Human fingernails or toenails can be painted or protected with nail polish, often known as nail varnish. Most modern nail polishes are composed of nitrocellulose that has been dissolved in a solvent like butyl or ethyl acetate. They might be pigment-colored or transparent. The finish contains plasticizers (e.g. camphor). This connects polymer chains and spaces them out so that the film is flexible once it has dried. This prevents it from cracking or flaking as a result of the nail's natural movement.
