Holographic is a nail polish finish that uses silver particles with a coating that diffracts light into a full colour spectrum, so the nail shows a rainbow that moves as the hand moves.
Also known as: holo polish, holographic nail polish, linear holo, scattered holo
Holographic polish contains silver particles with a coating that splits, or diffracts, white light into its colour spectrum. As the hand moves, a rainbow moves across the nail. The commercial pigment is known as Spectraflair, and a number such as Spectraflair 15 refers to the particle size (Lab Muffin).
There are two kinds of holographic effect. Linear holo shows a continuous rainbow that sweeps across the nail in bands. It comes from a smooth, dense layer of very small particles. Scattered holo shows flashes of colour that change abruptly, and comes from larger particles or an uneven layer. The smaller the particle and the denser the polish, the smoother and more linear the effect.
Application affects the result. Brushing over the same area again during a second or third coat disturbs the particles and can reduce the linearity. Thin coats with little rework keep the rainbow straight. Holographic pigment can be used alone, as a topper over any colour, or mixed into a coloured base.
Holographic differs from multichrome. A holo shows the full spectrum in a set order, like light through a prism. A multichrome shifts between a few chosen colours as the viewing angle changes. Holo Taco launched with scattered, linear and flakie holographic toppers as separate products (Tubefilter).