Water Based and Regular Nail Polish Compared

Water based nail polish is a fairly new invention, having entered the market in the 2000's, so many people do not know what it is. Regular solvent based nail polish has been manufactured since the 1920's, having been inspired by car paint. Here is a comparison of water based and regular nail polish.

• The primary ingredient in water based nail polish is water. Regular nail polish contains volatile chemical solvents that quickly evaporate when the polish in painted onto your nails. These solvents give nail polish its unpleasant smell. Since water based nail polish does not contain such solvents, it has very little smell.
• Water based nail polish dries to the touch in about 15 minutes, but takes up to 6 hours to fully dry. You can speed up the drying process with a hair dryer. Regular nail polish reaches a fully dry state in about 15 minutes.
• Water based nail polish comes in both long-lasting and peel-off formulas. Regular nail polish comes primarily in long-lasting formulas. Water based nail polish which is properly applied lasts around one week on fingernails. Many regular nail polishes lasts for a similar amount of time.
• Water based nail polish becomes more difficult to remove over time. It requires special nail polish remover meant for water based nail polish. Regular nail polish can be removed just as easily if it is worn for one week or one day. Regular nail polish requires acetone or acetone-free nail polish remover.
• All water based nail polishes are not only "3 Free" but also free of other harmful chemicals. Some regular nail polishes are "3 Free," while others still contain carcinogenic and other toxic ingredients. 
• Water based nail polishes do not dry out the nails, since they allow water to reach the nail bed and hydrate the nails. Regular nail polish forms a hard layer that does not allow water through. Also, the ingredients found in regular nail polish and remover are very drying. 
• Water based nail polish in non-flammable, while regular nail polish is highly flammable and should not be used near open flames. 

Is there anything else you would like to know about how water based and regular nail polishes compare?