How to Open Nail Polish

Opening a Bottle of Nail Polish

Select the nail polish you wish to use. If you plan on working with more than one color, choose one. You will want to have only one bottle open at one time. If you leave a bottle of nail polish sitting open for too long, the polish will begin to dry out and thicken.

Find a clean, flat surface for opening over. This is in case the nail polish spills and makes a mess.

Do not shake the bottle. It may be tempting, but this will cause tiny bubbles to form in the nail polish. These bubbles will appear once you put the nail polish on, and they may even cause the manicure to chip sooner. If you must shake the bottle in order to mix the pigments, do so, but wait 30 minutes before continuing on with your manicure. This will give the bubbles enough time to rise to the surface of the polish.

Turn the bottle upside down and roll it between your hands for about 25 seconds. This will warm up the bottle and remove any clumping of the paint. It will also help mix the pigments together. Place the bottle on the flat surface and hold it. You will be less likely to drop the bottle or spill the nail polish inside. Avoid opening the bottle over your lap or in mid-air.

Hold the cap in your other hand and twist it. Try twisting it counter-clockwise first. If it doesn't open, twist it clockwise. If it still doesn't open, then it might be stuck. Click here to find out how to open a stuck nail polish bottle.

Gently drag the brush against the rim of the polish as you take the cap off. This will help get rid of any excess nail polish and prevent drips and globs. Keep the bottle to one side where it you don't accidentally bump it or knock it over while you're painting your nails.

Wipe the neck of the bottle with nail polish remover when you are done with your manicure. If the neck of the bottle has nail polish on it when you put the cap on, that nail polish will dry and glue the cap to the bottle. When you are done doing your manicure, check the bottle. If you notice any nail polish on the threads, take a tissue or paper towel, and soak it with some nail polish remover. Wipe the neck of the bottle clean, and put the cap on. Try hard not to get any nail polish remove into the bottle. It will cause the particles inside the nail polish to separate and degrade. If you have an unsteady hand, try using nail polish thinner instead; it will not ruin the polish. Avoid using a cotton ball. If any gets suck inside the bottle, you will end up with fuzzy nail polish.

Opening a Stuck Bottle of Nail Polish

Avoid using force to open a stuck bottle. If the cap won't twist off, don't force it open with your hands or pliers. This could cause the cap to snap off the bottle. It would also cause the cap to crack.

Don't hit the cap against the counter. Nail polish bottles are made out of glass. Whacking the cap against something might actually cause it to snap off, along with the neck of the bottle.

Wrap a rubber band around a cap. A slippery cap can make a bottle of polish difficult to open, even if it isn't stuck. If you find that your fingers keep slipping, take a rubber band and wrap it around the cap. Place your fingers over the rubber band, and twist the cap. The rubber band will provide friction and give you a better grip.

Use nail polish thinner to dissolve hardened polish. When a cap gets stuck onto a bottle, it's usually because nail polish got onto the neck and dried. You can dissolve it with nail polish thinner. Simply lay the bottle down on its side. Place five to six drops of nail polish thinner into the crack between the cap and the bottle. Turn the bottle upside down to get the thinner into the cap, then turn the bottle right-side-up. The cap should be easier to twist off now. Avoid using acetone or nail polish remover. If acetone or nail polish remover get into the bottle, you could ruin your nail polish.

Use hot water to soften stuck nail polish. Fill a cup or a small bowl with hot water. Hold the nail polish bottle upside down and dip the cap into the water. Wait three to five minutes, then pull the bottle out. The hot water should have softened the hardened polish up. Try opening the bottle now; the cap should twist off easily. Try to get just the cap under the water, and not the entire bottle.