How to Fix Dry Nail Polish

If you have a bottle of nail polish that is taking a long time to dry, you can still fix it with a few different steps and methods. Acetone is usually the most effective, as it is the main active ingredient in most nail polishes. If you can’t find acetone, you can also try nail polish thinner or nail polish remover. Sometimes you just need to roll a bottle of paint between your hands to loosen the paint.

Table of Contents

Using acetone

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Buy acetone at cosmetic stores. Most cosmetic stores sell acetone. When you get your acetone back, pour a few drops into a container. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Acetone is acidic, so use a non-corrosive container. Avoid plastic cups, use glass cups instead. Spirits are also suitable, as long as you remember to wash them thoroughly before using them to drink. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Acetone with orange oil. Acetone with an equal amount of orange oil. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is completely dissolved. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Wash your nail polish brush in an acetone solution. Remove the nail polish brush from the paint bottle, dip it in the acetone solution and stir. Nail polish that is clumped on the brush will loosen. Keep stirring until the brush is clean. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If there are still paint clumps in the brush, you can use a paper towel to wipe it off.

Place the brush back in the jar. Once the nail polish brush is soaked with acetone, you can put the brush back in the paint bottle, tighten the bottle, and shake it gently. The acetone in the brush will loosen the remaining paint, and you can use it like new paint. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Apply other methods

Use nail polish thinner. Nail polish thinners are available at many cosmetic stores and large department stores. Pour the solution into the paint can one drop at a time to make sure the paint is not too thin. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Put a drop of the solution into the paint bottle, tighten it, and roll it between your hands. Check to see if the paint is loose as desired.
If not satisfied, add another drop of solution and repeat the above operation. Continue doing this until the paint is loose and wet like new.

Lindsay Yoshitomi

Nail artist

Lindsay Yoshitomi is the nail artist of the blog Lacquered Lawyer. She was one of the magazine recipients of Nail It! wrote about in the “Bloggers You Should Know” column and appeared on the cover of Nail Art Gallery Magazine. She has been practicing nail art for over 15 years.

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail artist

Do you know? Nail polish remover contains acetone, a chemical that breaks down paint, while paint thinner contains chemicals that help restore the texture of nail polish to liquid. You need to make sure it’s paint thinner before mixing with anything.

Roll the paint can between your hands. If the paint is just a little thick, you can make it loose again just by rolling it between your palms. Turn the bottle upside down once to spread the paint evenly, then place it between the palms of your hands. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Roll the paint can back and forth between your hands. This move may be enough to loosen the paint.
If this doesn’t work, you may have to try another way to loosen the paint.

Try using nail polish remover. Nail polish remover contains acetone. If you can’t find acetone, you can substitute a few drops of nail polish remover. If you have a bottle of solution that is almost empty, this is a good practice. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use the dropper to add a drop of the solution to the paint bottle and shake. Keep adding drop by drop until the nail polish is loose.

Prevent nail polish from drying

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Throw away paint cans after 2 years. If the paint bottle is older than 2 years, you probably can’t fix it anymore. Such paint cans have expired too long and are probably no longer usable. To save time, you should throw away old paint cans. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Store nail polish properly. Nail polish can last longer if stored properly. You should store the paint bottle in a cool, dry place indoors, away from direct sunlight. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Do not store nail polish in the refrigerator. Many people leave nail polish in the fridge, but this is not a good idea. Nail polish left in the fridge can chemically change and dry faster. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Warning

Some of the methods listed above may not work due to the ingredients or consistency of the nail polish.
Be careful when applying these methods. Ask your parents for help if you are young.

Steps

Using acetone

Apply other methods

Prevent nail polish from drying

Warning

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