Hello lovelies & happy Thursday. I decided to throw things back a bit (& embrace the crazy nostalgia taking over my life thanks to my very own mid-2006 emo playlist) with a fun look featuring a very nostalgic nail polish finish— crackle.
For anyone not around during the early 2010s, crackle nail polishes became huge around 2012, & by 2013 everyone & their mom was coming out with their own version of the crackle (or shatter) effect. Black was the beginning shade I remember being everywhere, followed by a whole assortment of different colours & finishes.
Recently I was going through my stash, & found a bottle of Avon Mosiac Effects Top Coat — aka their version of the crackle nail Polish — & decided to give it a little shake to see if it was still good. Sure enough, the formula is still perfect! So I had to give it a try to see how it looked after all this time.
The polishes I used for this manicure are:
- Base Coat: Essie Hard To Resist Glow & Shine
- Top Coat: Seche Vite Fast Dry Top Coat
- Illamasqua Aorta
- Avon Mosiac Effects Top Coat Black
I still have a couple crackle/shatter shades left in my stash, although most have long since dried up to be unusable. For this look, what you’re seeing is one rather thick coat over my base shade. I waited about 5 minutes for the cracked effect to set before applying my top coat, & I thought the end result was pretty perfect. I prefer my cracks to be larger so you can see more of the base shade underneath.
Is crackle/shatter nail polish going to make a comeback? I don’t know. I feel like these shades are so controversial, even 11 years later. You either love them, or hate them, & obviously I am firmly planted on the love side. I also think it’s a nostalgia thing, as I remember crackle being the first “nail art” trend I really feel in love with.
What do you think? Do you think crackle is due for its revival? Let me know all your thoughts down in the comments below.
Coffee & Nail Polish 
Awesome! Makes me want to dig out my old crackle polishes- I think I have a white and black one.
You totally should! Let’s make it make a comeback! Also I totally wish I still had more colours that were good but they’ve dried up sadly. 😔
I’m thinking mine probably have, too!
I can hear “My Chemical Romance” playing in my head as I look at your nostalgic crackle nails… good times… thanks for the memories! 😊💅🎸
I recently discovered the early 2000s Emo station at work so I feel like that is perfect!!