One of the best things about grooming ourselves is when we get to the nails. Many people love to sport a unique nail style, whether it’s homemade or in a beauty salon. But what happens when our instruments start to expire? Have you ever struggled with an enamel that has hardened or thickened too much and you can no longer use it? Well, do not worry, if you want to recover your polish and wear that color again, here we bring you new techniques to restore your nail polish, wear all styles of polish and make unique designs on your acrylic nails.
Why does thick nail polish lose consistency?
Although we would all like to use a nail polish until it wears out completely, the truth is that we will not always be able to do it. Especially because they tend to thicken and dry very quickly depending on the use you give it. And no, contrary to what many believe, if you have a nail polish covered for a long time it will not dry out on its own.
A nail polish, whether expired or not, dries out due to exposure to air and high or low temperatures when you open it for application. This means that the more you use the enamel, the more likely it is to dry quickly.
You have to remember that this is a very delicate pigment that begins to dry immediately after the first contact with the elements. So, handle all your enamels carefully to extend their useful life.
Is it possible to restore thick nail polish when it is already expired?
Now, all is not lost when your favorite enamel dries or thickens. Because there are many ways in which you can restore it and leave it functional and almost like new. And you can do it at home!
They can even be restored when they have already expired. Although it is always advisable to check the expiration time, and be sure that the enamel will not make any unfavorable allergic reaction on the skin once you have applied it. Otherwise, it is advisable to stop using it, if this is not the case, you can restore your expired thick nail polish without problems.
How many times can thick nail polish be restored?
Not everything is eternal, not even our favorite nail polish. And even though you want to restore them over and over again, there’s a limit to that, too.
Depending on the amount of excess enamel in the bottle, you can restore it up to three times. You have to keep in mind that in the restoration process it is sought that the enamel softens and becomes more liquid and moldable, and if it is restored too many times it can lose color or can even be completely damaged and not dry. On the other hand, if your enamel is low on pigment, you may only be able to restore it once.
Tips for restoring thick nail polish
Now, do you already know which enamels you want to recover? Well, follow our tips to recover your favorite colors and make those unique nail designs that you love so much. Notes!
Get the materials
The first thing you should do to restore your nail polish, is to choose the materials or material you will need to dilute them. There are many options, which depending on what you want can give you similar or very different results. Among the most effective materials are:
- Professional thinner for enamels: you can find specific products to restore nail polish. As far as possible, it is recommended to use this type of products because it ensures the durability and effectiveness of the restoration. You can find it at your favorite manicure or cosmetics store.
- Acetone: you can use the same pure or regular acetone that you use to remove your semi-permanent enamel at home, the result will be the same. However, be sure to apply drop by drop so that you do not exceed the amount and the enamel is so liquid that you can no longer use it.
- Ethyl alcohol: it is an option in emergency cases, but it is just as effective. However, great care must be taken when handling this type of products as they are highly flammable.
Make the mixture
The procedure for each of the above products will always be the same. It is very easy, fast and you can do it at home even if you have an emergency or last-minute activity. Follow the instructions below:
- We advise to be in a place where very strong drafts do not circulate. Preferably in a closed room with air conditioning. This is to prevent the enamel from drying out much more and becoming even more difficult to handle.
- Choose the enamel(s) you want to restore and have the diluent product you want on hand. If it is acetone, you can handle it with cotton, if it is ethyl alcohol, we recommend using a syringe to avoid direct contact with your hands.
- Open the first enamel, and with the help of cotton or syringe pour three drops of the product into the bottle.
- Now close the enamel very well and shake it hard. Ideally, shake it for five minutes so that all products integrate well.
- Then, open it and check for consistency. In case you want to soften it a little more, you can add more diluent product per drop until you have the desired consistency.
How to keep nail polish in perfect condition?
Even though restored nail polishes work perfectly, this will only extend their lifespan by a short time. It is always best to take care of them from the beginning and prevent them from hardening or being damaged, you can do it by following these tips:
- Every time you paint your nails do it indoors. Avoid doing it in the garden of your house or in open places, outdoors or with fans right next to it.
- Close them very well. Make sure the thread is in good condition to prevent it from being thrown away after use.
