Nail Art

7 Types Of Nail Polish You Should Know
Whether you’re headed to the salon or giving yourself an at-home manicure,
you may come to notice that there’s more than one type of nail polish to
choose from. Yup—aside from the traditional formula you’ve been using
since you were a child, there are actually six types of nail polish worth
knowing. Some, like gel polish, you may be familiar with while others, like
shellac, may be totally new territory. Whatever the case, you can consider
this your guide to the seven different types of nail polish you should know.

• Basic
  Let’s start with the basics—no pun intended. Your basic nail polish is what
  you’ve been using since before you wore makeup. It’s offered in a variety of
  finishes—from natural to matte to holographic.
  This type of nail polish isn’t the most
  long-lasting—you can expect to make it through a week (sometimes less) without
  becoming victim to a chipped mani.

• Gel
  Another popular type is gel polish. This is a hard gel that your nail technician will
  apply (or you if you’ve mastered an at-home gel mani) overtop your bare nail. Gel
  polish is used in conjunction with a UV light to cure (AKA set) it. You can expect it to
  last for around two weeks. It can be used to extend your nail shape and give you a
  longer length, like acrylics.
• Acrylic
  Speaking of acrylic nails, this is another common polish type. Acrylic polish is made from a combination of liquid
  and powder. This mixture is applied onto your bare nail. As it dries, acrylic nail polish hardens and can be filed to
  your desired shape. It can also be used to extend the length of your natural nail. Acrylics also last around two
  weeks.

• Breathable
  If you’re wondering what type of nail polish is best for your nails, allow us to point you in the direction of
  breathable polish. In short, breathable nail polish allows oxygen and water to pass through your polish and to
  your nails, rather than creating a barrier between your nails and the elements. This water-permeable polish will
  give your nails a chance to, well, breathe, which is of utmost importance if you find you can’t go without having a
  perfectly painted mani. Get more of the details in our article, What Is Breathable Nail Polish and Should You Be
  Using It?. Breathable nail polish tends to have the same wearability as the basic option we mentioned earlier,
  lasting around one week.
• PolyGel
  Think of a hybrid between acrylic and gel nail polish and you have PolyGel.
  Essentially, this polish was designed for nail technicians to use to give a flawless
  manicure. It has a gel-like consistency that’s applied on top of your bare nails
  using an acrylic brush. Then, it can be shaped to your liking and cured with an
  LED or UV light. PolyGel nail polish is one of the longest-lasting polish options. It
  can last up to 21 days with proper maintenance.

• Dip Powder
  Dip powder nail polish is another
  type that has a long lifespan. In fact,
  it can last around three weeks to a
  month, which explains why it’s
  become such a polish option. To use dip powder polish, your nail
  technician will first apply a base coat, then a layer of pigmented
  powder. This process will be repeated (with excess powder being
  removed each time) until you’re left with an opaque manicure. To
  finish it off, a layer of clear powder and a sealant is applied.
• Shellac
  Last but not least, we have Shellac. Just like PoyGel polish is a hybrid between gel and acrylic, Shellac nail
  polish is a cross between gel and basic formulas. It’s applied to bare nails and cured with a UV light. Shellac nail
  polish can’t be used to extend the length of your nails. Typically, you can expect this type of polish to last around
  two weeks