Why Nail Polish Starts To Clump - And How To Thin It Out

The right nail polish is as important for your outfit as any other accessory. Recently, we've seen how new nail trends have increased the importance of your manicures. From glazed to chrome nails, all of these nail trends have one thing in common. No matter what you decide to go with, you can't get a proper manicure with clumpy nail polish. Whether you're getting a regular manicure or a gel manicure, nail polish is crucial for getting the best possible design. When you open your polish and find that it's hardened or thicker than it should be, this can throw off your plans.

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Clumpy and gooey nail polish happen when the ingredients in your product start to dissolve over time. Once you open your nail polish, the product is exposed to the elements and starts to lose its potency. While there's no expiration date for nail polishes, they can become thicker over time thanks to their ingredients evaporating. Thankfully, clumpy nail polish doesn't have to be the end of the world. There are simple ways you can save your nail polish from being tossed in the bin and get the manicure you want.

Fixing clumpy nail polish

There's no need to panic if you find that your nail polish has gotten clumpy over time. While these methods won't fix your nail polish completely, they will give you enough life for another manicure. If you want to save your clumpy nail polish for another swipe, the easiest way is to grab a bowl of hot water. While you will want to fill up your bowl with hot water, ensure it's not too hot, as it can crack the glass bottle. Once you've reached the right temperature, place the nail polish bottle into the bowl and leave it for around two minutes. Carefully take out the bottle and let it cool enough to touch. Roll the bottle between your palms to mix up the polish inside.

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If the hot water isn't helping, there's another way you can save your product. Nail polish thinners are a quick way to thin out your polish without having to do extra work. Although this takes a trip to the store, thinners can easily be added to the nail polish and mixed to thin out the consistency. The same method can be tried with acetone or nail polish removers. Be careful not to add too much thinner, nail polish remover, or acetone, as these products can also dry out your nail polish. Simply add one drop of product into the bottle before rolling the nail polish bottle once more. You can keep adding the product until you've reached your desired consistency.

Keeping nail polish from going bad

Preventing your nail polish from going bad is key to ensuring that it lasts you a long time. No one likes finding out that their favorite color of nail polish is no longer useable simply because they didn't store it correctly. Store your nail polish in a cool environment to avoid the ingredients heating up. While nothing can completely prevent your nail polish from becoming gooey, you can slow down the process by storing it away from the heat. Avoiding direct sunlight will also prevent the UV rays from causing your nail polish to lose its original color via discoloration.

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When storing your nail polish, you want to keep it in a place that will prevent it from hardening or clumping together. While many social media hacks may suggest it, storing nail polish in the fridge won't help slow down the process of discoloration. Your nail polishes should be kept in a cool and dry place to avoid messing with the polish's formula. As well, avoid storing them upside down or sideways. These positions can quicken the clumping process and make it much harder to separate later on.

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