You know what looks even more amazing than beautifully manicured nails? Stunning nails that can actually glow in the dark!
Kids just love the novelty factor, and young people love how it not only gets them noticed when they hit the bars and nightclubs, but also creates a talking point.
And the good news is that there happen to be some great glow in the dark nail polishes out on the market today. We’ve been checking them out and testing them ourselves, ready to review for you here.
Our reviews are unbiased and contain both pros and cons. And there’s no need to worry - we would not recommend something to you if we thought for one second that it might not be safe.
And for even more guidance on choosing a good glow in the dark nail polish, we’ve also got a handy buying guide for you that highlights the key points to consider when buying.
Then we’re going to top that off with a section where we answer some of your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado…
In a hurry? Check out our top pick!
OUR TOP PICK
This is one of my favorite brands of glow in the dark nail polish, simply because of just how long the nail polish lasts, provided that you look after it properly.
When I tried it out for myself, the nail polish stayed in place for a whopping two and a half weeks.
And the great thing about this brand is that you can buy a pack of 6 different colors, and you simply paint a special top coat over it to achieve a different look in the night. (You can buy colors individually if you prefer.)
Better yet, it’s not one of those glow in the dark nail polishes that you can only see in UV light - they naturally light up in the dark, looking completely different from they did during the day. Perfect for parties, carnivals, and such!
How long they will shine in the dark depends on two main factors. How much UV light they’re exposed to beforehand, and how many coats you put on.
When I first tried it they only shone for 15 minutes, but as I became more practiced, I could make them glow for about an hour.
I also love how great this nail polish looks in the day, too. Really bright and smooth.
I was reassured to learn that all FairyGlo polishes are certified SGS and MSDS.
The only real drawback to buying from this brand is that you will also have to invest in either a UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish, otherwise it won’t dry, and you’ll have wasted your money.
You can pick up a UV nail lamp for about $20 to $50.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this particular glow in the dark nail polish, simply click on “Check price” to see if there happens to be a deal on now.
Pros
- Really long-lasting - over 2 weeks
- They naturally light up in the dark
- Looks just as good during daylight
- There’s a range of different colors
- Polish is certified SGS and MSDS
Cons
- You need either a UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish for a couple of minutes before you can get the desired effect
EDITORS CHOICE
I just love how bright and funky these glow in the dark nail polishes are. Perfect for both day and night.
There are 6 different colors to choose from, namely blue, green, orange, pink, purple and yellow. The perfect for dressing up with or for performing for a gig or show.
And because they are normal nail polishes rather than gel ones, this means that you don’t have to own a special UV nail drying lamp to use them, they can simply air dry.
And when I tried it out for myself, I was also impressed with just how bright they can glow under UV light - it may even be the only things you see in the room!
It glides on like a dream thanks to its special moisturizing formula. And I only needed to apply two coats to get that perfect shine and even coverage I was looking for.
But the star feature of this brand of glow in the dark nail polish is that it’s both 100% vegan friendly and 100% cruelty-free, with no testing carried out on animals.
If you find yourself on the Splashes and Spills website, you should totally check out their other glow in the dark products while you’re there!
The only real drawback to this brand of glow in the dark nail polish is that they don’t naturally glow in the dark, and in order to see them glow, you will need a UV light, such as a blacklight.
However, these are actually quite easy to get hold of for a kids party or sleepover, and only cost about $15.
Pros
- Bright and funky both day and night
- Six stunning colors to choose from
- Glides on thanks to its special formula
- There’s no UV nail curing lamp required
- 100% vegan and 100% cruelty-free
Cons
- They don’t naturally glow in the dark, and you will only see them glow under that UV light (also known as a blacklight) that you can often get in clubs and discos
BEST VALUE
Now, this is more of a premium nail polish than the ones we’ve shown you so far, but it comes in a 15 ml bottle rather than a 10 ml, so arguably you’d still be getting really good value for your money.
Especially when you consider it comes with free shipping to anywhere in the US.
I picked my favorite shade for the photo, pink moon - it’s the one I tried out for myself.
It’s fire hydrant color red during the day, and when it glows in the dark, it gives off a bright and vibrant fluorescent pink color. And I can confirm it looks amazing!
But if you need a different color, there are several alternative colors to choose from. These include a one that’s pink by day and purple by night, and one that’s purple by day and glows blue at night.
There’s also an aqua, a yellow, a pale blue, a lavender, and even some color changing thermal nail polishes that also glow in the dark.
But the really great thing about them is that they don’t need to be under a UV light in order to see them glow, instead, they will start to glow naturally in the darkness.
I was also pleased to learn that there are no hidden nasties in the nail polish, seeing as they are all homemade.
All the ingredients are clearly labelled on the product page, and it’s free of hidden nasties such as formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP.
And you won’t need to splash out cash on a nail lamp to cure the nail polish, because it simply air dries instead. Bonus!
How long they will shine in the dark depends on two main factors. How much UV light they’re exposed to beforehand, and how many coats you put on.
And if you’re interested, Big T Ranch also has a special glow in the dark topcoat of nail polish that can be applied on top of regular nail polish to give your nails a stunning iridescent look in the dark.
Pros
- Great range of colors available
- Get 2 different looks with 1 shade
- No UV nail lamp needed for curing
- Homemade with no hidden nasties
- Free shipping to anywhere in the US
Cons
- As a more premium brand, it costs a little more money than the budget brands
RUNNER UP
Now, this is the ultimate glow in the dark nail polish set for those among you who like to bring out their creative side and make super cool patterns on the nails of themselves and their friends.
It comes as a pack of 6 different colors, there are 2 reds, a pink, a blue, a green and a yellow.
They each come with a very narrow liner brush, and this means that not only can you paint one color on each nail, but once that coat is dry, you can pick other colors, and paint pretty patterns on top. The only limit is your imagination!
Better yet, it’s not one of those glow in the dark nail polishes that you can only see in UV light - they naturally light up in the dark, looking completely different than they did during the day.
I tried this set out for myself last year, with a few easy, basic patterns, and I couldn’t get over how long the nail polish lasted - nearly 4 weeks!
There are no harsh ingredients that might damage your nails, and the odor given off is minimal.
How long they will shine in the dark depends on two main factors. How much UV light they’re exposed to beforehand, and how many coats you put on.
The only real drawback to buying from this brand is that you will also have to invest in either an UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish, otherwise it won’t dry, and you’ll have wasted your money.
You can pick up a UV nail lamp for about $20 to $50.
Pros
- Comes as a pack of 6 cool colors
- Thin brush for creating patterns
- Really long-lasting, up to 4 weeks
- They naturally light up in the dark
- Looks just as good during daylight
Cons
- You have to be quite dexterous with your hands to achieve some of the more delicate patterns in the photo
- You need either a UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish for a couple of minutes before you can get the desired effect
RUNNER UP
Now, there’s a lot to love about this glow in the dark nail polish set. The colors and effects made possible by these nail polishes will ensure the wearer is the center of attention in the day as well as the night.
This is down to both the 6 stunning metallic shades in the kit, and the kit’s versatility. The colors include pink, purple, yellow, green and blue.
And you can either go for a normal nail polish gel effect, with a shabby chic metallic distressed look. Or, you can go for a stunning cat eye effect achieved using magnets to create a stunning image.
Or you can apply glitter flakes that will glow in the dark, looking like stars in the sky. Or why not combine all three looks?
How long the glitter flakes will shine in the dark depends on how much UV light they’re exposed to beforehand.
And the great thing about this set is that you don’t need to be particularly good with your hands in order to achieve these stunning effects.
I even let my niece do mine for me one day, and I have to say I was impressed with how they turned out.
There are no harsh ingredients that might damage your nails, and the odor given off is minimal.
The only real drawback to buying from this brand is that you will also have to invest in either a UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish, otherwise it won’t dry, and you’ll have wasted your money.
You can pick up a UV nail lamp for about $20 to $50.
Pros
- 6 stunning metallic colors
- Magnets for cat eye effect
- Glitter flakes glow in dark
- Combine 3 different looks
- Minimal odor given off
Cons
- You need either a UV lamp or an LED lamp to cure the nail polish for a couple of minutes before you can get the desired effect
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide, highlighting the key points to consider before you buy.
Color Range
Sometimes a glow in the dark nail polish is only available in one color that looks like an off-white during the day, and then starts glowing fluorescent green in the dark. And this is great if that’s the look you want to go for…
But it’s not your only option, and there are different ranges of glow in the dark nail polish out there that are available in a wider range of colors. Simply scroll up for some examples.
Equipment Required
Unfortunately, some glow in the dark nail polishes do require some equipment. For example, some require that you cure your nail polish in a dedicated UV nail lamp, which typically costs about $30.
Meanwhile, not all glow in the dark nail polishes will glow naturally in the dark, and in order to see the nail polish glow you may need either UV light in a club or disco, or a USB blacklight that you can pick up for about $15.
Answers To Your Most Frequently Asked Questions
Does Glow In The Dark Nail Polish Work?
We’re very pleased to report that glow in the dark nail polish does indeed work. We wouldn’t have bothered writing this article if it didn’t!
Is Glow In The Dark Nail Polish Safe?
We’re also pleased to report that using glow in the dark nail polish is completely safe to do.
Sure, in the early 1900s glow in the dark paints used to be made with radium, which is highly radioactive. But I can assure you that we’ve come a long way since then!
These days and for quite a long time now, glow in the dark nail polish is made from non-hazardous, and non-toxic materials.
They are just as safe to use as any other nail polish on the market. The radioactive materials have been replaced by Phosphors which have no harmful effects whatsoever.
Moreover, all nail polishes sold to the public in the USA are subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which simply put, means that they have to be tested for potential health risks before they can be sold.
It’s important to note at this point however that sometimes a nail polish can bring out an allergic reaction.
How Long Does Glow In The Dark Nail Polish Last?
Unfortunately, good things do not always last, and this goes for glow in the dark nail polish too. They tend to glow very brightly in the dark for at least half an hour, and occasionally as long as 45 minutes, before the vibrancy starts to fade.
That’s not the whole story, however, and you can easily generate an extra burst of glow. And to achieve this, all you have to do is hold it up to light (even a dim light would be ok) for a few seconds or minutes, and the glow will reactivate.
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