How to dilute gel polish?

Manicure with gel polish today is becoming a necessity to maintain the beauty and well-groomedness of a woman. This coating is the most durable and reliable of all previously existing. Professional and home craftsmen sometimes face the problem of gel polish thickening and wonder if their favorite product can be revived.

To answer this question, you need to know about the composition of gel polishes and the existing methods for diluting them without loss of quality.

If we talk about the composition of the product, then gel polish consists of synthetic compounds, or polymers. They make the texture of the varnish initially thick, gel, durable and resistant. It is known that the polymer coating hardens solely under the influence of ultraviolet rays and a small percentage of the heat emanating from the lamp.

Despite the fact that gel polish has a more viscous structure compared to classic nail polishes, it tends to harden if not stored properly. This can lead not only to the inconvenience associated with its application, but also significantly affect the quality of the coating: short-lived, inhomogeneous with possible chips. Gel polish in a bottle hardens for a number of reasons, including:

• Improper storage of the product: in a room that is too warm, near heaters or sunlight (on a window, for example);
• Best before date coming to an end or even gone.

You will learn more about why gel polish hardens and how to make it more liquid in the next video.

To ensure a uniform safe coating, it is necessary to ensure the correct storage conditions for gel polish:

• Store the product in a closed drawer/cupboard/box, where direct sunlight would not fall, and the general air temperature would not exceed +26 degrees. Ultraviolet adversely affects the quality of the fresh composition and leads to its gradual thickening, as does high air temperature;
• Close the lid tightly before putting the composition back in place. This will not allow the gel to oxidize when air enters the vial;
• When you work with the composition, place it away from the UV lamp, since the elevated temperature helps the composition to harden faster. After the end of the procedure, it is recommended to remove the vial from the desktop;
• Do not shake the bottle before applying it is enough to “roll” it with your fingers or between your palms in order to mix the composition for uniformity;
• Best before date the manufacturer indicates the varnish on the packaging, while there may be two dates. The first indicates the shelf life of the composition before opening (usually 3-4 years), the second number indicates how long the gel polish can be used after opening the package (1-2 years). Masters know that if the rules are followed, it will be possible to store it much longer, although the popular colors do not linger for a long time even at home.

Despite the fact that today you can simply dilute the gel polish, professional masters still recommend not to allow this.

It is proposed to dilute the composition with several compositions that will evenly mix with the gel due to a complex chemical formula. Do not dilute thickened varnish with acetone or any other liquid that contains this component. It's better to do it with:

• Special liquid for diluting thick varnish, for example Severina, Domix Green or THINNER. It is enough to use 2-3 drops of the composition for one full bottle, it can also reanimate the base and top for nails. The thinner does not affect the quality of the gel polish and its future shade, it is absolutely safe and is the most progressive solution for nail cabinets and home conditions.
• alcohol solution will become an alternative to a special thinner. Ethanol in the composition of alcohol negatively affects the quality of the future color (it becomes dimmer) and shine.
• Top or clear gel polish You can also use it if your favorite color has thickened. It is necessary to mix the products with each other to obtain the desired consistency in a bottle of gel. The disadvantage of this method is the loss of color intensity, but the quality of the coating does not suffer at all. It is necessary to use the top, the base is not suitable for such a case.

The method is suitable for professional craftsmen and specialized salons, since there are many jars of gel polishes and they tend to harden. At home, it is not always appropriate to purchase a whole bottle of thinner for the sake of a couple of bottles of gel, so home craftsmen often dilute thickened varnish with acetone.

To properly dilute the gel, add 2-3 drops of a special liquid, alcohol, top or a transparent analogue to it, then mix the components together using rolling movements over the bottle. It is not necessary to shake the package - the gel will not mix in this way. Evaluate the new consistency - it should not be too liquid, as it will become more difficult to apply due to the spreading and flowing of the composition onto the cuticle. If the thinner did not work enough, add another 1-2 drops of the composition and mix the components together again. In this case, it is good to know the measure and not to make the gel polish too liquid. Firstly, this will make the pigment watery, you will have to apply more layers of gel, and secondly, the brightness of the shades will disappear.

Do not forget that the reanimated composition is worse than the fresh analogue, even if the latter is stored on a closed shelf for several months. To prevent the composition from hardening, follow simple rules:

• Before buying, check the expiration date of the varnish: it is usually indicated on the packaging. Do not buy an expired varnish and one whose expiration date is about to expire;
• In professional stores, this situation often occurs: sellers and customers open coated vials prior to purchase in order to see the actual shade, and often these jars are left waiting for their buyer. Before buying a product, make sure that it has not been opened before you - this will avoid purchasing an already thickened varnish;
• Take care of the correct use of the gel at home: after completing its application, close the lid tightly, first remove the remnants of the product from the neck, put it away from a warm UV lamp;
• Store varnishes in a dark place with low air temperature - no more than +26 degrees;
• If the thick gel is applied poorly, unevenly, purchase a special dilution liquid: it will not make the coating worse, besides it is inexpensive. As a last resort, dissolve a few drops of a good liquid top in a bottle of pigment.

You can dilute gel polish at home. It is recommended to do this once - exclude the regular use of thinners, otherwise the quality of the coating can be safely called into question. Despite the fact that the gel polish itself has a dense texture and it is difficult to imagine the process of its hardening in the bottle, such cases become frequent and require only the correct handling of the beauty product.

For example, the well-known manufacturer of professional gels CND mentions a shelf life of 2 years after opening the bottle, the more budgetary Bluesky - 3 years.

Before buying, make sure that the gel has an acceptable expiration date. After opening the bottle at home, evaluate the aroma - too harsh with sourness can indicate improper storage of the product.