Has your passion for nail polishing been interrupted just to find that all your nail polish has dried? Stop throwing away all the really good nail polish. In some ways, it is relatively easy to make nail polish last as long as possible. If you have a small supply of thinner, you can even save nail polish that has dried.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Changing Saving Habits
Step 1. Keep the paint bottle tightly closed when you are not using the brush
The first cause of dry paint is leaving the bottle cap not in position. A good general rule of thumb is to keep the cap on the bottle whenever you're not using the brush to paint. If you stop using one color or switch to another, don't leave the paint bottle open.
Tighten the bottle cap is very important. Loose seals can allow air to enter or contaminate the bottle cap threads (see below)
Step 2. Store nail polish in a cool, dark place, such as a refrigerator
Heat and light are your enemies when it comes to keeping your nail polish looking good. Try to store nail polish away from sunlight and other heat sources so that it lasts longer.
If you have room in the refrigerator, that's a good place to store nail polish. Otherwise, store nail polish in a closed cabinet (rather than on the counter)
Step 3. Stir/stir the paint every few days
Nail polish that is left on for a long period of time is more likely to start to clump together (forming aggregates of particles that clump together). To avoid this condition, occasionally roll the paint bottle in your hand or turn the bottle several times. If you paint your nails regularly then you can simply stir the polish every time you use it. If not, take a few seconds to stir it every two or four days.
You can also gently shake the bottle. Shaking the bottle too hard can create bubbles that will spread the paint evenly the next time you use it
Step 4. Clean the dirt on the thread of the bottle cap
Dirty threads (spiral on the outside of the mouth of the bottle where the cap is attached) can affect the seal of the bottle cap and even cause air to enter. Luckily for you, it is not difficult to clean the threads as soon as they are covered with a coat of paint. Take a look at the method below:
- Wet a cotton ball or cotton bud (a rod-shaped ear swab with a cotton swab at the end) with nail polish remover. Try to squeeze out most of the eraser liquid and return it to the bottle; You don't need to soak the cotton balls.
- Gently rub the cotton bud on the threaded cap. The dried paint should start to dissolve. If necessary, re-soak the cotton ball or replace it with a new one. Finish the process by wiping the clean lid with a piece of paper towel.
- Try not to let the liquid remover get into the nail polish bottle. The paint remover that enters will affect the texture of the nail polish; it may even damage the entire contents of the bottle if enough of it gets into it.
Method 2 of 2: Revitalize Dry Nail Polish
Step 1. Add a few drops of lacquer thinner to the bottle
If you have a bottle of nail polish that has dried, you may not need to rush to throw it away. There are some simple ways to make the paint work again. The most practical way is to add a small amount of diluent to it. Use an eye dropper to add several drops of diluent at a time; You won't need much.
- Be sure to perform the above steps in a well-ventilated room. Vapors/gases from the diluent can be hazardous in confined spaces. If the weather is nice, go outside. If not, open the doors and windows and turn on the fan
- Diluents are available at most hardware stores for only a few tens of thousands per bottle. The smallest size bottles usually contain around 0.9 liters, so a single purchase will last a long time.
Step 2. Stir properly to mix it
As soon as you add a small amount of diluent, put the cap back on and tighten it, then gently shake the bottle. You can also place the bottle upside down or use the brush in the bottle cap to stir it. Gradually, the thinner will warm the dry paint and bring it back to liquid.
If the paint is still too thick, add more diluent drop by drop and continue to mix. When the paint has the right consistency, stop adding the thinner
Step 3. Alternatively, use clear/transparent paint
If you don't have any thinner in stock, you can achieve a similar effect by adding clear/transparent nail polish to a bottle of drying colored nail polish. Just add a few drops at a time and shake the bottle as you would a diluent. This method tends to work best with nail polish that hasn't completely dried.
Note that adding clear paint can affect the color and consistency of the paint. However, this method will not damage it at all. You will still be able to use it when the paint is back to liquid
Step 4. Do not use nail polish remover
The nail polish remover will re-melt the dry polish. The danger, however, is that the paint remover will dilute too much of the paint in the bottle to form a runny mixture that won't stick well to your nails. In this way it is difficult to use nail polish remover properly, so it is best to just avoid it.
Tips
- If the bottle cap is stuck due to drying paint, move it around in hot water to loosen it. Grip the lid tightly with a rag and twist it to open the lid. If necessary, you can also apply paint remover to the bottom of the bottle cap with the help of a cotton swab.
- Follow all safety instructions on the products you use. Nail polish and (especially) thinners are flammable or toxic if swallowed.
