How to Restore Thick Dried Out Nail Polish So It’s Like New

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Tips and tricks to thin nail polish

Co-authored by Lindsay Yoshitomi and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: August 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Reviving Nail Polish

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Preventing Polish from Drying Out

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Q&A

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Tips

If you have some old, thick, and dried-out nail polish, have no fear because there are ways to bring it back to life! A couple of drops of acetone or nail polish thinner can help you thin the polish so it’s like new. While these methods aren’t foolproof, they’re worth a shot (especially to save your favorite polish). Take a look at these popular ways to thin and revive old nail polish and prevent it from happening.

How do you fix dried-out nail polish?

To fix and restore dried-out nail polish, place a drop or two of nail polish thinner or acetone into the bottle. Then, roll the bottle between your hands for a few seconds. Check the consistency and add more product if needed.

Section 1 of 2:

The Best Ways to Revive Nail Polish

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1
Drop nail polish thinner into the bottle. Nail polish thinner is specifically designed to thin and revive dried up polish. Add one drop of the thinner to the nail polish bottle at a time. Then, tightly close the bottle and roll it between your hands for a few seconds. Open the bottle again and repeat the process until the polish is the desired consistency.^{[1]
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- Read the instructions for the nail polish thinner carefully, as different brands may have more specific instructions.
EXPERT TIP

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail Artist
Lindsay Yoshitomi is the nail artist behind the blog, Lacquered Lawyer. She was featured as one of Nail It! magazine’s “Bloggers You Should Know,” and has been on the cover of Nail Art Gallery Magazine. She has been practicing nail art for over 15 years.

Lindsay Yoshitomi
Nail Artist

Did You Know? Nail polish remover contains acetone, which breaks down the polish, while nail polish thinner contains chemicals that restore the consistency of the polish to make it fluid again. Make sure you have polish thinner before mixing anything.
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Rinse the polish brush with acetone and place it back in the bottle. Pour some acetone in a glass bowl. Then, swirl the nail polish brush in the acetone until it’s clean, making sure to get rid of any clumps of polish. Place the brush back in the bottle once it’s clean and soaked with acetone. Shake the bottle lightly to help thin and loosen the rest of the polish.^{[2]
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- If some clumps of polish won’t come off the brush, use a paper towel to remove them.
- Acetone is acidic, so avoid placing it in a plastic container.
- Consider mixing the acetone with orange oil before cleaning the brush, as this can help prevent dryness later on.^{[3]
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- This is a temporary fix as acetone can break down polish over time and prevent it from drying on your nails.^{[4]
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Add nail polish remover to the polish bottle. Nail polish remover contains acetone and can help thin out stubborn polish. Simply add one drop of nail polish remover to the polish bottle at a time, close the polish back up, roll the bottle between your hands, and then check the consistency.^{[5]
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- The more nail polish remover you add, the thinner the polish will be, so be careful!
- Try using an eyedropper to add the nail polish remover in with more precision.
- This is a temporary fix and some people caution against it. Acetone can break down polish over time, dissolving the lacquer and preventing it from drying properly.^{[6]
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Put the nail polish bottle in hot water for 2 minutes. If the polish isn’t completely dried out, there may be hope with this quick fix! Heat up a cup of water. Then, place the nail polish bottle in the water. Wait 2 minutes, and then remove the polish and shake to help loosen the polish.^{[7]
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- Make sure the bottle is tightly closed to prevent water from getting in the polish.
- The hot water can help soften and thin thicker polish, making it easier to apply; however, know that this isn’t a permanent or foolproof trick.
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Roll the bottle between your hands. For only slightly thickened nail polish, you may be able to get it flowing again by just rolling it between your hands. Turn the bottle upside down once, allowing color to redistribute. Then, place the bottle between your palms and roll it back and forth.^{[8]
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- While this method isn’t foolproof, the heat from your hands may be enough to thin polish that’s only slightly thickened.

Section 2 of 2:

How to Prevent Nail Polish from Drying Out

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1
Store nail polish in a cool, dry place. The best way to ensure your polishes stay fresh? Keep them in a cool and dry place. An environment that’s too hot or cold can affect the consistency of nail polish, making it too thick or drying it out.^{[9]
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- Opt for a cabinet, container, or drawer that’s not in a moist bathroom or closet.
Leaving your nail polish open can be the culprit of dry polish. So, make sure you close the bottle tightly after painting your nails (even between coats).
Caked-on-dried polish can prevent the nail polish bottle from closing properly. This can allow air to seep into the bottle and cause dry, thick polish. To prevent this, simply clean the screwtop of the bottle with a little bit of nail polish remover or acetone and a cotton pad.^{[10]
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Throw out nail polish after a couple of years. If the nail polish you’re trying to loosen up is over 2 years old, it may be too old to fix. Believe it or not, nail polishes have an expiration date, and once opened and if not stored properly, can expire. Save yourself some time and throw out old polishes.^{[11]
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- Expired nail polish can be dried out, gooey, thick, and separated.
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Do not keep nail polish in the refrigerator. Back in the day, it was popular to store nail polish in the fridge as it was believed to slow down discoloration. However, storing nail polish in the refrigerator alters the chemical composition of the nail polish, causing it to dry out faster.^{[12]
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- Instead, opt for a cool, dry cupboard or container.

Community Q&A

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Question

If I keep nail polish in the freezer will it become hard?

Community Answer

Yes, it will freeze.

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Question

I don't have nail polish thinner, so I used nail polish remover to thin out the polish. Now, there is barely any glitter left. How do I get glitter back in the polish?

Community Answer

Nail polish remover usually contains acetone and chemicals that break down nail polish, and in this case, glitter. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do in order to restore the glitter in the nail polish, and I suggest you purchase the nail polish again, using actual nail thinner if necessary, as adding glitter to the preexisting nail polish will only work as a temporary solution before the remover breaks it down again.

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Where should I keep my nail polish?

Community Answer

You should keep it away from direct heat or sunlight, and possibly in a cabinet so that children cannot get to it or reach it.

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Tips

If you can’t revive your nail polish, don’t fret! Search for the polish’s brand, number, and color online to see if you can purchase a fresh, identical bottle.

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