How to Thin Nail Polish

Is your nail polish clumpy and do you need to know how to thin nail polish? We’ve all been there. It’s incredibly disappointing to open the nail polish bottle to discover that it’s a clumpy mess. There’s no way that you can use polish like that. But what if there was a solution to this? The good news is, there are multiple solutions and we’ve provided them all. Thinning out thick nail polish isn’t all that difficult. Sure, you’ll need to add an extra ingredient to the polish, but that’s about it. 

Thinning Out Slightly Thick Nail Polish;

Use Hot Water

Hot water works great if your nail polish hasn’t thickened too much yet. Grab a bowl and fill it with hot water. Make sure the water isn’t too hot before placing the nail polish in the bowl. If it’s too hot, the glass nail polish bottle might crack. Leave the polish in the water for about 2-minutes before removing it. Remember that the bottle will have heated up from the water so be careful not to burn yourself. Once the bottle is cool enough to touch, you’ll need to mix the polish. Yes, we know that shaking the bottle seems the obvious choice. Unfortunately, shaking the nail polish causes air bubbles. This leads to easily chipped nail polish. Instead, turn the bottle upside down and roll it between your palms. Using hot water is only a temporary solution and might not work if the polish is very thick. On the plus side, it’s a great way to open a stuck nail polish bottle. The heat from the water will make it easier to twist open. 

Thinning Out Clumpy Nail Polish;

Get a Nail Polish Thinner

This might seem obvious, but get yourself a nail polish thinner. As the name states, this product is specifically created to thin out clumpy nail polish. You’ll need to add about 2 drops into your nail polish bottle (or as directed on the thinner). Mix the polish as we explained above, by rolling it between your palms.Check the polish to see if it’s thinned out and add another drop of thinner if needed. Be careful thinning your nail polish. Too much nail polish thinner will make the polish unable to stick to your nails. 

Use Acetone or Nail Polish Remover

Acetone and nail polish remover can be used for more than cleaning your nails. As with the thinner above, a little goes a long way. Use an eyedropper and add a single drop of acetone or remover to the nail polish. Swirl the polish to ensure it mixes through and then check the consistency. Add another drop if needed and mix again. Keep in mind that acetone and nail polish remover are for breaking down nail polish. The nail polish won’t last long on your nails and will likely degrade in the bottle as well. Acetone also tends to dry the nails and skin. Adding it to your nail polish means it will be in constant contact with your nails. This can turn your nails brittle and weak. They’ll be more prone to breakage and splitting, and no one wants that. 

Use Alcohol

Using alcohol too thin nail polish is likely the most viable solution. But you obviously can’t use just any alcohol you have around the house. Isopropyl alcohol acts like ethyl acetate, which is the solvent used in most polishes. This means that you can use it as a replacement solvent if your polish becomes clumpy.If you were wondering how to make nail polish last longer in the bottle, this is how. Use an eyedropper and add 2 drops of isopropyl alcohol to the nail polish. Mix the polish and then check the consistency. Add another drop if needed and repeat the process. All the polish to settle for about 20-minutes before applying it to your nails. 

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