Causes of air bubbles in nail polish & how to prevent it!

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 Hey Everyone,

Recently, a reader asked this question on my how to color block post: "...Do you have any tips to not get bubbles when you apply polish? It seems like it ALWAYS bubbles for me. EVEN with my Essies :/" 
I had just typed out my reply when i realized that this is an issue that many people deal with when applying their nail polish, so this post will show you how to ensure that you're nail polish always looks perfect and air bubble free.   In case you're not sure what I'm talking about, i posted a picture of what air bubbles in nail polish looks like above...not pretty, right?  So, let's get started. 


The main reasons for air bubbles forming could be because the nail varnish is too thick, or because you're shaking the bottle before you apply the varnish, it could also be caused by rushing in between coats. 

Instead of shaking the bottle, rub it between your hands.  Shaking the bottle creates bubbles, which will transfer onto your nails as you paint them, so always rub!

Next, if you apply a base coat, wait for it to completely dry before applying your first coat. 

 When applying your first coat, be sure to apply it very carefully.  Your first coat should be THIN and EVEN.  Thick, gloppy coats creates bubbles (as well, it takes a LOT longer to dry). It is crucial now that you wait for the first coat to be 100% dry before applying a second coat.

 Once your nails are completely dry, there should be no air bubbles.  But if there are, fill them in with a thick top coat.  China Glaze's top coat is a good option.

 Wait for it to dry again.  

This is the end result.  There should be absolutely no air bubbles and you should be left with perfect nails!  When it comes to painting nails minus those pesky air bubbles...patience is key!  As mentioned above, you should wait for each coat to dry completely and be sure to apply thin and even coats. 

If your varnish is too thick, add a very tiny bit of nail varnish remover to it.  This will help to thin it out; but be sure to be careful when adding the remover as too much will make the varnish too watery to apply. 

I've noticed that way cheaper nail polish tends to be formulated poorly so they're very thick and don't apply evenly, same with old nail polish.  Invest in a high quality nail polish to insure high quality results, and throw out old nail polish.


I think that's it.  So i hope that you all found this helpful, and thank you to Arielle for her question, i hope this answered it for you and by the way, I love your name!

*All pictures, with the exception of the first one, are mine*