Crackle nail polish has become a popular fashion trend, exploding onto the scene in a variety of colors and shades. Women of all ages are astounded by the perfectly cracked effect that this secondary nail polish can supply without their ever having to pay the high costs of a professional manicure or pedicure. The artistic appeal of the imperfect look that it creates is suitable for a number of occasions and easy enough for just about anyone to use.
How Crackle Nail Polish Works
Crackle nail polish is the funky, grungy sister of traditional nail polish. When using this form of polish, people must apply a minimum of two coats. The first coat or base layer will be the color that will show through once the crackle polish has dried and cracked. Rather than creating a smooth and flawless finish for fingernails, the crackle polish paints a rugged, broken pattern across the surface of the nail by degrading in jagged lines to reveal the layer of polish that lies beneath it. The addition of ethanol alcohol to most crackle formulations is what allows the polish to dry rapidly and to produce the uneven and broken appearance that women everywhere have grown to love.
This Is Certainly Not A New Look
While nail polish that crackles is really only just beginning to make its impression on the fashion world, the distressed look has been around for ages. Furniture designers and paint manufacturers have used the same chemicals and processes to create furnishings and household features that appear distressed and aged even though they are not. When treating furnishings to create a crackled appearance, ethanol alcohol is usually a common ingredient as well.
Important Considerations To Make Before Applying
If you are ready to give this new nail color option a try, you should start by properly prepping the hands and feet. The fingernails and toenails should be checked for signs of infection before applying a crackle nail polish. These issues, if present, should be aggressively addressed and treated before attempting to make any cosmetic applications to the nail in order to ensure optimal nail health. These areas should additionally be clean and dry.
Making An Expert Application
People can start the application process by selecting a favorite primary or base coat. The polish that is used for the initial process should not be waterproof. This will ensure that it responds well to the application of crackle nail polish that will go on top and create the desired effects.
When selecting your colors it is important to remember that the best results will be received by placing dark colors over light colors or light colors over dark colors. Thus, if your base coat is light, your crackle coat will need to be substantially darker and vice versa. Having a substantial measure of contrast between the two colors ensures that the effects are both visible and appreciable. You will find that the differences between looks that are created by placing light colors over dark colors and those created by placing dark over light are quite dramatic. Thus, it is usually a good idea to play around a bit before settling with a finished look. You can try the effect on one nail at a time before choosing the best one to use. You can even use alternating combinations on your nails to create a unique and interesting look.
Both your base coat and the final coat should be thin and evenly applied. Opting to use two coats of the base polish will produce less than stellar results as the cracking will be minimal and the overall effects diminished by any excessive use of polish. Both the base coat and the crackle application should be applied from the base of the nail to the tip to ensure evenness. Because crackle polish is thinly applied and works by drying exceedingly fast, people usually appreciate the much reduced wait time that follows the typical application.
Color Combinations That NEVER Fail
While the effects that crackle nail polishes will create are certainly not in line with the sleek, smooth look of nails in the past, they still allow for a well-tailored, well-groomed appeal for the people who use these products. Choosing the best color combinations is essential for getting a salon-quality finish. The following combinations have proven to be exceedingly popular options:
- Black and Silver
- Black and Gold
- Red and Purple
- Purple and Gold
- Black and White
- Orange and Silver
- Teal and Silver
- Purple and Teal
- Yellow and Black
- Yellow and Red
Great Ways To Use Crackle Nail Polish As An Eye-Catching Accessory
If you want to stand out while wearing one of the latest trends, the only real way to do so is by adding an accent or flair that is all your own. While a particular handbag or head scarf may be all the rage, the only people who get noticed wearing them are the ones who wear them in their own specific way. Crackle nail polish is certainly no exception to this rule. It can be worn just about anywhere and can be a breathtaking accent to the right outfits when properly selected, expertly applied and confidently flaunted.
The key to wearing this look in more formal settings is subtlety. While the youthful, funky look that wearing crackle nail polish entails may not always appear to be suitable for the office, when worn in the right way it this nail design can help to create a perfectly-constructed business look. Rather than opting for colors that provide a glaring and interesting contrast, however, people can opt for more muted colors and tones that 
will reveal an interesting design without being to flashy for a traditional and strict business setting. Women who take the time to play with a number of different base colors will often find that they can find combinations that are perfect for weddings, baby showers and other events that traditionally use soft, muted colors. In reality, however, many modern affairs including weddings are stepping away from the use of traditional colors and using bright, vibrant and dangerous hues instead. Thus, a black and red crackle nail polish combination may be perfectly on note for the right modern wedding.
Building Your Own Style
While the application of crackle nail polish is fairly standard, learning how to create a look that works for you is a highly personal experience. The length and shape of your nails and even your current skin tone will help to determine the most striking looks for you. How confident you are when wearing new and daring designs is another important consideration. While crackle nail polish is certainly a common fashion accessory, it remains a bold, interesting and unique look that is worn best with confidence.
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