6 Ways to Thin Out Nail Polish (and Keep it From Clumping) (2024)

• Jin Soon Choi is an editorial manicurist and the founder of JinSoon Nail Lacquer and JinSoon Spas.
  
• Shelly Hill is a celebrity manicurist and general manager of Base Coat Nail Salon.
• Mary Lennon is the co-founder of Côte.
• Sarah Gibson Tuttle is the founder ofOlive & June.

Use a Nail Polish Thinner

According to Choi, one of the best ways to thin out nail polish is to invest in a bottle of nail polish thinner (usually $10 and under, like Beauty Secrets' Nail Polish Thinner). "First, add just a couple of drops directly to the polish," she says. "To mix, roll the bottle between your palms and avoid shaking, which can cause air bubbles to form."

Add a Drop of Pure Acetone

Hill says her "go-to" method for thinning out nail polish is a drop of pure acetone. "Just like polish thinners, it's critical to use only one drop of pure acetone in your bottle of nail polish," says Hill. "Shake well, and if the polish is still too thick, add one more drop. The 'less is more' approach is important to remember—if too much is used, the acetone will break down the polish, which will actually lessen its lifespan."

Store Your Polish in a Cool, Dark Place

Though pure acetone solutions and nail thinners are effective—they're salon go-tos for a reason—they also come with their own host of problems and might do your nails more harm than good in the long run (think brittleness, peeling, splitting, and breakage).

To prevent polish from clumping in the first place, Lennon tells us that the main trick is to always store your nail polish in a cool, dark place that maintains a consistent temperature. You can even try the refrigerator if you live in a perpetually warm and humid climate.

Roll—Don't Shake—the Bottle

While it's tempting to shake your nail polish to hear that little metal ball rattle in the bottle, it's best to roll it instead. Shaking the polish can not only cause it to stick to the top of the bottle, creating a sticky mess that will harden, but it also leads to air bubbles that can ruin a future manicure.

Keep Your Polish Tightly Sealed

It's easy to forget, but one of the best methods for keeping polish thin and spreadable is keeping it sealed whenever you're not actively using it. And we mean whenever. "To preserve your nail polish for as long as possible, be sure to close the bottle between coats," says Tuttle. "When that air hits polish, it will start to thicken."

Track When You Bought the Bottle

According to Tuttle, while products like nail thinners can help lengthen the longevity of your favorite polishes, eventually, you'll have to make peace with your goodbye and toss the lacquer. "It's best to toss out the bottles that start to get too sludge-y," she says. "After all, nail polish has a shelf life just like makeup. To keep track, try labeling the bottle to remember when you bought it."

If your nail polish is clumpy, you can do the following to thin it out:

1. Use Nail Polish Thinner: Add a few drops into your nail polish bottle.
2. Use Pure Acetone: An alternative to thinner is pure acetone. Add a drop to your nail polish bottle.
3. Store Your Polish Correctly: Sunlight can break down the formula and make it clumpy, so store your polishes somewhere dark.
4. Roll the Bottle: It may be tempting to shake it, but doing so will only worsen the clumping.
5. Seal It Tightly: This will help prevent air bubbles and preserve the formula.
6. Track How Long You've Had It: Nail polish can expire, so sometimes you may just need to toss your clumpy lacquer.