Difference Between Black Light and Glow In The Dark Nail Polish

Why an article on the difference between blacklight and glow in the dark? Because a lot of people don't know the difference. When I'm on a forum/talk and I read something about one of these two specialties, people always tend to confuse one with the other. Time to make a difference!

The reason people tend to confuse one with the other, I think, is because both blacklight, neon and glow in the dark look fluorescent in the dark.

Fluorescene is light emitted during absorption of radiation of some other (invisible) wavelength. The word Fluorescence comes from fluorite; a mineral consisting of salt calciumfluorite(CaF2), a very known substance.

Three neon polishes from China Glaze. Turned Up Turquoise, In The Lime Light and Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. These will appear bright underneath a black light.

Blacklight polish, ink or paint, is ink that "glows" underneath a blacklight. Blacklight paint is also known as luminous paint or fluorescent paint. This luminous paint is paint that exhibits luminescence. In other words, it gives off visible light underneath a special black light, through fluorescence, phosphorescence, or radioluminescence. Black light is a source of light whose wavelengths are primarily in the ultraviolet.
Blacklight paint/polish may or may not be colorful under ordinary light but do show underneath a black light.

Then there is such a thing as neon polish, which are just black light polishes. Only a neon polishes got the name "neon" because the colors are very bright. Neon polishes are always very bright polishes compared to black light polishes. Bright polishes are sometimes known and labeled by 'neon', but be carefull for polishes that are labeled as neon. Some say they are neon but those polishes are just bright and don't glow underneath a black light. Neon polishes will always glow underneath a blacklight!

Diamond Cosmetic glow in the dark polishes. They don't work and don't show any bright color underneath a black light, but will show a bright light in the dark after they "loaded" light before.

Glow in the dark contains Phosphorescence which is a specific type of photoluminescence related to fluorescence. Unlike fluorescence, a phosphorescent material does not immediately re-emit the radiation it absorbs. So first, the glow in the dark polish, ink or paint has to load up in light. Then, when it's dark, the paint/polish should glow.

Glow In The Dark polishes will look the same in the dark, as black light polish does underneath a blacklight. However, glow in the dark paint/polish does nothing underneath blacklight, and blacklight paint or polish does nothing in complete darkness. However, a nail polish can be black light, neon and glow in the dark all in one.

Hope you got a little wiser! Ever got ripped off when thought purchasing black light, neon or glow in the dark polishes? I did!