While the plastic used in a set of press-on nails may not make a huge impression, it ends up adding up to a lot of waste. A group of researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder thinks it has just the solution for the problem.
Bio-e-Nails. According to the researchers, the key lies in the material used to make the press-on nails used in manicures. Instead of using plastic, the scientists used natural materials like algae and shellfish shells to create “Bio-e-Nails.” They then mixed the raw materials with water and vinegar and placed them in nail molds for 48 hours.
Bio-e-Nails can be customized in a variety of ways, the researchers explain. For instance, you can change the color of the nails with food coloring or add glitter and gemstones. The researchers even experimented with adding tech to the nails, including NFC chips.
Short-term use. The nails are designed for short-term use, such as a night out. After you’re done with them, you can melt them down and make another set.
“With Bio-e-Nails, there can be a second life, a third life, a fourth life,” Eldy Lázaro Vásquez, the lead author of the new study, said in a statement. “The material can be remelted and reshaped into new objects. You can make a new nail, for sure, but also a coaster for your coffee cup.”
Health benefits. Besides being biodegradable, the authors also note that Bio-e-Nails represent a healthier alternative for both the nail wearer and the professional carrying out the manicure. Acrylic nails, for example, have to be filed down, which generates microplastics.
In addition, to bond acrylic nails to real nails, professionals use methyl methacrylate, which can be inhaled and produce aerosols that cause eye irritation. That’s not all, though.
“The nail industry is currently clouded by concerns over the choice of materials, such as plastics that can be ingested through nail biting, and the respiratory issues associated with breathing toxic chemicals and particles in the air,” the authors said.
Practicing sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty. Although the authors are tackling the pollution in the nail industry, it doesn’t mean they don’t recognize the importance that some people place on getting their nails done. It’s an important ritual, Vásquez said.
“[Nails] can be a reflection of your personality,” Lázaro Vásquez said. “They represent something that comes from you.”
Anyone can make them. The researchers have posted the instructions to make Bio-e-Nails for free online, pointing out that anyone can make them with ingredients from their kitchen and craft supplies. They recently presented a study on Bio-e-Nails at the Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction conference.
Images | Budka Damdinsuren | Living Matter Lab
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