How to Open Nail Glue

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Nail glue containers may get stuck due to nail glue leaking out and sealing the cap. If you have a stuck nail glue lid, there are some simple strategies that might help you get it open. If you have a brand new nail glue container, you may need to puncture the tip with a pin. As you try to open your nail glue, be careful since it is a chemical agent and it can cause burns on your skin.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Loosening the Lid

1
Submerge the glue bottle in 8 fl oz (240 mL) of hot water for 5 minutes. Fill a cup or small bowl with hot tap water. Don’t use boiling water as this may melt the glue container. Then, place the glue container into the water and let it sit for 5 minutes. When the time is up, use a fork or spoon to fish out the glue tube and try to unscrew the lid.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If there’s a lot of glue around the cap, you may need to leave it in the water for longer or try another option.
- You can also try adding a few drops of dish soap or 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of white vinegar to the water.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Make sure to wash the cup or bowl and utensil thoroughly before using them for food after you do this.
2
Swab the edges of the lid with white vinegar. Vinegar is not a strong solvent, but it might be enough to loosen a small amount of nail glue on the lid. Dip the tip of a cotton swab into white vinegar and use it to wipe along the edge of the glue cap. Let the vinegar sit for 5 minutes. The, try to unscrew the lid and open the nail glue.^{[3]
X
Research source}

If you don’t have white vinegar, you can also try red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

Advertisement
3
Wipe the lid with acetone nail polish remover. Dip the end of a cotton swab into the acetone and then wipe it along the edge of the nail glue lid. Let it sit for about 3 minutes and then try to unscrew the cap.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Make sure that the nail polish remover contains acetone as this is the active ingredient that will dissolve the glue.
4
Dip the nail glue lid into acetone nail polish remover if it’s very stuck. If the glue container has lots of glue on the outside of the lid, you may also dip the top of the nail glue container into a small dish of acetone. Hold it there for about 15 seconds, remove it, and then let the container sit for about 3 minutes before you try to unscrew the cap again.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Warning: Never use your teeth or try to wrench a nail glue lid open if it’s stuck. Nail glue is a chemical agent that can cause burns, so never put it anywhere close to your mouth.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Puncturing the Tip of a Nail Glue Tube

1
Read the instructions on the nail glue’s label. If you have a container of nail glue that has no premade opening in it, then you will probably need to puncture it. Check the instructions for opening the nail glue if any were included.
- You may also check the manufacturer’s website for information on how to properly open the nail glue.
2
Insert a pin into the center of the nail glue tip or where indicated. Most nail glues only require a tiny opening that you can make with a pin. Remove the cap from the glue, locate the center or the glue container’s tip, and insert a pin into the center of the tip. Then, remove the pin from the container.
- Some nail glue products come with a lid that will puncture the top for you when you screw it on and this special lid will also keep the glue from drying out.^{[6]
  X
  Research source}
3
Replace the lid when you’re not using the nail glue. Nail glue dries out quickly, so always make sure to replace the lid when you’re not using it. Screw the lid on tightly to ensure that the nail glue will not leak or dry out.

Tip: You can also place your nail glue in a resealable plastic bag to protect it from drying out. Place the closed nail glue tube into the bag, and push the air out of the bag before closing it up.
4
Cut the tip off of your nail glue if you cannot puncture it. If you cannot puncture the tip or if it is the kind of tip that you need to cut off, get a sharp pair of scissors and cut straight across the tip about ¹⁄₈ in (0.32 cm) from the end. Hold the tube so that the tip is facing up when you do this to prevent glue from leaking out.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Discard the tip that you cut off and place the cap on the nail glue tube to keep the glue from leaking or drying out.
- This is not ideal for some types of nail glue containers since cutting off the tip can make a large opening in the nail glue. However, if the nail glue container indicates that you need to cut the tip off to open it, you can try this option.

Community Q&A

Question

How do you use nail glue?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Remove any polish from your natural nails, wash them to remove oils and dirt, and buff them gently to help the glue adhere better. Add a tiny dot of glue to your real nail and another to the fake nail. Put the fake nail in position and keep firm pressure on it for 10 seconds to help the glue set and press out any bubbles. Wipe away any excess glue around the edges of your nails with a cotton swab.
Question

What’s a good substitute for nail glue?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If you don’t have nail glue, you can make your own by mixing one part white or clear craft glue with one part clear base coat. This mixture can take up to 10 minutes to cure on your nails. Super glue will also work in a pinch, but use it sparingly since it can damage your natural nails.
Question

How do you get dried nail glue out of the bottle?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If only the nozzle is clogged with dried glue, try cutting it back with scissors or pushing a pin or nail into the tip of the bottle. If the glue has thickened in the bottle itself, you might be able to soften it by letting the closed glue bottle sit in some hot water for a few minutes. If it’s totally dried out, however, it might be time to get some new glue.

Warnings

Be careful not to spill any nail glue onto your skin as it can cause severe burns. Keep nail glue out of the reach of children and pets as well since they may try to open the container and get burned by it.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Keep nail glue in a cupboard away from medications and other cosmetics. There have been cases of people mistakenly putting nail glue into their eyes due to confusing it with eye drops.^{[9]
X
Research source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0