Glitter Information

Glitter Sizes & Common Names:

• 1/8″ 3mm 0.125″ Super Chunky / Large Chunky / Jumbo Flakes
• 1/12″ 2mm 0.080″ Extra Chunky / Medium Chunky
• 1/16″ 1.5mm 0.060″ Chunky / Craft Glitter
• 1/24″ 1mm 0.040″ Medium / Cosmetic Chunky

• 1/32″ (0.8mm, 0.031″): Regular Fine

• 1/40″ (0.6mm, 0.025″): Fine Glitter

• 1/64″ (0.4mm, 0.0156″): Extra Fine

• 1/96″ (0.26mm, 0.0104″): Ultra Fine

Types of Glitter Finishes:

Metallic: This is the classic glitter finish. It has a strong, opaque, mirror-like reflection, similar to polished metal. It’s often found in traditional gold, silver, bronze, and solid color variations.

Iridescent: This glitter shifts colors as light hits it from different angles, creating a subtle, pearlescent, “rainbow” effect, often appearing soft and ethereal. Think of the inside of an oyster shell or a soap bubble.

Holographic: This is a more intense and dynamic rainbow effect than iridescent. Holographic glitter has microscopic patterns etched onto its surface that diffract light into the full spectrum of colors, creating a vibrant, multi-dimensional display.

Matte: Unlike other glitters, matte glitter has a flat, non-reflective finish. It provides color and texture without the sparkle, offering a unique, muted look.

Neon/Fluorescent: These glitters are intensely bright and vibrant in normal light, and many also glow under UV (blacklight) conditions.

Color Shift / Duo-Chrome: Similar to iridescent, but often more pronounced. These glitters appear to be one color but “shift” or “flip” to another distinct color (or several colors) depending on the viewing angle.

Transparent / Clear: This glitter is made from a clear or semi-transparent material that still reflects light, allowing the color of the surface underneath to show through while adding sparkle.

Opaque: This finish refers to glitter that completely covers the surface it’s applied to, not allowing any underlying color to show through. Most metallic glitters are opaque, but you can also have opaque colors in other finishes.

UV Reactive (or Blacklight Reactive): While some neon glitters are UV reactive, this category specifically refers to glitters that glow intensely when exposed to ultraviolet light, even if they aren’t necessarily “neon” in regular light.

Glow-in-the-Dark (Phosphorescent): This glitter absorbs light energy and then slowly emits it as a glow in the dark after the light source is removed.

Glitter Cuts & Shapes:

Hexagon (Traditional/Classic): The most common and widely recognized glitter shape. It’s a six-sided polygon, offering excellent light reflection.

Square: Glitter cut into perfect square shapes.

Rectangle/Bar: Longer, rectangular pieces of glitter, often used to create a “shattered” or “confetti” look.

Dot/Circle: Small, round pieces of glitter, ranging from tiny dots to larger circles (often called “sequin glitter” when larger).

Shards/Flakes/Irregular: These are irregularly shaped pieces of glitter, often resembling broken glass or natural mineral flakes. They give a very unique, multi-faceted sparkle.

Stars: Glitter cut into various star shapes, from simple 5-point to more intricate designs.

Hearts: Heart-shaped glitter, popular for romantic themes or specific crafts.

Moon/Crescent: Glitter shaped like crescent moons.

Daisies/Flowers: Small floral shapes.

Butterflies: Glitter shaped like butterflies.

Diamonds/Rhombus: Shapes that resemble facets of a diamond or a rhombus.

Triangles: Triangular shaped glitter.

Strips/Strands: Very thin, elongated pieces of glitter, sometimes used for special effects or embedded into things like nail polish.

Alphabet Letters: Glitter in the shape of individual letters of the alphabet.

Numbers: Glitter in the shape of numbers.

Geometric Shapes (Assorted): Often sold in mixes containing various squares, rectangles, triangles, and other sharp-edged shapes.

Holiday/Themed Shapes: This broad category includes seasonal shapes like snowflakes, pumpkins, bats, candy canes, shamrocks, bells, etc.

Character Shapes: Less common, but sometimes custom shapes like tiny skulls, crowns, or other specific icons.Hollow Shapes: Glitters that are cut out, leaving a hollow space (e.g., hollow stars, hollow circles).