*Rather than having 30 links to the SpectraFlair website, at the
very bottom I provided the link to the SpectraFlair .pdf brouchure. All prices
and links had been updated 6/29/16.
Holographics are probably number one on the list of favorite
polishes and the reason for this is obvious- spectacular color display. While
there are retail brands that have indulged our desire like the old Sally Hansen
Nail Prisms, OPI, China Glaze, Nubar, and Color Club more recently, they are,
at least in my opinion, too valuable to franken with. Of course if you simply
want to indulge your love of holographic polishes, you can find an endless
array of colors in the indie-polish world (those people are way ahead of the
polish retailers) but I'm not content with what other people make when I can do
it myself.
SpectraFlair® caught my attention on the blog More Nail Polish when
Kitties26 posted her first
franken using it. She, along with many of you, had made beautiful
polishes so it was only natural that I’d want some but it didn’t take long to
find that SpectraFlair® was not widely available and came at a premium price,
premium compared to most pigments and glitters I'd previously used.
JDSU (later bought out by Viavi Solutions) apparently didn't
appreciate our frankening with their product after the initial SpectraFlair
boom and tightened their regulation which had made it harder to find, at least
temporarily. It's become more available since but regulations still restrict
the selling of it in dry form so the options I've provided here are all
pre-dispersed in suspension base.
About SpectraFlair® itself, from the JDSU's Viavi Solutions
website:
- Fine grade pigment (D50 average of 14 microns) - creates a
diffractive rainbow effect that appears to emanate from the surface in pleasing
and subtle tones but with noticeably smoother, softer and more satin-like
effects.
- Standard grade pigment (D50 average of 20 microns) -
optimally balances the diffractive rainbow effect with a high level of specular
reflection.
- Coarse grade pigment (D50 average of 35 microns) - produces
a silver-based color with a diffractive rainbow effect that is more distinct
and chromatic with a noticeably coarser and more sparkling appearance.
One alternative is to buy a holographic glitter/pigment to use,
just don’t expect to find one that produces the exact linear holo comparable to
that of SpectraFlair®. Glitter isn’t the same but there are
still good options out there if you want to try it and I provided those too, at
the bottom of this post, but we're going to skip ahead to the real thing.
SpectraFlair: Top Coats
On ebay there are several listings for SpectraFlair
top coats (but no powder). Follow the link to see the options.
SpectraFlair: Pre-Dispersed (not top
coats)
...is a good resource for all things franken related but in this
case, SpectraFlair in
4 different grades- 14, 20, 25+, 35 and 14/35 mix. All 5 grades available in
all package sizes.
Spectraflair
(50gr.) $425.00 (U.S. Shipping Only) - pre-dispersed in 12.5 oz. of
5-free nail polish suspension base.
..., as well as being another great source for franken polish
supplies, sells SpectraFlair in
4 grades and a mix-. 14, 25, 35 microns and 14/35 micron mix. All grades have
the same price/size options. This pigment is sold pre-mixed with suspension
base. This is a requirement per the manufacturer. (1/4 oz suspension base per
gram of pigment)
1 gram - $11.00, 2 grams - $20.00, 1/4 oz (7.08 grams)- $63.00,
1/2 oz (14.17 grams)- $125.00
...on etsy, also sells pre-dispersed SpectraFlair in 2 grades
and 1 mix.
1 gram, $12.00 - 2 grams, $22.00 - 5 grams, $59.00.
10g, 20g and 50g also available.
-From the listings themselves: This product is SpectraFlair
[insert micron size] mixed into (5 Free) clear nail polish base. This pigment
is a concentration of 4 Grams of SpectraFlair to 1 oz of Base in squeezable
bottles. Mixing ball included. Please note. Not all bottles will be full and is
measured by weight instead of volume. Example 1gram will be in 1/4oz base and
will come in a 1/2 oz bottle.
also on etsy, is another source for pre-dispersed SpectraFlair.
1, 2, 5 and 10 gram quantities available.
1 gram- $10.49
2 grams- $19.49
5 grams- $46.99
10 grams- $88.99
From the listing itself: This is the Silver 1500-35 size. This
means the color is silver and the particle sizes is 35 microns. This is the
official JDSU SpectraFlair TM premixed into a 5-free base. Each 1 gram of
SpectraFlair TM is mixed into 1/4 of an ounce of base. So, if you buy 5 grams
of SpectraFlair TM it'll be mixed in 1.25 ounces of base. This is the standard
for many companies that sell SpectraFlair TM.
...consider this part updated until I am lucky enough to stumble
onto a new source, of which there still aren't many.
Glitters & Other Alternatives
What I used prior to purchasing SpectraFlair® was TKB Trading's .004" size hex cut
Holographic Holla Glow glitter. I like the effect it gives off but the polishes
it's used in never apply visually smooth enough- a slightly bumpy glitter can
be overcome with a topcoat but this one resisted in heavier concentrations.
Again, that’s not a texture issue so much as an appearance issue because the
glitter itself has a very thin profile. My complaint was that the holographic
effect compared to SpectraFlair® is more random and not as linear although it’s
at least as brilliant.
TKB Trading has a
.004" Holographic glitter, square cut sold here,
1 ounce for $4.50 or a 2.5g sample for $1.50. I listed this as a comparison to
the original, hex cut Holla Glow I've used.
Second is Luminosity is
.002” hex cut glitter, sold as 1 ounce for $4.25 or a 2.5g sample for $1.50. I
own this too, bought as part of a glitter set but I've never used it in nail
polish. All I can say is the difference between a .002" and a .004"
size is easy to see.
One final alternative is a newer product from TKB Trading, a
frankenpolish base called Magic
Holographic. I have no personal experience with this product either. Go to
their website and to that item to read the full details about usage and to view
swatches.
1/2 fl. oz, $3.25
4 fl. oz, $24.00.
From TKB's Site: Magic Holographic is a pre-colored nail polish
made from cosmetic grade ingredients. This is an important fact because it
means that formulating with Magic Holographic allows you to confidently sell
your holographic nail polish. Other options, such as Spectraflair, are
industrial pigments not approved for use in cosmetics by the US government.
Selling a nail polish made from Spectraflair would be deemed illegal by the
FDA.The prices are for both U.S. and Canadian customers.1/2 fl oz Magic
Holographic $3.25 (fills one full size bottle full strength)4 fl oz Magic
Holographic $24.00
*****
*****
1 gram- $10.00
2 grams- $18.00
5 grams- $40.00 (sells quantities above that too)
From the listing:
Silver Holographic Ultra Fine Powder
Size 35 micron
Cosmetic Grade
Solvent Resistant
This is our custom made holographic powder, It is unlike anything
you will find on the market and unlike Spectraflair, we are not required to
sell it pre-mixed. So you can use it in nail polish, cosmetics, bath & body
as well as any other craft project you may have.
When mixed with lacquer base it has an iridescent, liquid silver
metallic appearance and as the pigments reflects light it generates the
appearance of multiple, bright linear rainbow producing prisms. This is not
glitter so the finish is smooth and it is easy to remove. This holographic dust
is the perfect alternative to SpectraFlair of nail polish and is FDA compliant
so if it perfect for use in nail polish, cosmetics or any art project.
-MK
