How to Keep Nail Polish from Separating

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 28, 2020 Tested

When nail polish separates in the bottle, this can be very frustrating. Nothing's worse than feeling like your favorite color is ruined. However, proper storage can prevent separating. In the event nail polish does separate, you can treat the issue with thinner drops. Unfortunately, nail polish does have a shelf life. Very stringy polish may need to be thrown out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Storing Nail Polish Safely

1
Keep your nail polish in a cool, dry place. Humidity increases the likelihood nail polish will separate. Do not store nail polish in areas of your home like the bathroom. Instead, store your nail polish in a cool, dry place, like a cabinet in your bedroom or a closet in your living room.^{[1]
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2
Store nail polish upright. If nail polish is stored on its side, it's much more likely to separate. Always store nail polish upright and, if you notice the bottle fell over in storage, stand it back up right away.^{[2]
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3
Secure the cap tightly before storing your polish. In addition to separating, nail polish can develop problems like drying out if the cap is not secure. Make sure to twist the cap until you can't anymore before putting your nail polish away.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Fixing Separated Polish

1
Add thinner drops. You can buy thinner drops designed for nail polish at most drug or beauty stores. If your nail polish has separated, add a few thinner drops to the bottle.^{[4]
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2
Roll the bottle between your hands. After adding the thinner drops, place the bottle between your hands. Roll the bottle back and forth until the colors run together again. As long as your nail polish isn't too stringy or damaged, this is generally a successful way to fixed separated polish.^{[5]
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3
Check the results. Open the bottle and see if the nail polish has blended back together. If it hasn't, add a few more drops of thinner drops and repeat the process.
4
Try a paint shaker. You can buy a shaker for nail polish online or at some department stores. You simply secure your nail polish in the shaker and turn the machine on. It provides a more vigorous shaking than shaking by hand alone and may help separated colors run together again.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Discarding Nail Polish

1
Throw out polish that doesn't respond to treatment. If you've tried various treatment methods and the color remains separated, the nail polish may be damaged beyond repair. Unfortunately, at this point the best course of action is throwing out the polish.
2
Toss stringy polish. Nail polish will eventually become stringy, especially if it was stored improperly. Unfortunately, very stringy polish is usually past the point of repair and should be discarded.^{[6]
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3
Discard most bottles after two years. Unopened nail polish has an indefinite shelf life. However, if you've opened a bottle already, it won't last more than two years. Very old polish should be discarded as it's difficult to restore.^{[7]
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