“Free” & Non-Toxic Nail Polish: 20 Days of Sustainable Living Tips

20 Days of Sustainable Living Tips

This series is designed to showcase small, actionable steps that anyone can take in order to make your lifestyle more sustainable.  It doesn’t matter what level of living you are already on.  These tips are intended to help you more easily navigate this new “trend” of being kind to our earth.  Let’s work hard to make it more than a trend.  We can make it our lifestyle.  Learn daily tips here and on Facebook every week day in February 2017 during a live chat about the Sustainable Living Tip of the day.  Everything can be done in a sustainable way.  Let’s tackle a new sustainable living issue today!

Quick Facts:

• in an article titled “Nailed: Nail Polish Chemical Doubles As Furniture Fire Retardant,” researchers explain how a very harmful chemical, TPHP/TPP, is included in more than 1/2 of the existing nail polish brands.  This chemical ends up in the body as a result of applying it to your nails. [1]
• Nail salon technicians are at risk far more than patrons since they are exposed to the chemicals that come along with doing nails all day long. [2]

What is “Free” nail polish?

“Free” nail polishes (3-free, 5-free, 7-free, 9-free, etc) are nail polishes that are created free of the toxic chemicals that most nail polishes contain.  The number represents the amount of toxins that they get rid of.  For example, 9-free nail polishes have even fewer chemicals than 3-free nail polishes.  “Free” polishes are becoming more popular, so existing brands are also trying to get on board and comply by reformulating to get rid of some toxins.  Some brands even make non-toxic nail polishes!

It is important to note that most nail polishes will still have some form of toxin in them.  These may or may not be hazardous – its important to research them.  My main focus with this post is to let you know that a better alternative exists.  Hopefully your interest has been piqued, and hopefully you will search for more healthy brands of nail polish.

X-free nail polish brands

• Mineral Fusion 

  • 4-free: formaldehyde free, camphor free, TPHP free, DBP free, cruelty free
  • I have personally used this brand before at home (it is pictured above), and I love it!
  • Dirty Meter rating – 9 (that’s not good, it means it is still toxic)
  • EWG rating – 6 with limited data (mid range) see the EWG rating here

• Deborah Lippmann 

  • 7-free, also cruelty free
  • I have personally used this brand before at my nail salon, and I love it.  Read about my all-natural manicure with Deborah Lippmann nail polish

• Aquarella

  • non-toxic
  • water based nail polish
  • EWG rating – 1 with fair data (that’s pretty great!) see the EWG rating here

• Honorable mentions – brands we know

  • some L.A. Colors nail polish receive the low rating of 2 on EWG
  • some OPI nail polish receive the low rating of 2 on EWG

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I challenge you to:

• Buy X-free and non-toxic nail polishes
• Tell your friends about X-free & non-toxic nail polishes
• Find a nail salon that performs all natural (or mostly natural) manicures and pedicures
• Introduce your nail technician & salon to x-free & non-toxic nail polishes
• Ask your technician and salon to start carrying X-free & non-toxic nail polishes
• Ask your technician and salon to offer natural and/or less harmfuln alternatives to manicures, pedicures, waxing and false nails

It’s that easy, guys & gals!  Spread the word about nail polish that is less toxic to our bodies.  Get your nail technicians on board with offering them.  Choose these things and the market will follow!  We have the power.

xoxo dolls & dudes,

Addie