Vibrant glow-in-the-dark paints are perfect for adding a luminous pop to your art, costumes, or even your car – and for painting something cool on kids’ bedroom walls or ceilings! Sometimes, that vibrant splash is only reserved for specific occasions, and you’ll want to be able to wash it off. There are many choices, but which one is best for you?
The best washable glow-in-the-dark paint is Neon Nights. It’s a premium quality UV-reactive type of paint made in Germany. The colors glow very brightly under black light exposure, perfect for parties, festivals, and clubbing. It’s acrylic-based, so it can last long even when easily washable.
The rest of the article examines some of the other best washable glow-in-the-dark paints rated according to the vibrancy of the color under regular light, ease of application, the brightness of glow, type of paint, and ease of washability. I’ll cover paint for skin, walls, and even your car.
We’ll also discuss some terms you should be aware of when buying glow-in-the-dark paint.
Best Bang for Your Buck Paint
Neon Nights UV Body Paint Set
Neon Nights is a UV-reactive paint that’s easy and safe to apply to your skin. Since this is a UV-reactive paint, it will glow vibrantly under exposure to black light.
One reason you might be looking for glow-in-the-dark paint is to light up a party, occasion, or event with black lights. It’s a unique accessory that can make you the true light of a party!
Neon Nights is also an acrylic-based glow-in-the-dark paint and will stick better to your skin than water-based paint.
Clubbing or partying means dancing, hanging out with friends, or activities or venues that will probably make you sweat. You wouldn’t want your body paint melting or dripping off in the middle of the dance floor, would you?
The acrylic base of Neon Nights means that it will stick longer and better to your skin even if you sweat or move around a lot.
Just be careful when you apply this paint as it can stain clothes. Its acrylic base has a chemical formula and odor that can bother some people.
Each set of this glow-in-the-dark paint comes with eight bottles of different colors. With more paint colors, you have a wide range of designs at your fingertips. The bottles may be small, but at least you won’t buy several bottles of paint that you’ll only use a little of for a few occasions in a year.
Best Glow in the Dark Paint for Use on the Face
MIDNIGHT GLO Blacklight Face and Body Paint
MIDNIGHT GLO pigments are bright and vibrant, even in the daytime or under regular light, and glow under black light. It’s non-toxic too and washes off easily with water and soap.
This paint looks bright during both day and night under black light. That means you’ll save on having to buy different types of paint for different times. And since it’s non-toxic, it’s also safely applied to your hair, not just your face.
At the end of the event, you’ll be able to wash this paint off easily, without any residue left behind.
When you’ve used a vibrant and eye-catching accessory like glow-in-the-dark paint on your face, you want to ensure it’s safe for your skin, especially your face. You don’t want to deal with an allergic reaction or a breakout of pimples.
If it were me, I’d want to know that the product I’m putting on my face is from somewhere safe. Not to worry, this creamy texture paint is US-made.
After a night of clubbing, parties, or attending a music festival, you might need to go to work with a clean face the next day. All it takes is water and soap to wash off, so you don’t have to worry about someone asking why it looks like neon swirls are on your forehead when you walk into the office.
Best Glow in the Dark Paint to Use on Cars
Individuall 2-in-1 Glow-in-the-Dark, Reflective Acrylic Paints
This is a German-made, high-quality acrylic-based paint. Unlike most “glow-in-the-dark” paints in the market, it is both phosphorescent and UV-reactive. This paint also maintains a vibrant color, even in daylight.
This paint’s acrylic-based formulation also makes it last longer and stick better, which is perfect for your car. This paint is super flexible with the different ways you can make it glow.
Putting anything on the surface of your car can be worrying. The wrong type of sticker can leave a residue when removed or won’t be removed at all. When you want washable glow-in-the-dark paint for your car, you want it to stick well while still knowing you can wash it off cleanly when the event is over.
No matter how beautiful or eye-catching, a one-night accessory isn’t worth it if it damages or compromises your car’s paint or surface. Individuall 2-in-1 glow-in-the-dark paint is easily washed off, even when you accidentally get it on fabric.
With its flexibility, you’ll have a bright, eye-catching design that will stay visible in different lighting situations. It’s cool to know you can catch some attention while still driving to your event because the paint is vibrant on its own and can glow even without a black light.
For the best effect, apply a primer undercoat and two layers of color as prep.
Best Glow In the Dark Paint to Use on Walls
Sargent Art 6 Jar Washable Fluorescent Paint Set
When painting a wall, you want to have a choice of colors to expand the possibilities of what you can paint. This Sargent Art Fluorescent Paint Set has six bottles of tempera paint to widen the horizon for what you can paint on your wall.
They’re also US-made, and AP certified, so you know they’re good quality.
Another benefit is the rigid plastic holder for the paint bottles. It makes them easy to hold and carry around, helping to reduce bending or reaching to dab your brush in more paint while you’re working.
It’s best for indoor applications since tempera is easy to wash off. Plus, there’s no worry about the paint affecting any people or pets in the room since it’s non-toxic.
Being easy to wash off is an advantage. You and your kids can enjoy painting the walls without worrying about leaving behind a mess because you can easily clean up after with just some soap and water.
No bleach or heavy scrubbing is necessary, so your home can look like it did before the on-the-wall art project.
Some people have also mixed this paint with other ingredients to make UV-reactive decorations like foam or sidewalk chalk, an excellent choice for Halloween.
Note, this paint is NOT phosphorescent and needs black light to glow.
Terms You Should Know When Buying Glow in the Dark Paint
When looking for the best glow-in-the-dark paint for your next project, you should know these terms, especially when they come up in your prospective product’s description. Not all glow-in-the-dark paints work the same, and knowing these terms can save you from a lot of disappointment:
- Phosphorescent paint: This refers to paint that behaves in what we commonly understand as “glow-in-the-dark.” Phosphorescent paints have crystals that can “charge” or absorb energy from sunlight or a regular light bulb.
These crystals give them the ability to glow in the dark. How long a glow lasts until it runs out of charge varies per product. (Source: Cambridge English Dictionary) - UV Reactive Paint/Fluorescent Paint: This paint looks like your run-of-the-mill paint under ambient light but will glow luminously under black light. Exposure to black light is necessary for it to glow.
- Neon Paint: This type of paint does not glow in the dark. However, under normal light, neon paint is very vibrant and appears to almost “glow.” It’s called neon paint because its color resembles a neon light.
Check out this article from Glow Paint Industries to learn more about these differences.
Summary
Glow-in-the-dark paints come in different types for different situations, and doing your research will save you from any disappointment and unfounded expectations. I hope this article helped narrow down which glow-in-the-dark paint you should buy for your next project.