Thread: Spinoff: using nail polish to seal plastic beads

In a spinoff of the "potential fix for Pharaonics beads" thread...

For those of you who have used nail polish to seal your beads (the plastic kind that tend to peel), what kind did you use? I tried the cheapie Brucci brand from the drugstore on an already peeling bead, and it just melted the color!

Alternately, has anyone used varnish (spray, or the jar kind)?

I did it to two Neckelmann's while they were new and never had a discolored bead. I used N.Y.C clear nail polish.

Once the color starts to chip you need to recolor it with a silver nail polish that matches the color. Most silver nail polishes have too much gray in them for it to work. Only once have I found the perfect shade of silver for recoloring the beads and when I went back to buy more they were out :(

I've used Loreal clear polish and it worked just fine. I've also used the super shine top coat from beauty supply stores like Schoeneman's. The best luck I have had has been with clear lacquer but it's hard to apply to a small, concentrated area.

A helpful tip though, remember to wipe your fingerprints from the beads before sealing. I have one or two beads that bother me when I look at them because I can't polish the print off:)