalates in four and a half bottles of nail polish every day for a lifetime.

New laws in Europe have made it possible to ban chemicals based on mere suspicion of being harmful; laws that special interest groups have taken advantage of. As a result, manufacturers in other countries, even though they don’t believe phthalates to be harmful have stopped using it to avoid having to produce different formulations of polish for both Europe and the rest of the world.

Formaldehyde free nail polish

For people with allergies to formaldehyde and others really concerned about the presence of it in products they use, formaldehyde free nail polish is available. These polishes, although they don't contain TSF resin, they may still contain toluene and/or dibutyl phthalates. Also, polishes that claim to be free of strong substances may still contain acetone, ethyl acetate (known dehydrators) or other harsh chemicals. Thus, if you do not have an allergy but insist on using those polishes anyway out of concern for harsh chemicals, you may still be letting other harsh chemicals get to your skin even while using such polishes. To limit all (or most) harsh chemicals, your best bet would be to use water based polishes instead.

Water based nail polish

Water based polishes have been developed that can last just as long a conventional polishes once proper care is taken. Polishes that are water based don’t contain any forms of the harsh chemicals that are contained in regular nail polishes. These are desired if you have allergies to certain substances, very sensitive skin or just concerned about harsh chemicals in the products you use. They can be removed with less harsh, specially formulated polish removers. Water based polishes can generally be used with no base coat, as they don’t have the deep staining effects of regular polishes.

Some oil based lotions, moisturizers and other chemicals may interfere with the polish’s ability to adhere so a bit more caution must be taken when using them. Although regular polish remover can also remove polishes that are water based, it would be defeating the purpose of using a mild polish by removing it with a harsh nail polish remover! These polishes are also ideal for those who change their polish very often to eliminate the drying out effect of regular polish removers.

Be sure not to nibble your nails when you are wearing any polish though because you can get harmful chemicals inside your body. Remember not to paint over your cuticles, it can ruin a good paint job. Your cuticles should always be pushed back towards the nail fold before painting on the nail plate.

Link back to the Nail Care Supply page from the Nail Polish page