Gel nail polish is a great addition to your nail kit, but it has a major problem; it very easily goes bad if stored badly. In this guide, we will look at how you can store your gel polish correctly to make it last as long as possible.
Storing gel polish is easy if you stick to a few simple rules:
Keep Gel Polish Away from Light
You know that gel polish is cured under a UV light, so imagine what can happen when you store it on your windowsill, in direct sunlight. Exactly.
This extends to any UV lamps you have; keep open bottles of gel polish away from lamps when they are in use.
Store it Somewhere Cool and Dry
Warm rooms, window sills, and bathrooms are not the best place to store gel polish. Unless you want your product to become thick, gunky and difficult to use, which you probably don’t.
A cool, dry place is your friend when it comes to storing gel polish. That can mean a cupboard, draw, box, or bag.
Keep Bottles Upright and Closed Tightly
This helps to ensure that you don’t get varnish on lids, caps, and other bottles. It also makes sure that your storage space stays clean and pristine!
Storing bottles on their side is a particular no-no. Not only are you opening yourself up to spillages, the product can sit at the opening of the bottle, thickening and clogging it up. Not the way you want your gel to go.
Organise by Type & Colour
This doesn’t have to be perfect or too fussy. There is no point spending more time organising your collection than actually using it!
That being said, it can be helpful to have a rudimentary organisational system for your gel products. Organising by colour or product type (base coats, top coats, builders, colour gels) is an effective yet simple way to do this.
Know When To Throw It Out!
If your gel is stringy, lumpy, gritty or, perhaps worst of all, smells bad, it’s time to let it go. Don’t try and save it with thinners.
Having hygienic products in your collection is vital to your health, so don’t chance it with unpleasant products. No matter how well you look after your bottles, the time will eventually come when you need to say goodbye.
Don’t Overthink It
Storing gel polish properly need not be hard. It really comes down to a few basic rules; keep away from heat and light, keep your collection tidy and organised, and throw away any bad product.
That’s all there is to it.