Nude and red nail polishes are classic nail colors that will never go out of style, but sometimes they can get dull or boring quick. You may be looking to switch it up. Now that summer is here, bright and intense colors are all the rage.
However, there is another nail choice that is bold, vibrant, and one-of-a-kind: glow-in-the-dark nail polish. If you have a summer vacation coming up, glow-in-the-dark nails can be the perfect way to spice up your vacay while remaining subtle.
So, what is the best glow-in-the-dark nail polish? The best glow-in-the-dark or blacklight nail polish will be highly pigmented in the daylight while giving off an intense glow at night. If you want your polish to last, choose a gel formula.
We’ll explain more about glow-in-the-dark and blacklight nail polish below and introduce you to our favorite products to purchase online.
Choosing Glow In The Dark Polish – 2 Things To Consider
Why should you opt for glow-in-the-dark nail polish? During the day, you still have a beautiful, simple, and tasteful manicure. At night, especially if you are one for going out to clubs or bars, your nails will glow and be the topic of everyone’s conversation.
Like any other nail polish, those that glow in the dark don’t have to be overwhelming either. They make the perfect accent to bring extra interest to your nails. Minimalist nail art plus glow-in-the-dark polish will be a great match!
But, other than looks, what else should you be looking for when purchasing glow-in-the-dark nail polish?
Glow In The Dark Vs. Blacklight
When it comes to scouring the internet for glow-in-the-dark nail polish, make sure to look out for these terms.
The term glow-in-the-dark is what most people are looking for. You should expect to go into a dark room and have your nails glow and light up instantly, regardless of any light source. Glow-in-the-dark nail polishes are available in a gel formula and in regular nail polishes too.
However, don’t confuse glow in the dark with blacklight. Polishes that are blacklight-activated will only glow with a UV blacklight. Your nails will still glow in the dark, but you will need this specific blacklight to see the magic happen.
Usually, clubs, festivals, or bars are filled with these UV lights, but you can also purchase these lights at home. Regardless, they will glow in the dark, but they need that extra help from the blacklight.
This is important to clarify so no one accidentally buys a blacklight-activated nail polish instead of a regular glow-in-the-dark polish. Each polish is perfect for different scenarios, so we’ll include both types of polish in our roundup of the best products to buy in the next section.
Nail Polish Vs. Gel Nail Polish
Glow-in-the-dark nail polish is available in both gel and regular formulas. The gel needs to be cured under a nail lamp and will last 2-3 weeks. Regular nail polish can be easily removed with nail polish remover and is a great option for kids to use.
If you want to have a temporary fun statement, opt for a regular nail polish formula. However, if you want nails that will last, opt for a gel formula. The gel can be harder to manage and maintain, but it’s worth a shot if you want your nails to be long-lasting.
Best Glow In The Dark Nail Polish
Where can you find glow-in-the-dark nail polish? Surprisingly enough, these kinds of nail polishes are much more common than you may think. When all else fails, Amazon has your back to find anything you need, even glow-in-the-dark polish.
Take a look at our veru favorite picks below!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Vrenmol Glow-In-The-Dark Gel Neon Shellac | 6 colors, vibrant glow, gel formula |
| 2. | Direct Glow FunFetti Custom - UV Neon Glitter | Chunky glitter, clear base, UV reactive |
| 3. | Sinful Colors Professional Nail Polish Enamel | Glow-in-the-dark, clear polish |
| 4. | Three Cheers For Girls Glow-In-The-Dark Polish | Five shades, light-charged, kid-safe |
| 5. | Splashes & Spills Blacklight Nail Polish Set | UV reactive, 6 colors, cruelty-free |
1. Vrenmol Glow-In-The-Dark Gel Neon Shellac
Sometimes, regular nail polish can chip away faster than you would expect. If that’s the case for you, then it might be time to turn to a gel formula.
Thankfully they are just as easy to do at home, and you can also opt for a glow-in-the-dark formula.
These polishes from Vrenmol are gels that soak off for easy removal and give a vibrant glow-in-the-dark finish. You will receive six beautiful shades, including white, blue, purple, orange, green, and pink. Each shade changes color in the dark.
Vrenmol’s gel polishes will guarantee you that the color will last for 2-3 weeks. For the best results and to receive the maximum glow, apply 2-3 layers of polish. These polishes are generally thicker than regular polish, so work in thin layers.
This glow-in-the-dark gel nail polish set is formulated without any toxic or hazardous chemicals without compromising the quality of the gel polish. They also cure under a UV nail lamp in 2 minutes or 30 seconds with an LED nail lamp.
If you want to get ready in time for your summer vacation without worrying about chipping a nail, a gel formulation will be your best friend.
2. Direct Glow FunFetti Custom – Blacklight Neon Glitter
This polish will give you an intense glow. However, it can only be activated by a blacklight instead of pure darkness.
This polish from Direct Glow has a fun, chunky, confetti effect that will definitely give you a massive burst of color. Direct Glow created the perfect colorful confetti-bomb nail polish.
It has a clear base, so that you can wear it completely independently, or you can even build up the layers to get an opaque, chunky-bubble finish. The possibilities are endless with this one!
This glittery nail polish is great to add on the nails as an accent or to add detail. It’s also great to layer on top of other vibrant colors to create and customize a funky nail set. This polish has multiple different shapes, stars, glitters, colors, etc., to play with.
When working with this polish, always wait a few minutes between coats for the polish to dry before going in with another layer. This will allow you to achieve an opaque look without pushing around the glitters and avoid creating empty patches on the nails.
3. Sinful Colors Professional Nail Polish Enamel
Suppose you are looking to spice up your manicure. This glow-in-the-dark top coat from Sinful Colors will cater to all your needs. It is a regular nail polish that doesn’t require extra equipment like brushes or a UV lamp.
It’s a translucent, clear polish that will instantly glow in the dark. It can be worn entirely on its own, or it can be the finishing top coat to any of the nail polishes you have at home. You will need time to allow it to dry, but it’s worth the wait.
For the best results, it’s recommended to apply this product multiple times to achieve the desired effect. To make the glow even more intense, first, apply a white nail polish as the base. Then, seal it in with this glow in the dark top coat.
Sinful Colors also formulated this product without questionable ingredients like toluene, formaldehyde, and its DBP free. This is a great and simple way to make each manicure even more special than the last one. Get ready to glow!
4. Three Cheers For Girls – Glow-In-The-Dark Nail Polish
This set is filled with five fantastic glow-in-the-dark nail polish shades. Sure it may be marketed towards girls and teens, but anyone can enjoy this nail polish set. It’s fun, vibrant, and you will glow all throughout the night.
You get five stunning shades in this set which includes: pink, orange, yellow, green, and blue. Perfect to create a rainbow or colorful nail look, just in time for summer too. You can mix and match them to bring your colorful creation to life.
If you want to achieve the best results, make sure to seal in these nail polishes with a clear top coat. This will prolong the life of your nail polish so it can last for weeks. To activate the glow, shine a bright light onto the nails, then shut off the lights.
Once the light goes off, you’ll be able to see the magic and intense glow these polishes give. They are also water-based and non-toxic, which makes them entirely safe for kids to use. Also, you can easily remove them with nail polish remover.
5. Splashes & Spills Blacklight Nail Polish Set
Splashes and Spills created this nail polish set for anyone and everyone that loves to make a statement on a night out. This nail polish set is also suitable for kids, costumes/cosplays, and anywhere a blacklight can be found to get an intense glow.
This variety pack includes six exuberant shades, including pink, yellow, orange, green, purple, and blue. It will be easy to mix and match or create unique designs with this colorful set. The best part is that it won’t irritate the skin around your nails either.
Splashes and Spills ensure that this nail polish formula is easy to apply and even easier to remove with nail polish remover. However, once these colors are on the nails, you can rest assured that this lacquer isn’t going anywhere.
This set is also just in time for summer! Summer is the perfect time to tap into your creative and bright side. All you need is a blacklight to activate the magic. Splashes & Spills is also cruelty-free and they don’t test on animals, which is another huge plus!
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