How to Make Your Own Nail Polish

Learn how to make nail polish in just a few simple steps. Making homemade polish is a great way to save money and create your own custom colors. Your nails will look better than ever!

With a little girl in the house, we go through a lot of nail polish. My daughter and I always have fun painting each other’s nails and trying our hand at nail art.  

I’ve wanted to make my own polishes for a long time. I already make my own makeup and skincare products, so why not try nail polishes?

 I finally figured out the perfect homemade nail polish recipe and I am hooked!

Why You’ll Love Homemade Nail Polish

Custom Colors: The best thing about DIY nail polish is creating your own custom nail polish colors! If you have a specific shade in mind or just like to get creative, you will have so much fun perfecting the color of your polish.

Easy to Make: If you want a great project that will be done in just a few minutes, this is it! Making nail polish is surprisingly easy and the finished product is wonderful. 

Save Money: Doing your own nails already saves a lot of money, but making your own polish takes it one step further! I buy nail polish suspension base in bulk to keep the cost low and it lasts me a very long time. 

What You’ll Need

• Untinted Suspension Base
• Mica Powders
• Miniature Funnels
• Empty Nail Polish Bottles
• Polish Mixing Balls

How to Make Nail Polish

Step 1. Start by placing the nail polish mixing balls into the empty polish bottles, then carefully insert a small funnel into the neck of each bottle. 

Step 2. Add your chosen pigments or glitters to the bottles, starting with ¼ teaspoon or less. You can adjust the amount of colorant to change the final look of the nail polish. A small amount will create a subtle, translucent hint of color and a larger amount (¼ to ½ teaspoon) will produce a bold, opaque finish. Feel free to experiment by blending multiple colors and creating your own custom shade.

Step 3. Once you’re happy with the amount of colorant added, gently tap the bottles and funnels to ensure all of the pigment is in the bottom of each bottle. 

Step 4. Carefully fill the nail polish bottles to the neck with nail polish base, then remove the funnels. 

Step 5. Secure the lids on the nail polish bottles and shake them persistently for at least 60 seconds, or until the color is completely dispersed throughout the base. 

Helpful Tips and Variations

• If you are mixing multiple colors of mica powder to create a custom nail polish color, I recommend doing that before adding them to the bottle. Stir the powders together on a piece of printer paper until you get the right shade, then pour them into the funnel. 
• Instead of a suspension base, you can use a regular clear base coat polish. That said, the suspension base helps keep the mica powder suspended throughout the nail polish rather than sinking to the bottom. If you use a regular base polish, you may need to shake it very well before each use. 
• You can add a little glitter to your polish for an extra fun sparkle! Opt for cosmetic-grade glitter, not regular craft glitter. 

How to Apply Nail Polish

If you’re like me and you want your nail polish to last as long as possible, a good polish application is important. Simply brushing on a quick coat of nail polish is easy, but you will find that it chips much faster than it will if you take a few extra steps.  

For painted nails that last, follow this application method:

1. Clear Base Coat: This will protect your nails from the nail polish and provide a primed surface for the colored polish to adhere to. 
2. Color Polish: Once your base coat is dry, it’s time to apply your homemade nail polish! You may need to use more than one coat to get the look you’re going for. I usually do two coats, but you can add even more as needed. 
3. Clear Top Coat: Finish off your nails with a top coat once the color polish is completely dry. A top coat adds a glossy finish to your nails and protects the paint from chipping as quickly. 

Ingredient Notes

Untinted Suspension Base: Nail polish suspension base is a clear nail polish coat designed to help mica powders, glitter, or other color pigments suspend in the liquid rather than sinking to the bottom. You can use any type of suspension base, but I prefer to use a 10-free base. This means that the polish is formulated without 10 of the toxic chemicals that are typically found in regular nail polish, making it a more natural option.

Mica Powders: Keep in mind that many mica powders are often unethically sourced, so it’s important to spend extra time finding a company that uses ethical practices. After a lot of research, I purchase all of my mica powder from Mad Micas. Their ethics statement checks all the boxes for me, so I feel great about their products. 

FAQ

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