| Glitter Size | Inches | Fractional (Inches) | Microns | Millimeters |
| Extra Large | .250" | 1/4" | 6250 | 6.25 |
| Large | .125" | 1/8" | 3125 | 3.125 |
.1"
|
1/10"
|
2540
| 2.540 | |
| Medium | .094" | 47/500" | 2385 | 2.385 |
.083"
|
1/12"
|
2108
| 2.108 | |
| .078" | 39/500" | 2000 | 2 | |
.063"
|
1/16"
|
1600
| 1.600 | |
| .062" | 31/500" | 1550 | 1.55 | |
.042"
|
1/24"
|
1067
| 1.067 | |
| Fine | .040" | 1/25" | 1000 | 1 |
| .035" | 7/200" | 875 | 0.875 | |
.031"
|
1/32"
|
787
| 0.787 | |
| Very Fine | .025" | 1/40" | 625 | 0.625 |
.016"
|
2/125"
| 400 | 0.4 | |
| Extra Fine | .015" | 3/200" | 375 | 0.375 |
.012"
|
3/250"
| 300 | 0.3 | |
.01"
|
1/96"
|
254
| 0.254 | |
| Ultra Fine | .008" | 1/125" | 200 | 0.2 |
Micro Fine
| .004" | 1/250" | 100 | 0.1 |
| .003" | 3/1000" | 75 | 0.075 | |
.002"-.003"
|
1/250"+
| 65-82 | 0.065- 0.082 | |
Ultra Micro Fine
| .002" | 1/500" | 50 | 0.05 |
| SpectraFlair 1500-35 (course) |
.001"
|
1/1000"
| 35 | 0.035 |
| SpectraFlair 1500-20 (standard) |
<.001"
|
<1/1000"
| 20 | 0.02 |
| SpectraFlair 1500-14 (fine) |
<.001"
|
<1/1000"
| 14 | 0.014 |
Glitter can be measured in millimeters as is the case for the larger sizes or microns; microns are the same unit used to measure particle sizes, such as the sizes of our cosmetic pigments. The rule goes, the larger the particle size, the more sparkly a pigment is and the same holds true for glitter. The Conservatorie, TKB Trading and Coastal Scents sell Ultra fine and Micro fine cosmetic glitters, .004" and .008" respectively.
The majority of glitters that I own are .004" with the exception of my Fairy Dust Glitter (I own both sizes) and Sterling Silver Glitter .008" from Coastal Scents. The largest glitter I own is a small sample I received from TKB Trading a long time ago, one I usually refer to as a silver disc glitter because the glitter is approximately 2mm. You can see the red version in my polish, Red Sparkle.
To give you another visual, shown here are a few silver glitters and two store bought glitter polishes. From left to right, Coastal Scents' Tinsel glitter, their Sterling Silver Glitter, TKB Trading's silver sample next to two polishes, L.A. Colors (Color Craze line) Sparkling Diamonds and Wet 'n' Wild Part of Five.
This is a high res image thus the original size is huge but you should enlarge to really see the difference in size.
Coastal Scents' Tinsel glitter, is 004", the Sterling Silver Glitter is .008", TKB Trading's silver sample is estimated at 2mm. The large silver glitter in both polishes is the same size, approximately 1mm.
Now 2 mm is a fairly large size for a polish but they do come larger than that. I like having a variety of sizes because as one website put it, using glitters in a combination of sizes allows the smaller glitters to fill the holes the larger glitters leave. -MK
Used for reference:
Conversion Calculator
Meadow Brook Inventions Size Chart
Infinity Foils Size Chart
Used for reference:
Conversion Calculator
Meadow Brook Inventions Size Chart
Infinity Foils Size Chart
There were some topics on TKB forum with information regarding which color is which but there weren't many colors listed :S
ReplyDelete@MK what is the name of that large silver glitter from TKB and where can I find it on their website?
ReplyDeleteYou're not going to find those on their website because they were sent to me as a sample.
DeleteThank you so very much for this post. This "Glitter" business was almost about to have me confused, and you saved my sanity....Just coming to know about Holographic Glitter...WOW where in the heck have I been....LOL! Anywho better late than never...
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Which size glitter would you use in holographic nail polish? :)
ReplyDelete