The best glow in the dark paint can elevate any painting project, turning it into something way cooler. It comes in handy when you’re looking to express your artistic side at home, impress guests, or simply turn your child’s room into a fantasy world. Regardless of what your end goal may be, glow in the dark paint is plain fun. Not to mention the fact that it can be soothing for kids who are dealing with nightmares or are scared of the dark. It’s much more entertaining than a night light, allowing them to keep their minds occupied as they fall asleep.
The only problem? With so many choices available, it can be hard to figure out which glow in the dark paint to pick out. For best results, we recommend you do some thorough research beforehand. The first thing to decide: whether or not you want your artwork to be visible all the time. Some glow in the dark paints only show up in complete darkness while others are visible during the day as well, but glow when you close the blinds or when nighttime comes around.
Paint that is always visible is an excellent choice for murals or painting scenes on walls. Since your handiwork will look like any other painting until the lights go out, you can admire it all the time. Turn off the light though and you’ve got yourself an even more stunning décor element, which can give any room a bit of an edge. In short, it’s a quick way to add a wow factor to a home project that involves decorating your walls with murals. Just think about the compliments you’ll receive when your guests notice the delightful starry night sky you painted on your living room ceiling. Now imagine how mesmerized they’ll be when you turn off the lights and the stars actually glow!
On the other hand, glow in the dark paint that stays hidden offers some of the same benefits, except for the fact that no one will know it’s there unless you want them to. This type of paint is great for children’s bedrooms, as the artwork can be their little secret. You can even paint an inspirational or loving message for them to look at as they fall asleep. Or sketch their favorite cartoon character. As an added bonus, the art won’t distract the little ones during the day, while they're doing homework.
What To Look for In a Great Paint Brand
In order to pick the best glow in the dark paint options on the market, we tested quite a few. We choose paints based on customer opinions and reputation, with price only a factor when it comes to comparing two similar brands. We also used their charge times and glow times as part of the decision-making process.
Most paints charge during the day from almost any light source. We gave more weight to paints that charge fast and glow longer. That being said, most paints charge faster if you shine a UV light on them than when merely exposed to light – something to keep in mind if you’re planning a gathering, for example.
Since marketing for these products involves tons of claims (some accurate, some less so), we prefer to rely on customer opinion, so make sure you do the same when shopping around. Always read reviews to make sure you’re getting the best possible bang for your buck. There are plenty of products available, from paints that are meant solely for walls to face and body paint you can use on skin – for instance for Halloween costumes or parties. In the end, you need to choose the best glow in the dark paint for your project's needs.
A Few Tips on USING Glow in the Dark Paint
- In most cases, use less paint than you think you need. Glow in the dark paint that's applied in thick coats, like regular wall paint, tends to look terrible. Small ridges in regular paint aren't very noticeable once the paint dries, but thicker areas of glow paint glow brighter. Putting the paint on too thick will ruin the project and create unwanted bright and dim spots in your painted area. Plus, the best glow in the dark paint brands advise that only one coat can be enough. Better not to overdo it.
- Apply the paint in thin, light coats and be patient while it dries. If you aren’t sure, turn off the lights or wait for nighttime to test the brightness of the glow and find trouble spots. Keep a black light handy to shine on the wall while exercising your painting skills. Don’t try to correct wet paint; instead, let it dry before applying more paint in thinner areas. Painting over damp paint causes runs and ridges.
- Let the paint dry for about ten or fifteen minutes between coats. Most paints respond well to this rule, but check the manufacturer’s instructions just in case your paint needs more or less time to dry properly.
- Before starting any painting project, check the cleanup instructions. Nothing is worse than getting paint on the carpet and then marking it worse by using the wrong cleaning method. Otherwise, experiment and enjoy.
Our Picks for THE Best Glow in the Dark Paint
Our list goes from awesome to pretty good. Some of these products are novelty paints that you can wash off, while others are permanent. Always check the label before using any paint or chemical. Also, please keep in mind that only you can find the best glow in the dark paint for your needs, so consider the specifications of your project before making a purchase. Without further ado, here are some of the most popular options currently on the market.
This paint is non-toxic, non-flammable, and water-based, so it's safe to use and easy to clean up. It's not invisible during daytime and tends to come across as an off-white or almond in direct light. In the dark, it glows bright fluorescent green.
You can order the paint from Amazon in different quantities, depending on how much you need – from two fluid ounces to a gallon. Customers rave about the paint’s durability, which ultimately enabled it to land in our top spot.
The paint sticks to almost any surface, including plastic, metal, wood, fabric, and glass. The manufacturer suggests applying a protective, clear coat over the paint if you use it outdoors, to ensure it will last you longer. We assume applying it on fabrics is a one use endeavor, unless you never wash the item you painted (which we don’t recommend).
Use our tips from above when applying this paint to any surface. Customers agree that it stays put unless tampered with or washed away making your artwork that much more long-lasting. Of course, it won't wash off walls as easily as it will from clothes or tools, but you can still remove it without too much hassle when you get bored. Possibly the most appealing thing about this paint is that it glows all night on less than fifteen minutes of charging, which truly recommends it as one of the best glow in the dark paint options out there.. Groovy!
| Preview | Product | |
|---|---|---|
 |
DecoArt DS50-3 glo in The Dark Medium, 2oz | Shop now at Amazon.com |
This paint is perfect for any arts and crafts project you feel might benefit from a glow in the dark effect. The only reason why it’s not at the top of our list is that, according to users, it takes more coats than average to get a satisfying glow.
However, the paint is easy to use and clean up, as well as durable, which wins it bonus points. Additionally, the product is non-toxic, water-soluble, and non-flammable – in other words, completely safe to use under most circumstances. The paint comes in a 2 fluid ounce bottle.
You can use this glow in the dark beauty on a lot of different surfaces including plastic, metal, wood, glass, and fabric. It also sticks to candles and Styrofoam without producing damage. Some paints, even non-toxic options, tend to cause Styrofoam to melt a little. Despite its versatility, we wouldn’t recommend it for projects involving paper or fabrics due to its thinness.
Charging this paint takes longer than our top pick - up to an hour using a UV light for best results. That will buy you about three to four hours of glow. We still recommend it, especially since it mixes well with other paints, even regular acrylic ones. Most specialty paints ruin regular paints when you combine the two, but this one can add a faint glow to larger projects with minimum effort.
Next we have a set of eight fluorescent paint colors that double as glow in the dark paints. Under normal light, this paint tends to be very bright, depending on the color. When the lights go out, it offers a stunning glow. The paint is non-toxic, non-flammable, and cleans up easily. You can order the entire set of eight 0.7 fluid ounce bottles from Amazon and start enjoying them ASAP.
Like our other choices, you can apply this paint on almost any surface, although it is mainly intended for fabrics, ensuring excellent results. This is more neon paint that happens to glow rather than an authentic glow in the dark paint, but it still earns a spot on our list thanks to the excellent customer reviews.
When you use it on fabrics, it can last through several washes, which is no easy feat. Mixing it with other types of paint isn’t ideal, as customers who tried to experienced mixed results, but the colors are powerful enough on their own. You can apply the pain with a brush, sponge, or even airbrush it on surfaces. Plus, its durability and versatility also recommend it as one of the best glow in the dark paint options money can buy.
This paint is suitable for any project that doesn't require an extra bright glow. It's recommended for simple endeavors like adding a touch of whimsy to a kid's room or painting wall plates to help you find light switches in the dark. This paint is designed to offer a more neutral glow, acting almost like a safety light. You can order it in 10+ colors from Amazon, which come in one-ounce bottles.
Due to its more neutral nature, it can take a few coats of paint to get a decent glow. Apply the coats in stages for best results. You can use the paint on a variety of surfaces such as wood, fabric, metal, and glass. Customers experienced poor results when using it on absorbent surfaces like paper and fabric, so we advise against it. The paint is thin and it takes a lot of it to show up on cloth.
Oddly enough, we’re big fans of the subtle glow this paint provides on most surfaces. The other paints we reviewed may be brighter, but a more subtle glow can certainly come in handy. Like we mentioned before, it has safety potential, can be used to embellishing traditional paintings, and can probably serve a ton of other applications we didn't think about when giving it a try. Depending on what you plan to use it for, this can be an excellent pick.
This is reportedly the brightest glow in the dark paint on the market. Customers agree that the paint glows brightly, but it also needs a lot of time to charge and the light fades in only a few hours. That's in direct contrast with what the manufacturer claims - and the main reason why we bumped it to the bottom of our list of the best glow in the dark paint brands.
Based on our research, most customers agree that the paint serves its purposes just fine. It can be used on various surfaces including metal, glass, wood, fabric, and paper with excellent results. Some clients even mentioned using the paint on fishing lures for night fishing or fishing in murky water. They claim the paint stays on the bait once it dries completely and provides an extra incentive for the fish to bite.
You can order this paint from Amazon in a variety of sizes, from two-ounces to a gallon. We can’t come up with any reasons why you would want to buy a gallon of glow in the dark paint, unless you plan to paint a swimming pool or give your car a spruce up. But if you want to do a lot of experimenting, it’s nice to have enough paint to rely on. To be honest, we are intrigued by the fishing lure idea more than anything else.
Glow in the Dark Paint FAQs
Is glow in the dark paint harmful?
Usually no, especially if you choose a non-toxic, water-based product. The situation changes if you plan to apply it on skin – if that’s the case, we advise you go with face and body paint that was specially designed for this purpose. They wash away easily and don’t do any damage. Of course, even when that’s the case, it’s best to keep the paint away from contact with your eyes and, ideally, keep it out of the reach of small children.
What size bottle should I get?
That depends on how you plan to use it. While a gallon can be excessive, a two fluid ounce bottle may not be enough. Read the instructions carefully before buying and see what clients have to say to make sure you’ll get the right amount.
Can I use glow in the dark paint on dark surfaces?
Generally speaking, the lighter the background, the brighter the glow. You can try using it on a dark surface, but we advise you to use a white primer first.
What face and body paint do you recommend?
When it comes to face and body paint, the world is your oyster. There are plenty of options available, but we’d be remiss if we wouldn’t mention the face and body paint from Glow Party and the face and body paint from Neon Glow. Both come highly recommended as some of the best glow in the dark paint brands .out there.
Conclusion
We can think of a lot of uses for glow in the dark paint. Obvious choices include decorating children’s bedrooms and making light switches visible in the dark, but there are plenty of DIY projects out there that look interesting and might catch your eye. If you’re feeling creative, no one’s stopping you from giving them a go. Especially when you’ve got the right supplies only a few clicks away. And when you want to feel special at parties, face and body paint that glows in the dark will always be a hit, particularly among children. It doesn’t hurt to have a few bottles around the house.
Last update on 2023-03-21 at 11:23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
