Do bubbles in nail polish have a scientific truth to it, or is it just an old wives’ tale that has become popular in recent years?
The rumor goes on about how polish will come out and come back, bubbling away when you take a really good look at it.
It sounds like a bit of a myth, doesn’t it?
Well, the fact of the matter is that no such thing exists.
As a woman who grew up around women (and men, for that matter), I’ve heard it all – from friends, family, school, even work.
My nail polish, it seems, is one of those “oh so true” subjects.
The theory goes that liquid oil does go through bubbles and comes out the other side.
But what about when the nail is actually drying?
Do the bubbles just pop right out?
If they do, then maybe it’s just a stubborn build up that can be removed.
It could also mean that the nail is slightly dirty, meaning it’s been exposed to more oil than normal.
What actually happens is that tiny oil glands under the nail start to secrete a liquid oil called undiluted oil.
This is actually the undiluted oil that you sometimes see described as “cocoa butter”.
And if you scrub at your nails with regular manicure products, these oils are released into the air.
Regular hand soap doesn’t seem to affect the bubbles.
Oil is released, and it just so happens that some of it gets into the air.
So, do bubbles really go away?
Well, if they’re just starting, then no – it doesn’t go away.
The oil builds up to a point where the nail will separate from the nail bed.
This will result in small puffs of white inside the nail, which look a little like flecks of dust stuck to your fingernails.
It might also look like some sort of sap secreted from the nail itself.
It doesn’t stay long, usually no more than a few days, because the oil builds up again.
And when it does, the tiny puffs of white inside the nail look just like they did before, only white.
If you continue having them, they become more frequent and darker
These are what are commonly referred to as “black spots”.
The reason for this is that the oil glands are producing less oil, which makes the nail darker.
Now, the question is if bubbles in nail polish go away.
The answer is no, but it depends on a number of factors.
If you have a lot of them, then it’s likely that your polish has something to do with it.
The most common cause of white spots is over-exposure to the sun
Your nail produces a small amount of vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun, which helps prevent cracking and peeling.
Another cause of white spots is heat.
Hot water is hard on your nails, damaging their surface and making them look much darker.
So, if you’re having nail polish go yellow, take it off immediately and avoid putting your hands near a heater or any other source of high heat.
If you have these problems, then your next best option is to get a good acrylic paint.
Acrylics look almost identical to the finish you get from a salon and are generally covered by a two year guarantee.
Acrylics really are the best way to go
Another thing you can do is just give your nails some time.
Most acrylic paints will last for three to six months if they are properly cared for, though you might see different results.
Use gloves when painting your nails to keep them as clean as possible.
Keep your hands away from the surface of the nail bed and don’t get them greasy, as this will make things worse.
And while you’re at it, wash your handbag as well, washing it with soap and water as well as nail polish remover.
What could cause stain on your nails?
Of course, if your problem is an actual stain in your nail, then you’re probably looking at something else.
One possibility is fungal infections.
Bacteria don’t grow very well in natural nail products, but there are several types of fungus that do quite well in this environment.
The most common infection is nail fungus, and this is usually easy to treat with antifungal powder.
Another reason why bubbles in nail polish would away
This one has to do with harsh chemicals that are used during the manufacturing process.
Acrylic nails are typically covered in a thin clear plastic layer, and this is what helps the color stays on for as long as possible.
During this process, anything that could potentially damage the color or change its properties (such as too much heat or cold, or dying the pigment) are removed.
As these chemicals are removed, the clear plastic starts to weaken and is more susceptible to cracking.
When this happens, the color starts to fade and chip away, until your beautiful new manicure looks nothing like the day you had in mind.
How do you get rid of air bubbles in nail polish?
Do you have a difficult time removing air bubbles from nail polish?
It’s actually quite simple to do and it only requires a bit of your time.
The first thing you need to do is to clean the polish off thoroughly.
You can clean it off with just water but if the product has been sitting for a while, it might be best to remove it with alcohol or even mouthwash.
Now that the polish is off, it’s time to work on removing the air bubbles.
Use a cotton ball
Simply use a cotton ball to dab at the product as you gently suck it out.
If there are still some air bubbles left, you can try using a toothbrush or a cotton swab again.
Do this several times until there are no more air bubbles and the product is completely dry.
Your nail will look much better now.
Remove air bubbles
Next, you need to remove air bubbles from your nails by soaking them in warm water.
Warm water will help loosen the acrylic product and remove air bubbles.
This process will also make the nail softer too.
Just soak your nails in warm water for around 15 minutes per treatment and then repeat until all the bubbles are removed.
Now, your next challenge is how do you get rid of air bubbles from acrylic products that have dried?
To do this, you should use a hair dryer to blow dry your nails.
Keep the dryer on a high heat
When you blow dry your nails, they will eventually become a bit brittle so you don’t want to blow dry them any longer than necessary.
If your nail becomes brittle, try putting some aluminum foil underneath your nail.
This will prevent the acrylic product from cracking or bending and allow it to last longer.
Simply cut some aluminum foil to fit around your entire nail.
You will be surprised at how quickly your foil will become useless if you let it sit long enough.
As an alternative to aluminum foil, try using bubble wrap
Use the backside of the bubble wrap to gently press against the nail and try to dislodge the air bubble.
If you don’t have some extra bubble wrap, you can always wrap some additional newspaper around the entire nail.
This may take a few more attempts, but you will eventually see your air bubble disappears.
Last but not least, you can try to use commercial products to dislodge the air bubbles.
Try an air extractor
These products are designed to open up air pockets found within your manicure product.
It is important that you completely cover the air pocket before applying the product to your nails.
Using the extractor will ensure that the air is removed completely so you don’t have to worry about your nail polish product damaging your cuticles or your nails.
If none of the above techniques work for you, then the only other way you will be able to find out how do you get rid of air bubbles in nail polish is to ask the professional at the salon.
They will be able to properly remove the air with ease.
However, you should still be very cautious when trying to dislodge them.
If you’re not very patient, this might not be the best option for you as you could risk damaging your manicure.
Best tips on removing bubbles in nail polish
Now that we’ve discussed a few different methods of removing air bubbles in nail polish, it’s time to move on to a few tips for doing it yourself at home.
If the method that you used at the salon doesn’t work, you might have to resort to trying something a little more drastic.
For instance, you might want to try using a blow dryer.
This might sound crazy, but if you’ve ever blow dried with a hair before you will know what I’m talking about.
Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to successfully blow dry your nails and remove the air bubbles from your nail polish very easily.
Use a wet cotton ball dipped into a jar of rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol has the ability to penetrate through many types of skin and is very powerful in removing air bubbles.
When you rub the alcohol onto your finger, you will start to see results almost immediately.
It’s an instant fix for how do you get rid of air bubbles in nail polish and will probably help your original polish remover work just as well.
Hopefully this short article has given you some good ideas on how to remove air bubbles in nail polish.
Conclusion
Air bubbles are a common problem when you’re using over-the-counter products, but there are some simple methods that can make a world of difference.
Don’t let the air bubbles stop you from loving your beautiful nails!
