Can You Bring Nail Polish In Carry-on Or Checked Luggage?

So can you bring nail polish in carry-on or checked luggage? And how do you pack nail polish for a flight?

Here is the short answer.

According to the TSA, you can bring nail polish in both carry-on and checked bags, but when transported in carry-on each nail polish bottle must be 3.4 oz / 100 ml or less and placed in a quart-sized bag along with other toiletries, you can bring as much as you want of nail polish in checked baggage.

If you are thinking about bringing a lovely nail varnish set with you on your next flight, then you just come to the right place. In this article I will unpack everything you need to know about flying with nail polish on planes in both carry on and checked baggage.

Let’s dive right in.

Take Nail Polish Through The Security Checkpoint

Nail polish or fingernail polish is considered a liquid in the eyes of the TSA.

All types of liquids have strict restrictions on planes; so you will need to take only bottles of 3.4 oz 100 ml or less and place them inside a transparent quart sized bag along with your other liquid makeup or toiletries.

You will be required to remove your nail polish from your carry-on bag, and place it in a separate bin at the security checkpoint, so the TSA officer can properly inspect what is inside.

Thankfully, most nail polish bottles are small and under 3.4 oz / 100 ml so you won’t find any issues regarding the size.

Your priority is keeping your nail polish safe and secured during your flight, I recommend you take your items in a makeup carrying case bag that can ensure your nail polish and makeup get to the destination and unharmed.

Can I Bring Nail Polish In My Carry-on Bag?

Just as stated above by the TSA, it is easy to take nail polish in hand luggage.

In fact it is preferable to take your nail polish in your carry-on baggage, as it is more safe for you and the airline.

That way, you don’t have to worry about it getting thrown accidentally or getting damaged during the flight.

Please note that the final decision rests with the TSA officer at the airport, to decide whether an items is allowed or not, so ensure that your nail polish is in its original bottle, and you don’t take any other dangerous items with it.

Important

Nail Polish In Checked Baggage

Nail polish, nail enamel or nail varnish is allowed in checked baggage, the TSA says that you can bring your nail polish in checked baggage, However it comes with some restrictions.

Nail polish should not exceed 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2 L (68 fluid ounces), and a single bottle must not exceed 0.5 kg.

If you are taking nail polish for personal use, obviously there will be no issues and you won’t exceed these limits, a standard nail polish bottle can take about 0.46 oz in volume, so you will need more than 100 bottles to get at the 70 ounces limit in checked baggage.

A 4 piece set like this Mirror Shine Nail Polish has 0.46 Fluid Ounces Each, that is 1.84 oz in total.

What Color Of Nail Polish Is Allowed On Planes?

There is no specified color allowed on airlines, all kinds of colors are allowed and the same regulations apply.

Just make sure that you place your different colors in a sealed transparent bag so the TSA officer can easily identify them.

Can You Paint Your Nails On An Airplane?

If you are late for your flight or you are just in a rush, painting your nails on planes is not against the airlines rules but it is not recommended, your nail polish can have some strong and unpleasant odor and can bother your neighbor and passenger.

Nail polish consists of acetone which can cause headache or nausea for some people, in an enclosed environment, so it would be better to apply your nail polish at home, the airport or at your destination.

Also, if a passenger is sick or has any kind of breathing issues you’re just going to make his trip hard, by using nail polish close to them.

Will Nail Polish Explode On a Plane?

Yes, nail polish can explode.

It is a rare accident when nail polish explodes, nail polish is flammable and can explode if it gets hot enough and in direct sunlight, that’s why the FAA regulates the amount of flammable items you can take on checked baggage.

Nail polish doesn’t need to be placed in fire to explode, and if the bottle gets hot enough, the acetone inside can produce the vapor that can explode and ignite.

Tips On Traveling With Nail Polish

It is a clever way to properly pack your nail polish or makeup in general. Especially in checked baggage the level of risk and damage are high and you don’t want your makeup to reach your destination and find it totally damaged or spoiled.

The second tip is to make sure they won’t be stolen, it is a rare occasion but just in case make sure that you cover your items neatly.

A nail polish organizer case is really a life saver to transport nail polish and makeup in checked baggage.

Final Thoughts On Taking Nail Polish On Planes.

There are some limits to the amount of nail polish you can bring in carry-on baggage.

Only 3.4 oz / 100 ml containers or less is allowed in hand luggage and packed in a quart sized bag.

You can fit as much as you can inside a single quart shed bag.

If you are bringing nail polish in checked baggage it doesn’t need to follow the TSA rules.

We hope this helps

Happy travels

People also ask: