Posted by Tran Khue
on August 25, 2025
Glow-in-the-dark nails grab attention like nothing else. The neon shades are pretty in the daylight, but they are absolutely magic at night. Check out these stunning glow-in-the-dark nail ideas and get quick tips for creating your own unique luminescent manicure.
New Glow in the Dark Nail Energy
They Bloom at Night
Do your nails shine at night? Not just because they are glossy, but because they literally glow? It used to be that you’d have to mix specialty craft pigments or phosphorescent powder into your polish to get a special effect like that. Now, it’s way easy as you only need glow-in-the-dark gels that come in a rainbow of gorgeous shades.
Here’s a short set with glow-in-the-dark flowers. The color contrast makes the petals really stand out. If you’re not in the mood to freehand a floral design, grab one of our nail stamping plates for a flawless look that’s easy to replicate on every fingertip.
LAVIS C05 - 02 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Neon Obsession Collection
Neon Nail Art
Obviously, since you’re painting glow-in-the-dark polish under a light, how can you know if your manicure is turning out right? As soon as you cure the polish in the nail lamp, you’ll give it a big energy charge, and it will shine brightly. Flip off the light for a moment and see how things look.
The good news is that our glow-in-the-dark gels are colorful in regular lighting and it’s easy to see your design. Once they are charged under nail lamp, in the sun, or under a light, they are even more amazing!
LAVIS C05 - Set 24 Colors - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Neon Obsession Collection
How Does Glow in the Dark Polish Work?
Let’s get one thing out of the way: glow-in-the-dark nail polish is not radioactive. It’s safe for your nails. The pigment that makes it luminescent is the same stuff used in toys that glow in the dark. It’s a type of phosphor that absorbs energy, then releases it slowly as visible light.
Phosphors also exist in fluorescent lights and some TV screens. Their chemical names are strontium aluminate or zinc sulfide. Either way, both of these materials need to be charged under sunlight, lamp light, or a nail lamp in order to glow in darkness.
If you heard that some watches used to have hands or numbers that shine in the dark without being charged under a lamp, that’s a different situation. They actually contain radioactive material, and the emissions from it would constantly charge the phosphors so that they always glow. Again, glow-in-the-dark gels are not radioactive and are safe to enjoy!
How long will a glow-in-the-dark manicure last? It depends on the phosphor in the pigment. You’ll likely get anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before you need to charge up under a light again.
Moreover, it’s wise to keep your collection of glow-in-the-dark polishes in a dark place when they are not in use. That’s because repeated exposure to UV light will break down the phosphors, just like it can reduce gel polish quality (and why gel bottles are opaque while nail lacquer bottles are not). But no worries, your glow-in-the-dark manicure will still look fabulous for weeks as this is durable gel polish!
Skittles in the Dark
Now you’ve done it, you’ve gone and bought the whole collection of glow-in-the-dark nail colors. Stop trying to decide which one to try first – just wear them all!
LAVIS C05 - 05 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Neon Obsession Collection
Graffiti at Twilight
We see the KAWS influence at work on these graffitied glow-in-the-dark nails. The nail artist used the nail lamp lighting to help capture the fluorescent colors here.
It can be challenging to take a photo of your luminescent design to share on social media. The best way to show off the shine is to follow these steps:
- Keep both the camera and the hand rock steady – use a tripod if you have it
- Use a slow shutter speed, like 1 second, if you can adjust it – some apps make it easy
- Turn off the flash
- Make sure the polish is charged up under a light and glowing strongly
- Use a black light source, like a nail lamp turned on nearby, to strengthen the fluorescent colors
Even if you don’t have fancy camera settings on your phone or a black light handy, you can still get beautiful results. Instead of complete darkness, photograph your glowing nails in a twilight setting with diffuse light. Use a lamp that’s pointed upward and throw a dark cloth over it so that there’s just enough ambient light to distinguish the outline of your hand. Brace your hand and the camera so that nothing moves. Then, if needed, do a little editing of your photos after the fact to maximize the glow-in-the-dark effect.
Cyberpunk Nails in the Dark
You know it’s a masterful design if it’s eye-catching in the daytime and completely mesmerizing at night. If we didn’t know better, we think these nails had little LEDs powering the glow.
With Lights On
Here’s the daytime view of the nails above. It’s kind of like Las Vegas at noon.
When Did Glow-in-the-dark Fashion Become Trendy?
Some of our readers remember the 1980s as the neon decade. New fabric dyeing techniques meant that manufacturers could produce clothing in fluorescent shades. The excitement over neon clothes and accessories continued into the 1990s and never completely disappeared. During Paris Fashion Week in 2012, Alexander Wang sent models down the runway in phosphorescent colors for an otherworldly feel. Jewelry designer Bex Manners revealed golden accessories with light reactive powder. Meanwhile, Tom Binns crafted tribal-style luminescent neckwear. He called it “edgy glamour”.
But that wasn’t the end of glow-in-the-dark fashion. Instead, Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent placed models in glowing feathers and polka dots for a show in 2019. It took place in a fully dark room so that every neon accessory, from sunglasses to high heels, floated on invisible bodies.
Givenchy released black and white sneakers in 2019 that glowed neon green after dark. Moreover, Kendall Jenner kept the luminescent trend alive with her ensemble at Coachella 2019.
Now we’ve reached the 2020s and it’s clear that glow-in-the-dark style is still trending. Nowadays, you don’t even need to be a DIY artist who mixes dye from glow sticks into your polish. Just explore our glow-in-the-dark gel collection and pick your favorite shades to make your point!
Simple Tips and Toes
Put down the highlighter and glow brighter with a neon polish like this. It instantly upgrades any look for summer fun.
LAVIS C05 - 08 - Gel Polish 0.5 oz - Neon Obsession Collection
Halloween Scene
Halloween is a fantastic time for glow-in-the-dark nails!
6 Grids of Glow in the Dark Glitter - 1909-24 - #1 - Summer
Dance Dance Gradient
Remember that dancing game? Here it is reenacted for a manicure. The vibrant colors are gorgeous both day and night.
Conclusion
No, not everyone will be addicted to glow-in-the-dark nails. For some, it will be a passing fad. It’s just as well we have affordable gel polishes in our store. Now you can explore glow-in-the-dark nail art to your heart’s content and still stay on budget!
Source:
https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question388.htm
https://www.tatlerasia.com/style/fashion/the-comeback-of-the-90s-glow-in-the-dark-trend
https://www.vogue.com/article/let-it-shine-springs-glow-in-the-dark-trend
