colorful connections
When Yvonne Milner made headlines by decorating her 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage with hundreds of nail polish bottles, it caused quite a stir in the media. But while it may seem like an unusual material choice, it’s more scientifically relevant than you might think. Nail polish and car paint have a common chemical origin.
Nitrocellulose – Commonalities
At the heart of nail polish is nitrocellulose, a long-lasting film-forming agent derived from cellulose. But before nitrocellulose became a nail polish staple, it made its debut in automotive paints thanks to chemists at DuPont. Shortly after its introduction into car paints in the 1920s, patent literature began to detail formulations of nail enamel containing nitrocellulose. These patents reveal the deposition of pigment-impregnated films on fingernails and fingernails, and mirror their application to car surfaces. In fact, nitrocellulose-based paints were so popular that within just four years, all of General Motors’ cars were painted. Although the automotive industry has since moved on to other coatings, nitrocellulose remains a key ingredient in many nail polishes today.
glimpse of history
Although the 1920s saw technological leaps in nail polish formulation and production, the concept of nail decoration is not new. European court records from the 17th century to his 18th century record the use of glossy varnished nails. Even in the 19th century, British and American recipe books included instructions for making nail polish alongside recipes for more traditional items such as bread.
Ingredients that stick together
Modern manicure is not a recipe that you can find in the kitchen, mainly because the ingredients are not tasty. According to Paul Bryson, director of research and development at OPI Products, nail polish contains sticky polymers like tosylamide-formaldehyde resins, which many people associate with formaldehyde. It has not been used in nail polish in recent years due to concerns about the association (safely contained in resins), which ensures that nitrocellulose adheres to the surface of the nail. Plasticizers such as camphor are incorporated between the polymer chains, making the polish flexible and resistant to cracking. It contains pigments and particles such as mica to add color and shine. Thickeners such as stearalkonium hectorite prevent shiny particles from settling to the bottom of the bottle. UV stabilizers such as benzophenone-1 help the polish maintain its color even when exposed to UV light. All of these ingredients are dissolved or suspended in a solvent such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate and evaporate, leaving behind a vibrant finish.
Changing formulas and concerns
Since the 1920s, nail polish formulations haven’t changed much except to meet consumer demand. One notable change is that he eliminated the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate in 2006 due to environmental and safety concerns. Another solvent, toluene, is also eliminated by many companies for safety reasons.
water based revolution
One of the big changes from classic formulas is the advent of water-based nail polishes. These still require solvents, pigments, and film-forming agents, but a variant of styrene-acrylic acid copolymer is used instead of nitrocellulose. Unlike traditional formulations, water-based polishes do not rely solely on solvent evaporation for drying. Instead, it takes advantage of the permeability of the nail’s keratin to allow some water to pass through. This innovative approach is ideal for consumers seeking more environmentally friendly cosmetics or sensitive to older formulas. However, many pathogens require moisture to survive, and traditional polishes do not contain moisture, so other ingredients must be added to make the product safe to use.
Manicure – where chemistry and beauty meet
The colorful world of nail polish has interesting connections to the history of chemistry and technology. From its humble beginnings to modern innovations, the chemistry of nail polish continues to evolve as it remains a symbol of self-expression and style. Next time you paint your nails, remember the chemical reaction hidden behind that dazzling color. This is truly a combination of art and science.
