Manicure using gel polish is becoming more and more popular. The secret of this lies in its brightness and convenience. Not only is it beautiful, but it also saves a lot of time. But it happens that the product has not yet run out, but has already thickened. Therefore, many people are interested in how to dilute gel polish? After all, you don’t want to throw the product away, but it’s impossible to use it in this state.
Why does it thicken
Gel nail polish begins to thicken due to the fact that the polymerization process begins in it. This can be caused by placing the bottle of the product under ultraviolet rays. Therefore, when using gel polish, it is recommended to leave it at a distance of at least 20 cm from the UV lamp. Then its rays will not be able to negatively affect the quality of the coating.
After completing the procedure for using it, you should wipe the neck of the bottle. Choose a lint-free napkin for this. It should first be moistened with remover. Then you will remove the remaining coating, thereby being able to tightly close the varnish lid. Otherwise, if it is not tightly closed, oxygen will penetrate inside the bottle, which will trigger the beginning of the thickening process.
Gel polish can also thicken due to improper storage. It is recommended to put it in a cool, dry place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. A special case or bedside table will do. Do not store the varnish in a warm place, this will cause its quality to deteriorate. Also, don't leave it on the manicure table or just on the shelf. All this will lead to thickening of the product.
Getting to know the material
This is a viscous, thick mixture of a variety of colors, with the help of which a manicurist can draw the most intricate images on the client’s nail plate. This material is homogeneous, does not bubble, does not flow. It hardens only under an ultraviolet lamp, thanks to this property the master has the opportunity to slowly implement his plan.
How to use gel nail paint? After the nail bed is treated, it is covered with gel polish, and then gel paint comes on the scene. You can use it both on your natural nail and on the extended one, this does not affect the result. Using a special brush, the master applies this mixture to the covered nail, creating all kinds of scenes.
How to dilute
Gel polishes have made life much easier for girls. You no longer need to renew your manicure every day or be afraid that household chores will ruin it. The coating lasts a long time and pleases with its beauty. The big disadvantage of the product is its tendency to thicken. Therefore, the question arises: is it possible to dilute gel polish? This can be done, you just need to use an effective tool.
To dilute the product at home, use the following methods:
- Alcohol. One of the products that will help dilute thickened gel polish. You can use any liquid that contains alcohol. It could even be vodka. The coating looks smooth, but after 6 days it will begin to chip. Therefore, you can use this method, but only once. Otherwise, the wear quality of the coating will be irretrievably lost, and will be replaced by a dull appearance of the varnish;
- Top. Another means for diluting gel polish is a top coat. It is necessary to add a small amount to the bottle and mix thoroughly. By covering the nail with this varnish, you can make sure that the quality of wear remains at the same level. Color and texture uniformity are preserved. The method only has a negative effect on saturation. A dissolving topcoat can be used, but not for brightly colored varnishes, where saturation plays an important role;
- Remover for removing gel polish. Some believe that you can dilute gel polish with this very product. However, the result will be uneven dilution. And when coating the nails, changes in the structure of the product become noticeable. After 3 days it becomes completely unusable. Therefore, it is not recommended to dilute the gel polish with remover if it has thickened. The quality of the product will suffer greatly. It is not suitable for further use. After a few days it completely separates in the bottle;
- Diluent. Thick varnish can be diluted with a special product for this purpose. Just add a few drops to the bottle and you will get a liquid coating as if it were new. Due to the fact that the product is designed specifically for these purposes, it does not affect the quality of the varnish. The color and wear remain the same. The cost of the solvent is higher than the price of gel polish. But you can save money with it. After all, you don’t have to constantly buy new coating because of the thickness of the old one. You will be able to fully use the varnish that you already have.
What types of gel paint do we know?
Nail designers are familiar with the following types of paint:
- mixture with a sticky layer;
- no sticky layer.
The first type is used in the casting technique, the second - for flat drawing.
Both varieties have a rich color, which is why application in one layer is sufficient. A single coating of nails with gel paint is as effective as applying three layers of regular nail polish.
Useful tips
It was already noted above why the varnish thickened, what led to this, how this can be avoided. But there are a few more recommendations that will help you avoid questions about what to do if the varnish has become thick and how you can dilute it.
A component of the product that provides a liquid consistency that is lighter than the varnish itself. Therefore, when you open the bottle, it evaporates, rising upward due to its lightness. It is important to shake all bottles regularly. This will help the components mix with each other, then delamination will not occur. Before opening the polish, you should also shake it. Then there will be no need to find out how to dilute the gel polish.
One of the features of gel polish is that it lasts longer than regular polish. This applies not only to the coating on the nails, but also to the product itself in the bottle. It can maintain its liquid structure and not thicken for several years. Of course, for this it is important to ensure the correct conditions for its storage and use.
If it is still not possible to preserve its liquid, use special diluents to dilute it. They will not harm the composition, leaving the color and structure in the same good condition. If you use a top coat for these purposes, be sure to choose it from the same brand as the polish. Otherwise, the coating may deteriorate greatly. Alcohol should only be used as a last resort when nothing else is available. It significantly affects the quality of the coating. The polish stays on your nails for much less time. It is better not to use acetone for these purposes at all. This will cause the varnish to bubble, curl, lose durability, and take longer to dry under the lamp.
Studying coating techniques
Let's move on from theory to practice. How is nail coating done with gel paint?
As they say, the devil is not as scary as he is painted. The properties of this product allow the work to be done accurately even for those who have just set out on the path of learning the art of nail design. So, let's learn how to work with gel paint.
Technique for performing manicure with gel paint
Step one: apply a base coat to the prepared nail plate and dry it under a UV lamp for a couple of minutes.
Step two: decide on the gel paint for the manicure, and while you’re thinking about the design, apply the next layer of gel polish.
Step three: cover the nail with top coat and polymerize it.
That's it, the field for creativity is prepared. Let's move on to the most interesting part - art.
Gel polish painting technique
This exciting activity is nail design with gel paint! Create - I don’t want to. So, the sketch was chosen. Next, prepare the brushes. They are known to be special:
- flat, wide: designed for Chinese painting. The paint lies evenly on the pile;
- fan brush: will help in working with glitter and creating a gradient design;
- a thin brush: it can perfectly draw openwork, waves, small details;
- dots - dot brush: draw dots, microscopic elements, transfer rhinestones and sparkles onto the nail.
Let's start drawing. Today's gel paint in nail tubes is available in a large palette, so it is possible to create truly masterpieces. If the design is complex, then it is advisable to dry each element under a UV lamp.
Photo of nail polish coating
Even more photos at the link: Gel polish photo.
How to choose gel paint
Today, there is, without exaggeration, abundance on the cosmetic products market. A lot of brands produce their own products, including gel polishes. How to choose “your” product in this variety? Of course, by experience, however, while this is not enough, before applying gel paint to natural nails or extended nails, you should familiarize yourself with the brands.
- Canni. The container volume is 5 ml, the palette is very rich, the paint does not contain aggressive components and is devoid of an unpleasant, irritating odor.
- Miranda. The product is produced in jars, colors are offered both pure and with iridescence.
- RuNail. 7.5 ml jars, excellent value for money. The product is especially suitable for artistic painting.
- Emi. German product in tubes, can be purchased both in sets and individually. By the way, painting your nails with Amy gel paint is also great because it gives an excellent dense coating. German quality, in a word.
- Kodi. Favorite product of professionals. Of course, it can be used to effectively create flat coatings, castings, and volumes.
Preparation of shellac composition
Varieties of shellac range from dark garnet to orange, amber, light yellow or almost colorless. When working, you can use a ready-made composition, or prepare it yourself . Making your own flake composition opens up more color choices, allows you to control the thickness of the resulting coating film and guarantees freshness. Ready-made formulations save time, but limit your capabilities. For example, some ready-mixes contain wax, which prevents the use of a wood primer before applying polyurethane, while others do not contain wax, but form a thinner film.
Preparation of shellac composition
To prepare a composition from dry flakes, you need to know the required concentration for work . This information can be found in Table 1 . For example, dissolving 100 ml. denatured alcohol, 35 g shellac flakes, you will get a concentration of 35%, standard for most ready-made mixtures. Pre-formulated formulations can also be diluted to reduce concentrations depending on job and skill ( Table 2 ). After dissolving the flakes, the mixture can be stored for no more than six months, so prepare the volume required for a particular case. If the shellac is not of very high quality, then it needs to be filtered several times to remove dirt and let it sit for 24 hours so that the wax contained in the solution settles to the bottom. The flakes dissolve faster if they are ground into powder and stirred in fresh alcohol. Leave the mixture overnight, then stir and strain through clean cheesecloth or filter paper. Then write down the concentration and date of preparation on the container.
Table 1: Required shellac concentration for work
| SOLUTION CONCENTRATION, % | APPLICATION |
| 6 | A weak solution for priming wood that is prone to uneven staining. |
| 9 | Priming, spray application. |
| 12 | French swab polishing method, repair of minor coating defects by spraying |
| 18 | Application with a swab. |
| 24 | Applying the main layers of coating with a brush. |
| 35 | Priming of knots and resinous areas. Professional brush application. |
Table 2: Methods for reducing concentrations
| CONCENTRATION OF READY COMPOSITION, % | REQUIRED CONCENTRATION, % | HOW MANY PARTS OF THE READY COMPOSITION TO TAKE | HOW MANY PARTS OF ALCOHOL SHOULD BE ADDED |
| 35 | 24 | 5 | 2 |
| 35 | 12 | 2 | 3 |
| 24 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
Best Design Ideas
Gel nail paint perfectly paints any large and small details. With its help you can create not only a monochromatic coating, but also create a watercolor effect, cover your nails with monograms and wrap them in unusual lace.
Refined monograms
Graceful patterns that are intertwined with each other look gorgeous on nails of any length. You don't need any artistic skills to create lace on your nails. A simple design with monograms is accessible to everyone.
What you will need:
- base;
- colored gel polishes;
- thin brush;
- colored gel paints;
- glossy top;
- matte top and acrylic powder (optional).
How to make a design with gel paints:
- Cover your nails with a base coat and dry it well.
- Apply the colored substrate in 2 layers, sending everything to polymerize in the lamp.
- After the color layers have dried, pick up some gel paint on a thin brush.
- Carefully draw out the monograms at one corner of the nail.
- Cover the design with a finishing topcoat.
If desired, the design can be sprinkled with acrylic powder with glitter to give a little relief to the design. But before drawing the monograms, it is necessary to apply a glossy or matte coating.
Video instruction
How to paint a delicate veil with gel paints can be seen in the video below.
Features of dilution of specific varnishes
When diluting matte varnish or enamel with glitter, the question arises about what products can be used in this case. It is worth considering all suitable options.
How to dilute glitter polish
It is allowed to dilute varnish with glitter using both special thinners and folk remedies. They have no effect on the glitter. They do not change their color or fade.
Thinner for matte varnish
The matte version is no different from the glossy one. To restore it, it is allowed to use similar means. But it should be borne in mind that this coating is very capricious.
It is not recommended to experiment with it, so the choice should be made with special thinners.
Ideas for manicure with gel paint
There are not just a lot of ideas, but a lot: French manicure, relief design, flat images. A great idea would be to use foil, stickers, beads, and rhinestones. Using gel paint in nail tubes or jars, you can create both a simple two-color sketch and complex options: natural landscapes, cultural objects, people, animals, any household items. The more experience a nail design master has, the richer his imagination, the more options, including innovative ones, he will be able to offer his clients.
