Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my nail polish look milky?
Some of the polishes may have a milky appearance in the bottle that will disappear upon drying. This milky appearance, due to a milk-like emulsion binder which we use to create the hard finish of the polish, will disappear as the polish dries.

What should I do if there is separation in the nail polish?
Although separation is very minor, occasionally a light ring of color or clear fluid will appear at the top of the bottle. Simply shake the bottle to mix the polish.

Is there anything toxic in the nail polish?
No. There are no toxic chemicals. The resin is a perfectly harmless acrylic latex with residual monomers well below 100 parts per million. The only co-solvent is butyl diglycol ether – a glycol ether that has been proven safe to use in nail polish. All colorants are FDA-certified for cosmetic use. There is nothing in the polish that isn’t listed on the label: there is no formaldehyde, toluene, dibutylphthalate (DBP), bisphenol A (BPA) dangerous acetate solvents, acetone, nothing.

Is your nail polish vegan?
Our polish does not contain animal products nor has it ever been tested on animals.

Is your nail polish organic?
Nail polish is not derived from an animal or plant source so the term “organic” does not apply here. However a film of dried nail polish composed of nothing more than the natural elements of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen would make excellent compost for your garden.

Is your nail polish natural?
We use the  term “natural product” in reference to those commodities which are “unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes”.  Under this definition we think our polish is as natural as any polish will ever be. We have named it “Go Natural” because we have “gone natural” as far as we can go while maintaining the essential functions of nail polish- as far, far and away from regular stinky, toxic unnatural nail polishes as possible – practically into a different universe. The ingredients in our polish – the organically-derived resins, the water (the universal solvent of all things natural) in which these resins are suspended, the emulsifiers, the preservatives - have all been carefully selected to insure that our polish is as healthy and as natural as can be.

Is your nail polish green?
The bottles are made from recycled glass. Because the polish contains water as the solvent and all ingredients are soluble in water, it can be disposed of without fear of polluting landfills or the air we breathe.

What do I need to know about the remover to use it safely?
The remover is safe to use in the small 4 ounce quantity as supplied if proper precautions are followed.

• • It is flammable. Liquid and vapors may ignite so do not use when smoking or near a fire, flame or heat. It's OK if there is a small spill when a heat source is not close by - just wipe up the spill, saturate the wiper with water and dispose. Obviously never allow children to use the remover without your close supervision.
• • It is a very good solvent and so will tend to remove the natural oils from your skin. It follows that repeated contact with the remover anywhere but on your nails may make your skin dry and may cause irritation. It's OK if the remover contacts your skin or cuticles; just do what you can to minimize these occurrences and perhaps replenish the oils with a good hand lotion. Here again, do not allow children to use the remover without your close supervision.
• • It is soluble in water. This means that it will dilute the water in the mucous membranes of eyes, nose and mouth which may lead to burning and irritation in those areas. If these areas are accidentally splashed with remover, flush with larage amounts of water, give fluids and call a physician. We have added Bitrex to this remover to make it extremely bitter so that no child would ever voluntarily taste it.
• • Never allow children to use this remover by themselves.

What should I do to prepare my nails before putting on the polish?
Simply clean your nails with polish remover or soap and water. Healthy nails naturally produce a mixture of oils and proteins, which serve to protect, beautify and enhance their appearance. Because of the harsh solvents used in their manufacture, regular nail polishes remove these substances from the nail, requiring you to periodically replenish these natural substances with lotions and treatments. In contrast, our waterbourne Go Natural Nail Polish does not contain these harsh chemicals and does not remove these essential oils so that your nails remain strong and healthy.

Are the Primecoat and Topcoat really necessary?
The polish performs very well by itself. However, primecoat and topcoat give added chip and wear resistance that cannot be achieved in any other way. The combination of primecoat, polish and topcoat has lasted as long as 7 to 10 days with only minimal wear. While it is true that a little more effort is required to apply all three products, the result is well worth the little bit of extra time spent.

How long will it take for my nails to dry?
Go Natural polish dries to a tack-free state as fast as regular polish. The primecoat and topcoat dry even faster. We recommend you use multiple thin coats of polish which will dry faster than one thick coat. It may take longer to dry if your hands are cold, the temperature is cool, or the air is humid. A cool sensation is caused by the evaporation of water from the polish as it dries. It is a very good idea to blow dry your nails with a hair drier for a minute or two to finish off the curing process.

When is it safe to wash my hands without disrupting the polish?
Your hands can be used for normal activities including brief submersion in cold water after approximately 15 to 20 minutes without harming the polish. The polish will withstand washing and shampooing in hot soapy water after an hour or two. It is never a good idea though to allow your hands to soak in hot or cold water (e.g. hot tub, swimming) or to be exposed to moisture (e.g. gardening) for extended periods of time. While the polish is highly resistant to water after it is cured, it will tend to absorb small amounts of water and soften upon prolonged periods of soaking. If you have over-exposed them water or moisture, the absorbed water should be removed by briefly drying under a hair drier before any damage can be done.

When is it safe to garden and do other hand activities without scratching the polish?
It will take approximately 4 to 6 hours for ultimate hardness to be reached so you should avoid activities which could scratch the surface for several hours and certainly shouldn’t work in the garden or overhaul an engine without gloves until 6 to 8 hours have passed. We recommend you apply the polish in the evening so it will be strong enough for most activities the next morning.

When will my nail polish wear off?
Short nails for active women might begin to show slight wear at the tips in approximately 3 to 4 days but, in general, if care is exercised in the first several hours and prolonged exposure to water and moisture is avoided, the primecoat/polish/topcoat system can last for one week or longer. Go Natural nail polish will last for many weeks on toenails.

Can I touch up my nails if I scratch them?
Yes. Worn areas at the tips and even scratches and chips can be touched-up to re-create a nearly new appearance, adding a day or two to the effective durability. And because the polish is odorless and dries quickly, this is easy to do anywhere, anytime.

How hard is it to remove the polish? Do I need nail polish remover?
The polish can be removed within a few days with rubbing alcohol, gin or vodka. However, the polish becomes increasingly more difficult to remove particularly from dry, porous nails or toenails as it ages. At about 4 to 5 days a nail polish remover will be necessary. Our Go Natural nail polish remover is specially formulated for our polish but in some instances alternate soaking with a cotton ball and rubbing may be required. Removing polish from toenails can be a little more difficult.