It’s not uncommon for some polish to be a bit sticky and waxy when you first get it.
Sometimes the polish has a strange smell, or it just feels really good on your hands.
You immediately put a coat of it on your nails, and viola!
Your nails turn out great!
Unfortunately, this wonderful effect wears off, and you have to go back for more.
Why is my nail polish dry but still soft?
After applying a new coat of nail polish to your nails, the color should stay pretty much forever.
Yet somehow, over time, it seems to start getting a little waxy.
So what can be causing this to happen?
One of the reasons your nails become dry but still soft is because your polish remover isn’t strong enough to dissolve it all.
If your nail polish was a very weak product, it wouldn’t dissolve much at all, and it would be gone quickly.
What’s the best kind of nail polish to use, then?
That depends a lot on what caused the problem in the first place.
If you’ve recently exposed your nails to an extreme temperature, for instance, by being in a hot shower or swimming pool.
Don’t worry – this won’t cause a problem.
What does happen, though, is that the strong chemicals in chlorine bleach can attack the enamel of your nails.
They can break down the polish and eventually cause your nails to look sort of cloudy.
This is a temporary condition caused by the chlorine’s strong oxidizing properties.
It will pass eventually.
Harden your nail polish
If you want to know why is my nail polish still dry but still soft, it could be that your nails haven’t had a chance to harden yet.
A lot of times when a product is brand new, it doesn’t get hard until it has a few months of being in the bottle.
This means that you should just give your nails some time to rest.
Use a good quality nail polish remover instead of harsh chemicals, and don’t apply any products near your cuticles.
This way, your nails will get a chance to grow out just like they should.
Check for nail infections
Another reason why is my nail polish still soft, can be that you have an infection on your nails.
You may already know about fungal infections, or nail fungus.
These types of infections are caused by a fungus that eats through the protective layer of your nail.
It is not too difficult to get rid of an infection if you know how, so make sure that you keep your nails trimmed neatly and regularly, and take care of your nails.
Exposure to heat
If none of the above reasons are the ones that are causing you to wonder “Why is my nail polish dry but still soft?”, then your polish could be coming off because of overexposure to heat.
Heat can strip away the protective oils that keep your nails strong.
So whenever you step near a hot stove, oven, or even a hot water bottle, make sure to remove your nail polish quickly.
Do not try to put it back on until it has completely dried.
Take action
When you think that you understand the answers to all the questions you had before, ask yourself “Why is my nail polish dry but still soft?”, and take the appropriate action.
As you can see, the answers to this question are more complicated than what you thought.
In order to make sure that you are doing the right thing, go to a salon and ask them a question related to your nail polish, and learn more about the products they use.
How do you know when nail polish is completely dry?
Have you ever tried to remove your nails with nail polish remover?
It can be hard and messy especially if you are trying to remove a thick coat of white color.
It can also leave some unwanted streaks on your nails.
This process of removing your nails can be very frustrating if you don’t know exactly how to go about it.
So how do you know when your nails are already dry?
Before you apply the polish on your nails, you have to make sure that your hands and fingernails are clean.
You don’t want to start applying the remover when your nails are covered in oil or gel.
Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water to help eliminate any leftover traces of polish.
Wait for the polish to completely dry
Sometimes, your manicure will take a few hours while the polish dries so it’s important to be patient.
One way to know when your nails are already dry is to feel them.
Apply some pressure to your fingers and to your fingertips.
If you feel some resistance, this means that the remover isn’t as effective as it claims to be.
If you are able to manipulate your nails with your fingers and fingertips, it means that the liquid isn’t too sticky.
And if the remover seems to be more sticky than your nails, this means that the nail polish remover is too thick.
Remove the color
Once you are done waiting for the nail polish to dry, you can start with the task of removing the color.
If you used a sponge to apply your nail polish remover, it will come off easier when you use a cotton swab.
It is a better alternative than a putty knife, since you can be sure that the sponge is really clean.
If the sponge does not come out easily, you may need to go back to the salon or buy some other nail polish remover product.
You should not apply any gel colors to your nails
If you accidentally put one on, it may cause damage to the cuticles, the skin around your nails, and even to your nails themselves.
It will also not provide you with the coverage that you wanted.
If you have no idea what to do, you can ask the artist to show you his portfolio or he may need to refer you to someone who does.
There are some cases where you can buy a tube of nail polish remover at the beauty store.
However, using these products might not be good for your nails.
Gel nail polishes are very thick and may ruin your manicure quite fast
It usually takes at least two weeks before your nails are completely restored to their original appearance and if you try to remove them too soon, they may get cracked.
If you have tried everything that you know, but your nails keep looking dull and unhealthy, you may have to consult a dermatologist.
A doctor can prescribe you with a stronger formula of nail polish or even tell you about some of the alternative remedies that you can try.
If your nails are too thick and brittle, you may need a little breakers to help them grow.
When should you apply nail polish?
Now that you know how, let’s talk about when.
You should never wear nail polish when doing any kind of manual labor like cleaning your car, preparing meals, or even doing yard work.
It is best for you to put it on when you are having a long day at work and you can sleep during the night.
Make sure that the color is opaque and that you can see the whole picture when you look straight into the mirror.
Applying a thick coat of nail polish is very important and you should do it every single day so that your nails will always look healthy and beautiful.
