If you spend any time in indie polish circles, you've seen Cracked Polish. Its shades have names like Dumpster Fire and I Love You So Matcha, its swatches fill up YouTube, and its fans call themselves the Cracked Cronies. The brand is known for unusual colors and finishes, especially magnetic shades that shift from one color to another under a magnet.
Cracked Polish is now at Beyond Polish. Below: who's behind the brand, the best sellers to start with, and the nail care that makes every Cracked mani last longer.
Cracked Polish is an indie brand founded by Monique and Bryce and mixed by hand in Tacoma, Washington. The name reflects the idea that imperfections are what make something beautiful. The formulas are vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free, and the community has a real say in what gets made: I Love You So Matcha was voted on, inspired, and named by members of the Cracked Cronies Facebook group.
"Cracked" is the brand, not the finish.
Looking for crackle polish, the top coat that splits as it dries? That's a different product. Cracked shades dry smooth, with magnetic, jelly, shimmer, and glitter finishes.
Cracked Polish joins the other small-batch makers in our indie nail polish brands lineup.
Most of Cracked's best sellers are magnetic. Each one has a rich base color with shifting pigments on top: copper and gold over ash gray in Lahar, soft gold over fiery orange in Scorchy, and blue to purple over deep red in Spinning Vinyl. Worn on their own, they look like a multichrome shimmer. Hover a magnet over the wet polish and the shimmer moves into a pattern.
Velvet or cat eye? Use the Mean Green Velveteen for a soft, all-over velvet finish. For a sharp cat eye line, use the Magnetic Wand. Either way, work one wet coat at a time. New to magnetics? Our Magnetic Cat Eye 101 guide covers the technique step by step, and you can browse every shade in our magnetic nail polish collection.
Cracked's non-magnetic shades are just as distinctive. The jellies are sheer and glassy, so you can wear one coat for a wash of color or build up three for depth. The glitter shades pack in flakies and holographic sparkle. Wear a coat of Neutralizer underneath a sheer jelly to hide your nail line, and add an extra coat of top coat over glitter to smooth out the texture.
Love the glassy look? Our guide to jelly nails has more ways to wear it.
Cracked's Necessities line is full of fan favorites too: the Sticky Base Coat and the Nail Polish Remover are among the brand's best sellers at Beyond Polish. Build your kit around a base coat, a top coat, and a bottle of cuticle oil, and every shade above will wear longer and look smoother.
Free shipping on orders over $75 (continental U.S., standard shipping, after discounts). We ship from California. Stock up on shades and Necessities in one order.
Cracked Polish FAQ
Where can I buy Cracked Polish?
You can buy Cracked Polish at Beyond Polish, an authorized retailer that ships from California. We carry the brand's polishes, magnetic shades, jellies, and Necessities nail care, including the Sticky Base Coat, Quick Dry Top Coat, and cuticle oils.
Where is Cracked Polish based?
Cracked Polish is an indie brand based in Tacoma, Washington. Its polish is mixed by hand in small batches.
Is Cracked Polish vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes. Cracked Polish describes its formulas as vegan, cruelty-free, and 10-free.
Is Cracked Polish the same as crackle nail polish?
No. Crackle polish is a special-effect top coat that splits into a cracked pattern as it dries. Cracked Polish is a brand name. Its shades dry smooth, with finishes like magnetic, jelly, shimmer, and glitter.
How do you use Cracked Polish magnetic shades?
Apply one coat of a magnetic shade such as Lahar or Spinning Vinyl. While it's still wet, hover a magnet over the nail. The Magnetic Wand pulls the shimmer into a cat eye line, and the Mean Green Velveteen Magnet creates a soft velvet finish. Repeat with each coat, then seal with top coat.
How many coats of Cracked Polish do I need?
Most Cracked shades reach full opacity in one to three coats, depending on nail length. Jellies like I Love You So Matcha are sheer and buildable, so you can stop at one coat for a glassy wash of color.
Get a little Cracked.
Magnetic shifts, glassy jellies, and nail care that makes it all last. Every Cracked Polish shade we carry is in stock and ships from California.
