A Black Linear Holo Franken and How To Make Your Own

This post has been edited and the name of the pigment has been removed.

I've been sitting on this post for four months. I feel like a mad scientist! It's alive! Lots of text in this post but I think it is worth it.

I used a pigment powder for this franken. I was given a tiny little bit from a friend who used to own a custom car painting place. It contains magnesium fluoride and aluminum and I don't suggest buying a ton of it and going to town with it. I didn't use it for industrial purposes so felt safe handling it but I did wear gloves and made sure not to inhale it. Also, magnesium fluoride and aluminum are ingredients that you will find in older polishes such as the Sally Hansen Prism line. I was pretty confident because of that fact that it would not explode when mixed with nail polish. It can also be mixed with water based paint so that made me feel even better. No explosions and no body parts have fallen off but as always please be careful and use common sense when using unknown elements.

I highly suggest putting it in a color polish. I added some to clear to make a silvery holo topcoat but it separated after sitting and needed a really, really good shake. Another suggestion is that you add it to polish and not the other way around. It seems to mix better that way. It's a very fine powder so keep that in mind if you plan on playing with it.

On to the good stuff!

I've been letting this sit for about four months because I wanted to see if it would be okay or if it would fail. Plus I kind of forgot about it - opps! It's really okay! Woo and a Hoo! I made a linear holo! How exciting is that?!

I named this My City Bus since I travel by public transportation and not by jet. Ha! Take that OPI! This is one coat over a black creme.

Recipe:

1 bottle of China Glaze Liquid Leather with a bit taken out for room
2 tiny little pinches/scoops of pigment (I used a straw cut to make a shovel scoop)



On the nail.













Here is the silver holo topcoat over a blue creme. It's a bit patchy from sitting and becoming separated. Still pretty but the pigment seems to work better being added to a denser color base like black.



55 comments

OnceBitten April 26, 2011 at 11:05 AM

Whoa! The black holo is stunning! and I love the name - so cheeky!

I think I need to try this :D

nm April 26, 2011 at 11:18 AM

georgeous *_*

Danielle! April 26, 2011 at 11:18 AM

Ahhh LOVE! Been trying to find a good black holo forever, and that is beautiful! I'm definitely going to have to buy me some of that "pigment" when I get my tax return.

Ulmiel April 26, 2011 at 11:23 AM

WOW! Awesome! Great job with this, really! Love the name, hah, made me laugh. Black linear holo, whoa, some brand should buy off your recipe ASAP.

Rachel April 26, 2011 at 11:33 AM

Amazeballs. I'm def ordering some, though I'll be calling my chemistry friend to check on safe handling issues. I desperately need a Sapphire-in-the-Snow holo in my life. xoxo!!

turtlechick12 April 26, 2011 at 11:35 AM

That is GORGEOUS! I love it and LOVE the name lol. Must go search ebay now lol

Yasmin April 26, 2011 at 11:40 AM

Holy omg!!! I'm sooo trying this!

Rory April 26, 2011 at 11:45 AM

Wow, thanks for this information! I'm going to check this out right now!

Unknown April 26, 2011 at 11:52 AM

love love love it!!!

AmyGrace April 26, 2011 at 11:53 AM

The black looks awesome! Love the name, so funny. =)

Shieldmaiden96 April 26, 2011 at 11:59 AM

Holy freaking shiznet, girlfriend. Way to take it to the next level.
You could make a 230 dupe. I do believe you could.

Unknown April 26, 2011 at 12:01 PM

Woowzas! This is insane! I think my mind has been blown! So do you think they stopped using that pigment because it's "unhealthy"? This is obviously the missing holo particle! Wow I'm amazed and stunned. Great job!

**katiebug** April 26, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Stunning!!! I would love a dark brown holo. I wonder how it would look using OPI's Suzi Loves Cowboys??

So who else bought today?? Besides the one I bought 2 other were purchased today!

BMR April 26, 2011 at 12:51 PM

It's like you discovered the missing link. Well in nail polish that is. That black holo is fierce. :)

Noelie April 26, 2011 at 1:14 PM

Holy crap, that's amazing!

Also... I have to say that I find it more than a little amusing that you can do this, but OPI somehow can't. >.<

Great job, it's beeeautiful!

nailspotting April 26, 2011 at 1:35 PM

That's amazing and gorgeous! I think you just created a whole bunch of mad scientists ;)

LB April 26, 2011 at 1:38 PM

Go forth everyone and make holo polishes! I hope you all make some and post them on your blogs. I can't wait to see them.

LB April 26, 2011 at 1:42 PM

As for the pigment - it is expensive. I can't imagine how much it would cost to use the amount that would be needed to make a huge batch of holo polish. The price would probably need to be raised as well. *shrug* That's my opinion.

As for the safety - I have no concerns using it for polish use. It's a pigment meant to be used for mixing into a "solvent" and used. Of course I have a blind side when it comes to being curious.

nikole April 26, 2011 at 1:53 PM

i am dying, this is amazing. trying to hard not to head to ebay immediately...

nikole April 26, 2011 at 1:54 PM

too* ugh, can't stand spelling errors, ha!

Sminkan April 26, 2011 at 2:07 PM

Wow! That City Bus sure looks awsome!

Unknown April 26, 2011 at 2:34 PM

i wonder if you can make a non-separating topcoat using one of tkb's franken bases.

Unknown April 26, 2011 at 2:49 PM

OMG!!! It turned out beautiful!!! I read somewhere that someone else tried this. I would love to try this:)

meligant April 26, 2011 at 3:43 PM

I look at it as: I would definitely pay $19 (including shipping to Netherlands) for a bottle of PURE holo (out of which I will end up with 10 personalized super holo polishes in the future). Especially since a bottle of OPI polish costs 14Euro in the Netherlands! That's like $20.50! So yes, I will definitely try this out! Thanks so much for sharing! <3

myclumsyheart April 26, 2011 at 3:44 PM

GORGEOUS!!

chell April 26, 2011 at 4:05 PM

wow! this is look so much better than MPJ!
love this

MissMidnightBlue April 26, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Wow!! AWESOME!! I love it. :)

Kate April 26, 2011 at 6:52 PM

I have been eyeing that pigment for a while now, but after trying another brand I ended up with a diffuse holo (like the Massini Slammin' Red) and was a little hesitant to try again. Thanks for this post!

The Phalanges Friend April 26, 2011 at 7:43 PM

This is really gorgeous.
I want that pigment now, even if it will make my eyes fall out and my brain tun to cheese.

Also, I googled it and some dude mixed it with car paint and made a holo car! Is that not the most amazing thing ever? I want a holo car.

Jaybird April 26, 2011 at 8:18 PM

Thanks for taking one for the team! I just bought 2 grams. Never thought I'd type those words! LOL

Laurie April 26, 2011 at 8:29 PM

Getting onto the nail bandwagon late therefore I missed out on China Glaze OMG AND OPI DS Original and many others so I snagged some of this off of ebay after I saw your post! Catherine Arley has an awesome looking black holo and your City Bus looks so similar! I'm wondering what this would look like put into a sheer or iridescent white and also a nice purple?! I can't wait to try it out!

DistantDreamer April 26, 2011 at 8:44 PM

I just pictured the face of the person selling it on ebay when we all go and buy everything from them! haha They'll be rich! :)

Minty April 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM

That is absolutely amazing! I would have NEVER thought of something like this. So so pretty!

loodie loodie loodie April 26, 2011 at 10:10 PM

Great great stuff ...

*and the MUA nail board goes wild!

april brooks April 26, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Awesome!

purplegreenjoy April 27, 2011 at 12:42 AM

Whoa!! You cracked the linear holo code!!!

Silence is Loud April 27, 2011 at 2:12 AM

OMG!! cant wait to try this!!! thank you for the tips!!

Stef April 27, 2011 at 2:24 AM

So awesome! *heads to ebay*

Lacquerish April 27, 2011 at 2:44 AM

*stands up and cheers*

Unknown April 27, 2011 at 5:50 AM

big woohooooooo to you :D it looks fab girly!!! well done :)

shel xx

ABOP Laquerlove April 27, 2011 at 11:12 AM

Wooow! And I actually prefer the holo in the SH Prisms, so this is perfect! Thanks so much!

AllThingsNails! April 27, 2011 at 11:39 AM

You're a genius! Original MPJ, who? I don't have the original but this looks like IT...

Amber P. April 27, 2011 at 12:20 PM

NICE!!! Also, LOL@ My City Bus. xD

Ashley April 27, 2011 at 12:45 PM

Great job!!!

heartNAT April 27, 2011 at 4:50 PM

Whaat?! I never would've thought of making my own. You nailed it, it looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing your mad scientist skills!

Smaltoitaliano April 28, 2011 at 7:40 AM

I bought this pigment immediately after reading your post 0_o

P H April 28, 2011 at 10:30 AM

Gorgeous! I doubt I could do it because I have an autistic teen in the house and he's curious about things, so maybe someday. It's definitely gorgeous on your nails! :D

Samarium April 29, 2011 at 2:26 AM

Awesome I can't wait to make my own I boguth some the other day!

Tiffany April 29, 2011 at 9:55 AM

I bought my SpectraFlair yesterday on ebay. Today the seller is no longer offering the 1-gram size :( I can't wait to get mine!!!

Andii April 30, 2011 at 10:01 PM

OMG that is GORGEOUS!!! I'm on my way to Ebay too..The Seller is probably thinking, "why is this selling so quickly", lol I want to make my own version of the silver OMG...I so love that! I am a Holoaholic forever!
Now if we could just find that dang 230 pigment, lol

PrncessSarah02 May 9, 2011 at 3:35 PM

Loooooooooooove it!!!

AnGeLiQuE May 10, 2011 at 6:26 AM

My City Bus is absolutely gorgeous!!!! You're a genius!!! I think I'm too late to get this SpectraFlair pigment. I searched for it on ebay and all I found was a seller offering 50g for US$560. Is he the same dude who was selling 1g?

LingLing May 15, 2011 at 5:34 AM

omg >.<
i wanna make my own holo polishes too >.<

Anonymous May 30, 2011 at 11:37 PM

Sadly, he has caught on and jacked up his prices. Ah, well...

jazzqueen64 June 4, 2011 at 11:49 AM

Wow, thanks for sharing, I can't wait to give this a go!!

Post a Comment