How To Stretch Your Nail Polish

What my favorite polish should look like.  Image found here.

What my favorite polish actually looks like.

   Do you have a favorite bottle of nail polish?  If you do, chances are it's nearly used up.  When it gets low and gummy, you have a choice: buy another bottle or stretch out the life of the one you already have.  As a college student on a budget, I chose the latter, and here are a few ways I figured out to get more out of your bottle of nail polish:

Preventative measures: Make sure to always screw the top on tightly!  A little bit of air over a long period of time can cause it to dry out and get gummy.  And of course, leaks are just a waste of good polish.

When you use it:  (1) Quickly roll (don't shake!) the bottle between your hands for several minutes.  This will warm up the polish and mix it together, if it has separated.  (2) I've never done this, but I've seen manicurists microwave an old bottle of nail polish, especially if it's cap is "glued" on with polish.  (3) Pour some thin, clear polish into your old bottle - the color will be diluted, but it will get thinner and there will be more of it!