Nail Polish

About

A nail polish is a kind of paint that is applied to the nails or nail plates on the fingers and toes for protection and decoration or beautification. Nail polish originated in China wherein they mix it with beeswax, egg whites, vegetable dyes, and gum Arabic, a natural gum made of hardened sap. In Egypt, nail polish is worn by the lower class with pale colors while it is worn by the higher class with the red color.

 There are three types of polish namely the base coat, the top coat, and the gel. The base coat is used before applying the polish to the nail. It is clear and opaque pink colored and it is used to moisture the nail and to strengthen it. The top coat is used after applying the polish. It is clear colored and its purpose is to prevent the polish from being chipped, scratched, and peeled. The gel is applied to let the polish last up to two weeks with proper care before chipping. It needs to be cured under an ultraviolet lamp in order for it to be dried up. It is very difficult to remove compared to the traditional and regular nail polish because it has to be soaked under an acetone for a eight to fifteen minutes before gently pushing it off. The ingredients of a nail polish are plasticizers, dyes, pigments, polymers, adhesive thickening agents, and ultraviolet stabilizers. Nail polish formulations may have ingredients that are toxic and cause cancer. 

Experts suggests that some inhaled and absorbed ingredients may be human reproductive toxicants which means that it can cause birth defects, low birth weight, miscarriage, and preterm birth. Although nail polish is very common to people especially to women and is used as a part of fashion or a form of art, it is still considered a hazardous waste.