Made possible by Wojciech Inglot’s invention of breathable nail polish in 2009, the world’s first range of certified Halal nail polishes was subsequently developed and launched by BCI group ahead of Ramadam in 2014. It was closely followed by equivalents from Tuesday In Love, Orly, and others. Offering a long-desired highly pigmented, salon-quality alternative to water permeable Mehndi-based nail colouring, which is derived from Henna and only available in shades of red and brown, it quickly became the go-to nail product for Muslims around the world. Furthermore, because halal nail polishes contain less toxic chemicals than regular polishes, are typically GMO-free, and often certified cruelty free, they have also grown increasingly popular among people who are nail-health conscious, anti-GMO, or concerned about animal welfare.
What exactly is Halal nail polish?
Halal nail polish is a type of breathable nail polish that is considered permissible for wear during Islamic practices like WUDU (a ritual washing performed by Muslims before prayer). Unlike regular nail polish which adds a solid water-resistant layer to your nails, it is specifically formulated to allow water vapour and oxygen to permeate through to your nail plates, which is a requirement for the ritual to be deemed valid. It is also usually free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and animal byproducts. However, a small number of polishes do contain animal byproducts, but only where they have been raised and slaughtered in a Halal compliant manner. Furthermore, halal nail polish is either alcohol-free due to its prohibition under Islamic law, or contains chemical based, non-consumable alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol, N-butyl alcohol, and diacetone alcohol which are not prohibited.
What's the difference between 'halal friendly' and 'WUDU certified' nail polish?
Nail polishes that are WUDU-certified are independently lab-tested to verify that their ingredients are WUDU compliant and that they provide sufficient water and oxygen permeability. Upon verification of compliance, the certification is issued by an Islamic body or Halal monitoring committee, and usually in accordance with rules, processes, and practices outlined or approved by the World Halal Council. On the other hand, products that are simply labelled as ‘Halal friendly’ often appear to meet the conditions required for WUDU compliance, and some may have even been independently tested to confirm they do. However, as they don’t hold a valid WUDU-certification, they should not be considered WUDU compliant.
