Find Out How Thermal Nail Polish Changes Color.

Find Out How Thermal Nail Polish Changes Color I’ve managed to experiment with more polish tints, styles, and formulations during lockdown than I could have ever dreamed in my pre-pandemic existence, despite the fact that I haven’t been to a manicure salon in over a year (!). I’ve worn just two coats of a single polish this month and have rocked ombré patterns, duochrome color, colorful tips, and more.

Its name is thermal nail polish, and its specialty is color-changing. Thermal polish changes color in response to exercise, surroundings, and body temperature, much like mood rings.

I talked to Cirque Colors founder Annie Pham about the company’s thermal polish selections because I was curious about the physics underlying this {magical~ phenomena and wanted to learn more about how the formula functions.

According to Pham, “thermal nail polishes contain unique temperature-sensitive pigments called leuco dyes.” As the temperature rises or falls, these dyes’ constituent microspheres—which hold chemicals—undergo reversible processes that result in color shifts.

Cirque Colors uses a blend of normal pigments and leuco dyes to create a range of colors in each thermal polish formulation. Every polish has two primary colors that change in hue based on ambient and indoor temperatures.

For instance, the polish hue Luna (shown) has hints of blue and violet. The polish turns turquoise when it gets warm. The shade turns violet when it gets cold.

Wearers will notice a combination of these two shades mirrored on their nails simultaneously, in addition to transitions between the two solid colors.

The distribution of color is greatly influenced by the length of the nails, which results in a multitude of surprising designs that change with every glance at your fingertips. The colored tip design, in which one color is expertly concentrated on the tips of the fingernails while the other shade fills in the nail beds, is one of my favorite results.

Luna’s nails are warmer in the beds, thus those are mostly colored turquoise, while the tips are covered with violet.

Pham says, “Since the tips of your longer nails are farther away from your body, you can easily achieve that effect.” “Alternatively, regardless of nail length, actions like hand washing or holding a hot or cold beverage can produce the two-color effect.”

I especially adore the duochrome-hued glitter that appears best on Luna-painted nails under direct sunlight. Iridescent light purple with a teal reflect is the final color.

When vibrant tips give way to an ombré design—where the shade at the fingertips smoothly merges into the shade at the nail beds—it creates another captivating design. Luna’s blending hues and the glittery particles in the recipe combine to create the ideal nails for a galactic theme.

Although the patterns mentioned above represent some of the most common effects I’ve seen, there are countless and ever-changing options available, from mismatched fingers to uniform nail art.

When it is time to use thermal polish, follow the same procedure for applying ordinary polish.

Pham suggests applying two to three layers of polish after applying a base coat, and then finishing with a top coat. “In general, the color-changing properties are not affected by the thinness of the base and top coat layers.”

Check out Cirque Colors’ newest Thermal Nail Polish for sweltering styles to sport in the next sunny months.

How It Changes Color Find Out How Thermal Nail Polish Changes Color

Thermal nail polish changes color in response to temperature fluctuations thanks to thermochromic pigments. These pigments contain special molecules that alter their structure when exposed to different temperatures, resulting in a color change. At lower temperatures, the molecules are arranged in a way that reflects one color, while at higher temperatures, they shift to reflect a different color. This effect can create gradient designs on nails, especially noticeable when moving between cold and warm environments. The dynamic color shift makes thermal nail polish a popular choice for a unique and interactive manicure experience.