Metal coat
Metal coat
The first of its kind — coat your nails in actual metal.
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14ml / 0.47 fl oz
10-free
This isn't nail polish.
Metal Coat is the latest ground-breaking innovation in nail technology, developed by SNAILWORKS over several years. Suspended in our unique formula are billions of microscopic particles of pure aluminium. Once you've painted it on and let it dry, your nails are coated in a hardened layer of almost pure aluminium, which can be sanded and polished like a solid piece of metal.
The reason Metal Coat looks so unique is due to the lack of a required top coat to achieve its shine. Real metal is completely reflective in its top few atoms — even the most pigmented nail polishes in the world cannot compete with the reflectivity and complete opacity of solid metal, and this is why it looks so distinctive.
It's not just about looking unique; it's about wearing jewellery on your fingernails.
How to use
How to use
NAIL PREP: We recommend buffing your nails first to help with good adhesion. Optionally, apply a basecoat first to protect your nails.
APPLICATION: Shake the bottle hard for a minute before application. Apply one coat, then a second coat once the first is touch-dry.
SAND AND POLISH: Wait 90 minutes for the polish to fully cure. File down Metal coat with a 1000 grit file until smooth. Next use a 4000 grit buffer until you get your desired level of shine. This may produce a small amount of dust— do the sanding in a ventilated area and away from anything that could be stained.
EXPERIMENT: Try using different files/buffers with different levels of coarseness to achieve unique metal finishes.
Lower grit levels will produce a brushed metal effect, while higher grit levels and more time buffing will create an even shinier finish.
Vegan | Cruelty-free | Made in the UK
I really wanted to love this polish, it sounds amazing in theory and when you first buff it off it's so beautiful and shiny and I love it. But after a few hours it goes dull and almost tarnished. You can't put a top coat on so it chips super easily and then if you try and buff it again to get it back shiny it wears away the polish so you're left with bald spots. I bought the buffer and used my own and tried different grits and differential techniques but it always looks the same then next day.
I just think for the price it could be better, but I'll keep trying to crack it.
For the price it's not great. The polish chips off extremely easily and did not buff as easy as it's made out to be.
Looks great, like worn metal, just give it a good hour at least before filing and buffing.
There are 2 reasons I didn’t give 5 stars, firstly because you’re stuck with a strong nail polish smell to your nails for days after applying despite many, many washes. Secondly, because in my experience it starts to chip off in big chunks after about 3 days.
As the title said, the finish on these is phenomenal, exactly what I was hoping for although you definitely want to have the buffer to hand as that is what really makes this product come to life.
There are 2 main caveats which pull the score down slightly.
1. Is that this product dries quick, like just barely workable quick. As a result you need to work fast not just to get a good finish on the nail but to stop the product curing and gumming up on the applicator and around the mouth of the bottle.
2. You really need to repair your nail. The directions on the sight felt to me like you could either prep the nail or not. This one could totally be on me, which is fair, but I was so stoked when it arrived I raw dogged it without buffing the nail or anything. When this product cures, it cures HARD, which means without any prep and adequate grip on to the nail the finish will literally pop off like press ons as you go about your day.
Bottom line:
Finish is fab, application is a novelty, price is fair.
Would I buy again?
Probably
This nail polish is fascinating: it looks grey and matte when you first apply but let it dry and then polish and buff it with a file, and it shimmers like metal does. Stunning texture and light-play, buying it convinced me to stop biting my nails.
FAQ
Is aluminium safe?
Yes, aluminium is completely safe. Aluminium is a very common pigment used in nail polish. It is also makes up a main ingredient in most glitters and holographic pigments.
Pure aluminium is also a cosmetic-approved ingredient (CI77000) so it is safe in all cosmetics in its pure powdered form. It's even in food colouring (E173)!
What are the ingredients?
The base ingredients are the same as our other nail polishes but with the addition of other cosmetic pigments and aluminium (both of which are commonly found in many other cosmetics).
As always, our polishes are 10-free, cruelty free and made in the UK.
Can I use a top coat with Metal coat?
We recommend not using a top coat with Metal coat as it may end up looking more like a regular chrome polish. We do love an experimenter however, so let us know if you try it!
How long does Metal coat last?
Metal coat lasts longer than a regular nail polish, but not as a long as gels.
How do you remove Metal coat?
Just like a regular nail polish; with a bit of a nail polish remover.
Are you going to make a Gold and Silver coat?
Maybe... Let us know if this is something you want.