Do you keep in mind that particular scene within the traditional 1990 film Whole Recall? No, not the three-breasted girl (although everybody remembers that), however the receptionist. She sits there, bored, faucets a wand to her fingernails, and—bam—they immediately change from purple to blue.
As a child, that scene lived rent-free in my head. I bear in mind pondering, “It’s been a long time, the place is that this know-how?” We’ve got self-driving automobiles and AI chatbots, however I nonetheless have to take a seat nonetheless for 20 minutes blowing on my fingers ready for polish to dry?
Properly, the wait is lastly over.
At CES 2026, I witnessed my childhood sci-fi dream stroll straight into actuality. It’s referred to as iPolish, and it’s arguably probably the most enjoyable, sensible, and barely mind-blowing purposes of wearable know-how I’ve seen this 12 months.
Let’s dive deep into the way it works, whether or not it’s price your cash, and why I feel that is only the start of “digital vogue” within the bodily world.
The Tech: How Does “Digital Manicure” Work?
First, let’s clear up a false impression. After I first heard the rumors, I assumed it was some form of projection or AR (Augmented Actuality) trick. It’s not. That is bodily, tangible tech that you simply put on.
iPolish isn’t a liquid you paint on. It’s a classy system of sensible press-on nails.
Right here is the breakdown of the magic:
The Nails: These aren’t your normal plastic drugstore press-ons. They’re embedded with a know-how delicate to electrical currents.The System: The equipment comes with a small, moveable processor unit that connects to your smartphone.The Course of: You pop the nails onto your fingers, insert your hand into the machine, choose a coloration on the app, and the machine sends a particular frequency to the nails.The Consequence: The pigment rearranges at a molecular stage to match your selection.
We’re speaking a couple of library of 400 completely different shades.
I used to be actually shocked by the implication of this. Think about sporting a delicate nude tone for a shopper assembly at 9:00 AM, after which switching to a vibrant, electrical neon for dinner at 7:00 PM—with out utilizing a single drop of acetone or losing a cotton pad.
The Economics: $95 for Nails?
Okay, let’s deal with the elephant within the room. The worth tag.
After I noticed that the starter equipment prices $95, my pockets instinctively tightened. “That’s loads for a manicure,” I assumed. However then I sat down and really did the maths on my yearly grooming bills.
Here’s what the $95 will get you:
The colour-changing machine (The “Wand”).Two units of sensible nails (One lengthy set, one quick set).
Refills:
Extra nail units will price $6.50.
Now, evaluate this to a salon go to. A high-quality gel manicure can simply price $40 to $60, plus tip. And it lasts, what? Two weeks? Should you go to the salon simply twice, you’ve already spent greater than the price of the iPolish equipment.
The important thing right here is reusability. These sensible nails aren’t one-and-done. You possibly can change the colour endlessly. If the {hardware} is sturdy sufficient (extra on that in a second), this may really be probably the most budget-friendly magnificence hack of the last decade.
My Issues: Sturdiness and Actual-World Use
I’m a tech fanatic, however I’m additionally a realist. As excited as I’m, I’ve some questions that the press launch didn’t totally reply, and these are issues I’ll be testing the second I get my arms on a evaluate unit in June.
Water Resistance: Can I wash dishes with these? If I take a scorching bathe, will my nails short-circuit or revert to a default gray coloration?Affect: Press-on nails have a fame for popping off on the worst occasions. Since these are “tech” nails, are they thicker or heavier than regular nails?Battery/Energy: Does the colour “maintain” indefinitely, or does it fade if not refreshed? (The demo suggests the change is everlasting till you zap it once more, which is analogous to E-Ink know-how).
The Sustainability Angle
One facet that I feel Metaverse Planet readers will respect is the environmental impression. The wonder business generates a large quantity of waste—glass bottles, plastic caps, chemical solvents, and cotton pads.
By switching to a re-writable bodily floor, iPolish is basically doing to nail polish what the Kindle did to paper books. It reduces bodily waste considerably. It’s a small step, however a classy one in direction of a greener future.
Conclusion: The Future is Customizable
iPolish is launching this June.
For me, this product represents one thing greater than simply magnificence. It represents the period of adaptive actuality. We’re now not glad with static objects. We wish our garments, our equipment, and sure, even our our bodies, to be as updateable as our software program.
I’m able to delete my appointment on the nail salon. Are you?
I need to hear from you: Should you may immediately change your nails to any sample or coloration, what’s the first design you’ll rock? Or are you skeptical about sporting “devices” in your fingertips? Let’s chat within the feedback beneath!
