Nail Polish | Ingredients With George Zaidan (Episode 4)

Summary

This video explores the chemistry behind modern nail polish and compares it to ancient formulas. It highlights the complexity of contemporary nail polish, which requires a blend of pigments, solvents, and polymers to achieve qualities like color vibrancy, smooth application, and durability. The script contrasts this with ancient Chinese and Egyptian nail polish, made from natural ingredients like egg white, beeswax, and vegetable dyes. The narrator then attempts a DIY experiment, creating a nail polish from these ancient ingredients, revealing the challenges of making a functional polish from scratch. Ultimately, it showcases both the simplicity and complexity of nail polish development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nail polish has evolved significantly from ancient times, where Egyptians and the Chinese used simple ingredients like henna, egg white, beeswax, and vegetable dyes.
• 😀 Modern nail polish requires many complex ingredients to meet functional needs such as color longevity, smooth application, and quick drying.
• 😀 The primary ingredients in modern nail polish include pigments, solvents (like ethyl acetate and butyl acetate), nitrocellulose, and plasticizers like camphor.
• 😀 Pigments in nail polish are tiny particles suspended in the formula, similar to what is used in lipstick, ensuring vibrant and lasting color.
• 😀 Solvents like ethyl acetate and butyl acetate help the polish dry quickly by evaporating after application, contributing to the nail polish's characteristic smell.
• 😀 Nitrocellulose forms the hard, glossy film on your nails, while additional polymers are used to enhance gloss, stickiness, and durability.
• 😀 Camphor is a plasticizer that makes the nail polish more flexible, reducing the likelihood of chipping and improving its overall wearability.
• 😀 Special ingredients like stericone am Hector I or bentonite from clay help balance the consistency of the polish by changing its viscosity under application pressure.
• 😀 Benzophenone-1 is added to nail polish to protect the color from fading due to UV exposure, functioning similarly to sunscreen.
• 😀 Recreating modern nail polish with natural ingredients is challenging, but the ancient Chinese recipe using egg white, beeswax, and beet dye shows surprising similarities to modern formulations.
• 😀 Homemade nail polish made with natural ingredients (like beet dye) has limited durability, often coming off easily with water, indicating the importance of modern solvents and plasticizers.

Q & A

What are the main requirements for modern nail polish that make it different from ancient nail polishes?

Modern nail polish needs to meet several requirements: color that resonates with personal preference, the ability to stay intact without fading, smooth application, the right consistency (not too thick or thin), adhesion to the nail, quick drying, glossiness, water and oil resistance, chip resistance, and rapid drying time.

What role do pigments play in nail polish?

Pigments in nail polish are tiny particles suspended in the formula, providing color. They are similar to those used in cosmetics like lipstick, ensuring the polish delivers the desired shade on the nails.

What are solvents, and why are they important in nail polish?

Solvents like ethyl acetate and butyl acetate are esters that evaporate quickly, enabling nail polish to dry in a reasonable amount of time. The characteristic smell of nail polish comes from these solvents as they evaporate.

What is nitrocellulose, and why is it used in nail polish?

Nitrocellulose is a polymer derived from cotton that forms a hard, quick-drying film on the nail. It is essential in creating the glossy finish and hard surface of the nail polish.

How does camphor contribute to the properties of nail polish?

Camphor is a plasticizer that makes nail polish more flexible and less prone to chipping. It helps improve the overall durability and elasticity of the polish.

What are 'polymer' ingredients in nail polish, and why are they included?

Polymers like tosilimide formaldehyde resin are added to improve the gloss, adhesion, and flexibility of the polish. They ensure the polish sticks well to nails and remains shiny.

What is the function of sterile cone-iam Hector I (or bentonite) in nail polish?

Sterile cone-iam Hector I (or bentonite) is a clay-based compound that thickens nail polish. It helps maintain the right consistency—thick when not in use but thinning when applied to nails, allowing for smooth and even application.

Why is benzophenone-1 used in nail polish?

Benzophenone-1 is used to protect the color in nail polish from fading due to UV light exposure, similar to how sunscreen protects skin from sun damage.

Can you make nail polish from entirely natural ingredients, as the transcript suggests?

While you can attempt to make nail polish from natural ingredients like egg white, gelatin, beeswax, and vegetable dyes, it will not have the same performance as modern formulations. The lack of solvents and specialized chemicals like polymers results in a less durable and less effective product.

What did the homemade nail polish experiment show about the use of natural ingredients?

The homemade nail polish made with natural ingredients like egg white, gelatin, and beet dye was not very durable. While it painted the nails, it was too watery, not very chip-resistant, and washed off easily with water. It highlighted the importance of modern chemicals in providing the desired properties like durability and consistency.