Black Pool Liner Pros and Cons

Artist J. M. W. Turner was quoted as saying, “If I could find anything blacker than black, I’d use it.”

There’s no doubt that black never goes out of style. That’s probably why black pool liners are a popular choice for homeowners who want a unique look for their swimming pool. 

However, like any other pool liner color, there are pros and cons to using a black pool liner. Homeowners should keep these in mind when deciding the best pool liner color for their backyard.  

Pros of black lined pools

There’s a lot to love about black pool liners, which is why they’re becoming more and more popular every year. We’ve seen some stunning backyards and above ground pools where the black liner steals the show. 

Here are just a few of the pros of black swimming pool liners: 

Aesthetically pleasing

There’s no doubt that black swimming pool liners look elegant and sophisticated. Dark-colored liners, particularly black ones, also make your pool look larger, deeper, and more inviting.

Warmer water

Dark colors, like black, absorb heat from the sun. The extra heat generated from a black pool liner will naturally warm your pool water by a few degrees. Pool owners with black liners may pay less to heat their swimming pool throughout the season. 

If you live in a cooler climate, the extra heat may help you naturally extend your swimming season by a few weeks. It’s also great for those who enjoy evening or night swims when the sun is down. 

Hide dirt, debris, and imperfections

Spend less time cleaning your pool and more time enjoying it! Black liners help hide dirt and debris, which means you can go longer between cleanings. 

The dark color can also mask wrinkles, tears, scuffs, and other imperfections better than some light-colored liners. 

While we still recommend regular cleanings and pool maintenance, it is nice to be able to hide some of the grime in between. Keep in mind that many of these “cons” can be said for any dark liner and can easily be mitigated with proper pool maintenance. 

Cons of black lined pools

As much as we love our black liners, we wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t at least point out potential drawbacks. 

Hides depth and curves

As noted, black pool liners can impact your depth perception. They can make it more difficult to tell how deep the pool is or where there are slopes and curves. 

While that can be an aesthetically good thing, it means that swimmers — especially inexperienced swimmers — need to take extra caution when enjoying a black bottom pool. 

No matter what pool liner you’re using, we recommend always using the buddy system when swimming. Never swim alone. 

It’s also important to alert children and guests about the depth of the pool and potential safety risks. 

Shows stains

While black pool liners may hide dirt and debris, they are more likely to show stains from minerals or chemicals. 

You may need to use a stain remover frequently to keep your pool looking its best. Otherwise, you may start to notice a buildup of streaks or speckles along the bottom of your pool or on the water line. 

Fading

Your pool is in the sun all day, so fading is inevitable no matter what liner you use. However, the darker the color, the sooner you’re likely to notice the fading.

We recommend proper pool maintenance and using a durable pool cover whenever your pool is not in use to minimize the appearance of fading.  

Rarity

Despite growing in popularity, black pool liners are still relatively rare. While uniqueness can be a good thing, it can also have its downsides. 

Because it’s rare, finding vinyl patch kits and other pool accessories that match may be harder. Or those items may be more expensive. 

And if you sell your home, potential buyers may be turned off by an atypical dark pool. Of course, you should design your home and backyard to match your tastes, not those of some unknown future buyers who may or may not like it.

Find your perfect swimming pool liner

LinerWorld has black pool liners as well as a variety of other unique colors and patterns. From galaxies and sharks to stone and tile patterns, you’re sure to find a dazzling vinyl pool liner design you’ll love. 

Cosmetic applied around the eyes

"Eyeliner" redirects here. For other uses, see Eyeliner (disambiguation)

"Guyliner" redirects here. For the song by Dorian Electra, see Flamboyant (album)

Dark teal eye liner along the rim of the eye

Eye liner or eyeliner is a cosmetic used to define the eyes. It is applied around the contours of the eye(s). It is often used to create various aesthetic effects.

History

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Ancient Egyptian women and men wearing kohl eye liner, from the tomb of Nakht in Thebes (15th century BC).

Eye liner was first used in ancient India, ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as a dark black line around the eyes. As early as 10,000 BC, Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore eye liner not only for aesthetics but to protect the skin from the desert sun. Research has also speculated that eye liner was worn to protect the wearer from the evil eye. The characteristic of having heavily lined eyes has been frequently depicted in ancient Egyptian art. They produced eye liner with a variety of materials, including copper ore and antimony. Ancient Egyptian kohl contained galena, which was imported from nearby regions in the Land of Punt, Coptos and Western Asia.[1]

In the 1960s, liquid eye liner was used to create thick black and white lines around the eyes in the make-up fashion associated with designers like Mary Quant. The '60s and '70s also saw new fashion trends which made use of eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara in new ways. As goth and punk fashion developed, they employed eyeliner for a dark and dramatic effect.

Modern usage

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A girl wearing eye liner.

In the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, heavy eye liner use has been associated with Goth fashion and Punk fashion. Eye liner of varying degrees of thickness has also become associated with the emo subculture and various alternative lifestyles. Guy liner is also a special style the emo subculture tend to use after being popularized from Pete Wentz, bassist of the pop-punk band Fall Out Boy.

An eye with brown eye liner under the bottom lashes.

Eye liner is commonly used in a daily make-up routine to define the eye or create the look of a wider or smaller eye. Eye liner can be used as a tool to create various looks as well as highlighting different features of the eyes. Eye liner can be placed in various parts of the eye to create different looks with a winged eye liner or tight lined at the waterline. Eye liner can be drawn above upper lashes or below lower lashes or both, even on the water lines of the eyes. Its primary purpose is to make the lashes look lush, but it also draws attention to the eye and can enhance or even change the eye's shape. Eye liner is available in a wide range of hues, from the common black, brown and grey to more adventurous shades such as bright primary colors, pastels, frosty silvers and golds, white and even glitter-flecked colors.

Eye liner can also be used for showing depression in photographs, such as the famous "Bleeding Mascara"[clarification needed].

Winged eye liner

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Winged eye liner defines the shape of the top eyelid and extends to a point or ‘wing’ about halfway toward the end of the eyebrow.

Cat eye

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A cat eye looks similar to a winged liner. It has a thicker wing than a winged liner that involves the bottom and the top lash line.

Tight lining

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Tight lining is the use of eye liner tight against the waterline under the lashes of the upper lid, and above the lashes of the lower lid. Due to the proximity to the membranes, and the surface of the eye itself, waterproof eye liner is preferred. Tight lining is a technique which makes the eyelashes appear to start farther back on the eyelid, thus making them look longer. Gel eye liner and a small angled brush may be used to create this look.[2]

Permanent Eyeliner

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Permanent eyeliner is a permanent makeup technique that uses tattooing to apply ink pigment along the eyelids, creating the appearance of eyeliner.

Application

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Advice on application varies. Harper's Bazaar recommends applying line in short strokes.[3]

Types

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Woman with turquoise eye liner

Depending on its texture, eye liner can be softly smudged or clearly defined. There are six main types of eye liner available on the market: each produces a different effect.

• Liquid eye liner is an opaque liquid that usually comes in a small bottle and is typically applied with a small sharp-tipped brush. It creates a clean, precise line. This type of eye liner is best used to create sharp, winged eyeliner. Because liquid eye liner gives a much heavier appearance, it is often only applied to the upper lash-line.
• Powder-based eye pencil is eye liner in a wood pencil. It is generally available in dark, matted shades.
• Wax-based eye pencils are softer pencils and contain waxes that ease application. They come in a wide variety of intense colours as well as paler shades such as white or beige. Wax-based eye liners can also come in a cone or a compact with brush applicator. These are the cheapest and most ubiquitous eyeliner form
• Kohl eye liner is a soft powder available in dark matte shades. It is most often used in black to outline the eyes. It comes in pencil, pressed powder, or loose powder form. This type of eye liner is easy to smudge.
• Gel eye liner, which is a softer gel liner, that can be easily applied with an eye liner brush. It can be precisely applied and is much softer than Kohl.
• Cake eyeliner, a eyeliner formula that is dry until wetted with water or setting spray, that is used with a brush. Cake eyeliners are offered in many colours and finishes, and is often used for graphic eyeliner looks.
• Shimmer eyeliner, which is available in different bright colors applied on the upper as well as lower eyelid. It is offered with both shimmer finishes and glitter finish.
• Felt tip eyeliner is a type of liquid eyeliner offered in a marker pen. It is usually a brush tip, and the size of the brush tip may vary, depending on the manufacturer of the eyeliner, the trends in a certain market, and other factors. It is very precise as there is no need to sharpen, and the brush tip can get close to eyelashes, ensuring no gap. Some felt tip eyeliners also have adhesive inside the ink, used for gluing on false eyelashes.

Chemical composition

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Traditional wax-based eye liners are made from about 20 components. About 50% by weight are waxes (e.g., Japan wax, fats, or related soft materials that easily glide on to the skin. Stearyl heptanoate is found in most cosmetic eyeliner. Typical pigments include black iron oxides, as well as smaller amounts of titanium dioxide and Prussian blue.[4]

See also

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References

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Notes

Further reading

• Hankir, Zahra (2023). Eyeliner: A Cultural History. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780143137092. OCLC 1371013801.

• Eye liner at Wikimedia Commons