Traditional Nail Polishes

Question: I have 3 questions regarding traditional nail polishes I would like answered, please. 1) Is there such a thing as a product being incompatible with body chemistry, and what would be the signs? For example adherence issues, wear time? 2) What is the correct consistency of nail polish and when does it start to show signs of thickening? I know that some polish formulas can be thicker than others. 3) Is nail polish supposed to flow freely from the brush? Many thanks.

Answer: 1. Nail polish has many different formulations. They are not all going to suit every client. It will also depend on the condition of the client’s nails. For example, a thin and bendy nail is likely to have chips from the free edge. You don’t have to keep to ‘systems’ as you do for all acrylate nail coatings. So, you can mix and match base coats, as there are many available for different nail types, and this will have an impact on wearability.

2. Nail polish should be quite thin and easy to paint. Once it is opened and used, it does thicken over time. A good shake will help a lot, as they are thixotropic formulas. If it thickens too much, it is worth trying a few drops of the same brand’s base coat which will loosen it a bit. This is better than using thinners.

3. Yes, it should flow freely from the brush. As with all nail coatings, 2-3 layers are better than 1 thick layer. It will dry quicker and not ‘bubble’, which is usually caused by a coat that is too thick.