How to Store Nail Polish

Do you want to know how to store nail polish so that it doesn’t spoil?

Not many know this, but if you keep nail polish in the wrong place, it can turn bad. No one wants to use thick, clumpy nail polish.

It makes for a horrible mani or pedi.

But not to worry, we know all the nail polish storage tricks! The do’s and don’ts of nail polish storage are simple and easy to remember.

Let’s dive right in.

What This Article Covers:

The Best Way To Store Nail Polish

Ensure the Bottle is Properly Cleaned

Do you know that little bit of nail polish that spills over the side of the bottle? That’s a sure way to get the cap stuck once it’s sealed.

It’s good practice to clean the bottleneck and the inside of the cap after each use. This will save you trouble in the long run.

To clean in, use a little nail polish remover and a Q-tip or cotton ball.

If you want to clean the brush too, try this article on how to clean a nail polish brush.

If you’re already having some trouble, read our article on how to open a stuck nail polish bottle. Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as you think.

Make Sure the Bottle is Tightly Sealed

You should seal the nail polish bottle after every use, even between coats. A bottle tightly sealed will prevent the solvent in the polish from evaporating.

This, in turn, prevents the polish from thickening and becoming clumpy. It’s not that difficult to fix thick nail polish, but it’s not a permanent solution either.

It’s best to be proactive and prevent it from thickening for as long as possible. This is also how to make nail polish last longer in the bottle.

Store Nail Polish in a Cool, Dry Place

Heat has a way of making nail polish go bad. Store your nail polish in a cool environment that has a consistent temperature.

The degradation of the compounds in nail polish is accelerated with heat. Keeping it in a consistent and cool environment will slow this down.

While the solvents will still evaporate, it will be at the normal pace, which is much slower.

Store Nail Polish Away From Sunlight

The sun’s UV rays have a bad habit of discoloring everything with prolonged exposure. This rule applies to nail polish too.

It’s even worse with gel polishes. Gel polish is cured under an artificial UV light. This means that sunlight can cure or harden it as well.

Curious to learn more about gel nail polish and color changes? Our article on why does gel nail polish change color explores this in detail.

Keep the Bottle Upright

Nail polish bottles shouldn’t be left on their sides. This might make the polish form clumps and it’ll more difficult to mix the pigments back together.

how to organize nail polish

You also risk the nail polish thickening while on its side. This might cause the brush to become stuck and the bottle will be a nightmare to open.

Swirl the Nail Polish Occasionally

It’s a good idea to mix the nail polish at least once a month. Infrequent use will turn the polish sluggish and make it difficult to use.

When mixing the polish, don’t shake the bottle. Yes, that’s likely the only way you’ve ever done it. But there's a better way.

Shaking the bottle will cause air bubbles to form in the polish. Swirling the bottle will mix the polish smoothly and prevent clumping.

To find out more, read this article on how to swirl nail polish.

Where To Avoid Storing Nail Polish

There are some places where you should never store nail polish. It’s not only bad for the polish, but it could be bad for you too.

Maybe this seems like an exaggeration, but rather safe than sorry, right?

So, where should you avoid storing your nail polish?

Avoid windows as this usually equals direct sunlight. As we said above, sunlight negatively affects nails polish.
Avoid the bathroom and its temperature fluctuations. It might seem like a great storage place, but the constant heat and humidity are bad. It will turn the nail polish thick.
Keep it away from any open flame or electrical spark. Nail polish contains solvents, which means that it contains alcohol. In other words, it’s highly flammable.

Does Putting Nail Polish In The Fridge Work?

There have been a few debates on whether putting nail polish in the fridge is good.

Can nail polish freeze? Not completely, but it will thicken. But, cold could slow down the normal degradation of nail polish.

The color pigments could last longer and the solvents might not evaporate as fast.

But, you will still have to deal with thick nail polish. You will have to gradually warm the polish before you can use it.

If you do decide to use the fridge to prolonge your nail polish, the bottle should remain upright. Having the bottle on its side isn’t good at the best of times.

In the fridge, having the bottle on its side will do more harm. It could prevent the pigments from mixing together once you take it out of the fridge.

How To Store Nail Polish Summary: The Dos And Don’ts

Knowing how to store nail polish properly will prevent it from spoiling too soon. Keep in mind though, everything has an expiration date, including nail polish.

Let’s do a recap of the dos and don’ts of storing nail polish.

Dos

Store it in a cool, dry place that has a consistent temperature.
Make sure that it’s clean and sealed properly.
Always keep the bottle upright.

Don’ts

Don’t store it near any heat or electrical sources.
Don’t store it in the bathroom.
Don’t store in direct sunlight.

We hope this article helped with your nail polish storage dilemma.

As always, happy nail painting!

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