Nevena Zivadinovic March 16, 2021| Updated: March 20, 2024 Nail Care Products
If your favorite nail polish has just got goopy and thick, there is a way to thin it again. As it usually happens, some of our favorite nail polish bottles are not used as much as other regular ones. We save them for special occasions, but they quickly become thick, and polish is turned into a sticky mass. That is when nail polish thinners come in.
How Does Nail Polish Thinners Work?
All nail polishes are made of volatile solvents, and they easily evaporate when exposed to the air. That is why nail polishes tend to thicken and get goopy over time once you open the bottle.
However, fortunately for us, that is when nail polish thinners come into play. Just a few drops of it can thin nail polish and help to restore its original state. Thinners work on replacing solvents that are evaporating.
What to Look For When Buying Thinner
If you really want to get the best nail polish thinner, then these two things should be on your mind when hunting for the one.
Check the Ingredient List
Some nail polish thinners contain acetone. It is not a huge problem, but if you want your polish to last after thinning, you should avoid it.
Acetone itself can be used as a thinner as well, yet it tends to crack your nail polish and make it discolored after a short time.
Mind the Thinner Type
There are different types of nail thinners. You should be aware of that before buying one. You can find thinners that work on regular nail polishes and thinners to work miracles on gel polish.
4 Best Nail Polish Thinners
These are the top polish thinners you should buy. Among many good reviews, these products are also budget-friendly options for restoring your nail polish condition. If you still keep those old half-emptied bottles of your favorites nail polish shades, now is the time to give them a makeover.
1. Opi Nail Laquier Thinner
OPI nail lacquer thinner is an award-winning product that lasts forever. Use only a small amount (according to bottle user guide 2-3 drops). This thinner is made of just two ingredients: Butyl Acetate and Ethyl Acetate. Those ingredients are primary solvents found in most nail polishes.
What’s it good for
Its simple formula makes it a low-risk and safe nail polish thinner. It is also great for vegan nail polishes.
The bottle lasts really long since a little goes a long way. The product works great even with heavy thick nail polishes.
Some drawbacks
The price is a bit steep. Sometimes you will need more than 2-3 drops as it’s labeled on the bottle. Due to its simple formula, it works perfectly with newer nail polishes. Still, for the old ones, you will potentially need much more (20+) drops of this thinner.
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2. Seche Restore Nail Polish
Seche Restore Nail Polish, 0.5 Fluid Ounce
$11.39
This good-quality nail polish thinner is perfect even for top coats. Seche restore works well with all nail polishes and has a thin and liquid consistency. You will be surprised how good it can work with your favorite nail polish bottle.
What’s it good for
The bottle itself is very well made. It includes a glass dropper that makes dosage much easier. If you are using the top coat from the same brand, you should definitely consider buying a thinner as well.
Some drawbacks
The formula consists of Toluene as a solvent, which is a harmful chemical. It can also be found in many nail polishes. The product will possibly evaporate quickly if you don’t preserve it in a cool and dry place.
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02/17/2024 03:12 pm GMT
3. Beauty Secrets Nail Thinner
Our Pick
Beauty Secrets Nail Polish Thinner
$712.45
Beauty Secrets nail thinner is currently the most popular among thinners and the most sold one. It works perfectly with many different brands of nail polishes.
What’s it good for
The bottle comes with a built-in dropper that is attached to the cap. It is vegan-friendly with a simple formula. It is made of solvents found in all nail polishes.
This thinner will work with only a small amount. You will restore your old nail polishes in no time, even if you need more than a few drops.
Some drawbacks
The Beauty Secrets thinner is a bit more expensive than the rest of them. They use multiple ingredients instead of one, and that is why they cost more. This thinner won’t properly work on gel nail polishes.
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02/17/2024 04:32 pm GMT
4. LeChat Gelos Gel Thinner
$17.88
Most nail polish thinners won’t work on your gel nail polishes. However, this one is not only effective but also loved among many nail artists.
This thinner is made with no solvents. Instead, they added monomers and photoinitiators. These ingredients thin gel nail polish and make it new again.
What’s it good for
This thinner works with any shellac and gel polish. It won’t weaken the polish but brings its original state back. The LeChat Gelos comes with a dropper which is perfect for easy application.
Some drawbacks
It can take more than 2-4 drops to restore the previous state of your gel polish. Gel nail thinners are usually more expensive than regular ones, so keep that in mind when shopping.
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02/17/2024 04:49 pm GMT
About The Author
Nevena Zivadinovic
Nevena is a linguist, mom of a one-year-old boy, and fashion enthusiast. She loves writing about everything fashion, beauty, and lifestyle-related.
Her passion is magazines and books. That’s why Nevena is mostly seen spending her free time with Kindle in her hands.
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