To keep it simple, chrome nail powder is typically made up of very fine aluminum. The aluminum powder is then 'dyed' to create different colors. The aluminum powder is very reflective and when rubbed over surfaces, creates a mirror-like sheen. Aluminum powder is used in many different industries such as car paint, cosmetics, decorations, and more. The pigment itself can be expensive due to extensive manufacturing needing to extract the aluminum and grind it into powdered form.
Chrome nails are created when a chrome pigment is rubbed over a darker nail color. The dark color helps reflect the light of the pigment, creating a gorgeous, mirror-like sheen. If you try to use a lighter color beneath, the color will not come through as well.
Only within the last few years has chrome nail powder increased in popularity. Many nail salons still do not offer chrome nails as an option.
Most chrome nail powder brands mix chrome pigment with acrylic powder and/or glitter to create a color that can be used as a dip, acrylic, and a chrome finish. Some people buy just the pigment and are confused when they can't use it as a dip/acrylic as well, because both the stand alone pigment and dip/acrylic powder is marketed the same. If you're buying just the pigment, you'll usually find them in very small 1g jars, while dips and acrylics are sold in 10g+ jars. Fairy Glamor sells dip and acrylic chrome nail powder colors in 15g and 1oz jars.
In most cases, chrome nails need to be sealed with a top coat to prevent the powder from smudging or rubbing off. It does not change the color of the nail polish beneath it--instead, it sits on top like a thin blanket.
For an in depth tutorial, you can read more on how to do chrome nails here.
Fairy Glamor designs unique 3-in-1 dip and acrylic nail powders in Galveston, Texas. We're a 100% family owned business that was founded in 2020 and went from making handmaking powders in our spare bedroom to shipping out of a big warehouse. We believe in both quality and affordability--that's why our powders are used by both professional nail technicians and in homes. Our unique colors are hand-designed to give you gorgeous manicures that'll make your nails feel magical.
