Gimmickry is the name of the game as consumer polish makers compete to distinguish their polish from others’ in this busy arena. Witness some of the latest entrants into the fray:

A collection of 12 bold hues, Ink polishes are inspired by music, with each color taking its name from a song. Sold mainly at “alternative” outlets such as music stores and rock concerts, they’re also available for salon retailing. A percentage of the sales proceeds goes to supporting music education programs in schools. For more information, check out www.inkit.com or call (888) 78-INKIT or (415) 397-7310.

The makers of Tony & Tina polish are selling color therapy “at your fingertips. “The seven polish colors correspond to the seven chakras (energy centers) of the human body. According to the company, Visualize, a disco purple, turns dreams into reality, while Evolution, a chunky chrome silver, amplifies personal power. For more information, call (212) 473-2501 or see www.tonytina.com.

Demonstrating the power of packaging, Hardware nail enamel comes in a tiny metal paint can. The unique container caught the eye of the editors of Mode who featured it in their November issue. Sold at fine department stores, it retails for $15 a bottle. For more information call (800) 466-7446.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.

Read more about