The latest trend in nail polish products are “crackle glazes” that give your nails an artsy shattered look. Both OPI and China Glaze are featuring these new glazes in their Spring collections. Today we talk about how these new polishes create this cool new look.
How does ChinaGlaze crackle polish work?
Crackling is a 3 step process. In the first step you apply a traditional base coat and let it dry completely. The second step is where the magic occurs: you apply the crackle layer over the base coat. In as little as 3 to 5 minutes the fissures form. Use a thin layer for a finely fractured pattern and a thick layer for a more chunky look. In the third step you apply a gloss coat that smooths the surface and adds shine.
What’s the magic in crackle glaze?
They’ve added a solvent (ethanol) to the polish that makes the film dry quickly and unevenly. This effect is the exact opposite of how nail polishes should normally behave – you want, slow even drying to ensure the smoothest finish. But by adding this alcohol to the formula they’ve created an imperfect film that shrinks as it dries, resulting in the cracks and crevices that show off the base coat. What should have been a formulation failure is now a new fabulous fashion trend. How clever! The chemist who thought of this should get a big raise or a Nobel prize or something!
“Regular” China Glaze Ingredient List (minus colors)
Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Propyl Acetate, Tosylamide Formaldehyde Resin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Triphenyl Phosphate, Ethyl Tosylamide, Camphor, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Diacetone Alcohol, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Benzophenone-1, Citric Acid, Kaolin, Dimethicone
ChinaGlaze Crackle Ingredient List
ETHYL ACETATE , SD ALCOHOL – 40B, ADIPIC ACID/ NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, SILICA, BUTYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, TRIMETHYL PENTANYL DIISOBUTYRATE, ETHYL TOSYLAMIDE, KAOLIN
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
That long list of chemicals is a little scary, but i’ll just try not to breathe it in when i’m painting my nails
I like this. I did not have time to go to the salon just to get my nails done and spent that much on nail art. This product is perfect for me. Thanks for sharing this wonderful review.
I’ve been seeing the crackle polish design everywhere and have wondered how it’s done. Thanks for the info.
Sally Hansen also has a crackle line that includes non-frosted cherry and fuschia, not just metallics and black/white/grey/blue/purple. I saw it at a drugstore, but there were only a couple left of the antique gold. I tried another store and they didn’t have any on display, so I asked if they had it. They did, but they had hidden it behind the makeup counter because people are stealing it! At $7 a bottle, this stuff is hotter than hot.
I sampled China Glaze’s Crackled Concrete (non-metallic grey) on one nail at a beauty supply store and it worked really well, much better than in the photo above. The thinner the layer, the smaller/thinner the crackles, I think. Also, if you want thin cracks, try to apply it quickly in one thin layer (don’t go over what’s already applied to get better coverage, even if it looks like you don’t have an even layer on your nail) because it starts drying immediately. After application I didn’t even have time to put the brush back in the bottle and bottle back on the shelf before there were cracks– within 1 minute, not the 3 – 5 mentioned above.
Don’t know about Sally Hansen’s or OPI’s, but a top coat is necessary if you want shine since China Glaze’s is a matte finish.
I love the China Glaze Crackle Nail Polish. It’s different but stylish !
Can’t wait to try it!
hey, im doing a project on Crackle Nailpolish and i cant seem to find anywhere as to why you have to have a base coat of nailpolish under it and why it doesn’t work without it can you help?
(ps, any other scientific info would be useful too) thanx
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