5 Benefits Of Breathable Nail Polish

Whether you get your nails done at the salon or you prefer an at-home manicure, using traditional nail polish may no longer be your best option. And it's true, there are numerous reasons you should start ignoring your nail polish altogether, including harmful ingredients and potential negative impacts on your nail health. But fret not; for DIY manicure enthusiasts, we have an alternative — breathable nail polish. 

As the name suggests, breathable nail polish is a type of polish that allows your nails to breathe in a sense, letting molecules of oxygen and water pass through its layers. "The breathability is not a function of a single ingredient; rather, it depends on how the entire formula is put together," cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller explained while speaking to Allure, adding, "Traditional polish has fewer interstitial spaces for water to pass through." Because of this, your regular nail polish takes longer to dry, chips faster, and doesn't hold up well underwater.

For those still on the fence, trying out breathable nail polish is not a big decision you have to think over extensively. Although it may be pricier than typical drugstore polish brands, you don't have to break the bank to give it a chance. Check out the five ultimate benefits of breathable nail polish that you'll want to reap with your next manicure.

Perhaps the most important benefit of breathable nail polish is that it's healthier for your nails than regular polishes and gels. You've likely often heard that getting frequent manicures doesn't allow your nails to absorb oxygen from the environment, which isn't quite true. According to Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and nail expert who spoke to Allure, nails don't work that way. "They derive oxygen and nutrients from the blood supply and not the air," she explained to the outlet.

However, that being said, a breathable nail polish will allow for better hydration of your nail plate, which isn't possible with non-permeable products. Notably, in addition to the nutrients nails absorb from the bloodstream, they stay hydrated thanks to their own natural oils, which can get trapped or stripped away when you use regular nail products. Breathable nail polishes, on the other hand, allow for the oils to properly work their hydrating magic on your nails, so it's a great option for those taking a break from their regular manicure routines or dealing with certain nail conditions like brittleness or peeling.

Another reason why breathable nail polish is a healthier option for your nails is due to its ingredients. Regular polishes can contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which are often referred to as the "Toxic Trio." Formaldehyde is often used in nail hardeners and toluene makes nail polishes glossier and more durable, while DBP is usually added to nail products to improve longevity. Yet, all three chemicals have been proven to be toxic to humans to a certain degree. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, toluene is a neurotoxin, and DBP is an endocrine-disrupting chemical.

Although the trio of toxins isn't present in every nail product, dermatologist Dana Stern recommends avoiding the three ingredients at all costs. "We know that these chemicals are associated with risks, but it's difficult to quantify the risks," she told The Cut.

Fortunately, breathable nail polish is a great alternative with better ingredients. While opting to go bare is the only surefire way to avoid toxins, breathable nail polish is a close second option. Turn to brands like Deborah Lippmann, Zoya, Côte, and Orly to enjoy your manicures without worrying if they're hurting you.

Not only is breathable nail polish better for your nails and overall health, but it's actually more functional than traditional nail polishes. Thanks to its permeable formula, a breathable nail polish will hold up better when faced with the regular use of water. "Nail cells expand and contract as they absorb and hold moisture, which makes nail polish split, chip, and peel, so we created the Breathable formula to be more permeable than our traditional nail lacquer," said Tal Pink, the Vice President of Business Development at Orly Beauty, when speaking to Byrdie.

User feedback shows that breathable nail polish indeed tends to last longer when exposed to frequent water contact, like swimming or cleaning. However, some experts don't see this characteristic as a positive. Board-certified dermatologist Dana Stern told Allure that the permeability of breathable nail polish may increase the risk of nail infections, explaining, "In general, water permeability with polish is not considered desirable as moisture entering the space between nails and polish can result in infection." So, when choosing your preferred type of nail polish, you'll likely have to choose between one that seals the nail bed but requires more frequent touch-ups or one that lasts longer but carries a potential risk of inflammation.

While you can't really expect any nail polish to last you for weeks like a set of acrylics might, breathable nail polish will significantly outlast your regularly polished manicure. No more odd solutions like using orange juice to remove chipped nail polish, because breathable polish is formulated to stay put.

As we already mentioned, the permeable formula of breathable nail polish allows for the nails' natural oils to move around and, most importantly, off your nail bed. A regular polish, on the other hand, fully locks the oils onto the surface of your nails, causing regular polish to chip because it's literally slipping away without a dry surface to hold onto. Not even prepping your nails with alcohol is going to do much here, as the oils will eventually build up and cause traditional polishes to crack.

So, before you turn to gel manicures in hopes of making your nails go the extra mile, consider giving breathable nail polish a try. If you end up not liking it for whatever reason, you can easily remove it from the comfort of your home.

In addition to being durable and devoid of harsher chemicals, breathable nail polish boasts another functional trait — it dries fast. Thanks to its breathable formula, it allows molecules of air to penetrate its layers, meaning you no longer have to sit still for questionably long periods of time until your polish is ready to face the world.

While there are numerous tricks to make your nail polish dry faster, like whipping out your blow dryer or dunking your fingers into ice-cold water, you won't need any of them to speed up drying breathable nail polish. Forget about relying on additional products like nail polish drying sprays or the draining number of under and overcoats you'd usually need to secure your traditional nail polish. A permeable formula does that all on its own.

It takes a mere five to 10 minutes for breathable nail polishes to fully set and dry, which is considerably quicker when compared to any other regular nail product. There's no need for UV lamps or any extra steps; just sit back, relax, and watch your nails dry before your eyes.