Can You Bring Nail Polish On A Plane?
It’s time to travel and you are preparing to board your flight. So, you must be in the middle of curating a checklist of items to be kept in your bags. Well, beauty products will surely be on the list. So, a question arises here – Can you bring nail polish on a plane?
It’s important for you to stay informed, as tough screening is held by TSA (Transportation Security Administration) at security checkpoints at airports in the USA.
There are also regulations on carrying beauty or personal grooming items such as nail polish, nail polish removers, scissors, hairsprays, deodorants, shampoos, razors, aerosols, and other makeup products.
Hence, excluding the prohibited items and including only the allowed ones, that too within specified limits, will let you travel without any complexities.
Give a thorough read to this article and plan wisely.
Do Airlines Allow Nail Polish On A Plane?
All the airlines have their own set of rules. Therefore, it is beneficial to confirm with the airline you are traveling with.
Secondly, TSA officials in other countries (apart from the US) may not allow you to take nail polish, as per their own protocol. Suppose, you are boarding a flight, not from the US, but any other country, TSA officials at the airport might not allow you to go with nail polish.
TSA Rules for Nail Polish
Since nail polish is in liquid form, TSA’s 3-1-1 liquids rule applies in this case. You are permitted to keep this item in both carry-on and checked baggage, but there are some restrictions.
This is because acetone present in nail polish can catch fire. Moreover, there is a risk that the bottle may explode, which may pose danger to people on the flight.
Can I Have Nail Polish in My Carry On?
As approved, you are allowed to carry nail polish in a carry-on bag. However, as per the 3-1-1 liquids rule, the size of containers carrying the nail polish must not be greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 ml. Also, they must be securely kept in a quart-sized bag in the hand luggage.
If you are found to be exceeding the TSA liquid limit, they may confiscate your items. You must also be careful while carrying liquid foundation in your cabin bag, as this item also needs to be packed as per the 3-1-1 rule.
What are TSA Rules for Nail Polish in Checked Baggage?
As mentioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a passenger is allowed to keep a total quantity of 2 kg (70 ounces) or 2 L (68 fluid ounces) in checked baggage. Also, the volume of one container of nail polish must not be more than 0.5 kg (18 ounces) or 500 ml (17 fluid ounces). Such restrictions are imposed on medicinal and toiletry items in these bags.
These restrictions are also imposed on personal hygiene items such as a liquid deodorant packed in a checked bag.
Can You Bring Duty-Free Liquids on a Plane?
You are allowed to take duty-free liquids in a carry-on bag, in the case of inbound international flights. Here, the amount or size may exceed the 3.4 ounces or 100 ml limit.
However, there are some regulations.
- The bag containing the nail polish must be securely packed and there should be no signs of tampering, otherwise TSA will perform additional screening or may restrict you to take them ahead.
- You are visiting the US by taking a connecting flight, and the duty-free nail polish was bought from an international destination.
- You must have bought the nail polish within 48 hours.
- You must keep the original receipt of purchase intact with you.
How to Pack Nail Polish Safely?
Nail polish bottles may break as the checked bags go through transit. So, you can wrap a bubble material or any other thick/protective material around them for safety. Also, placing them in a separate makeup bag is a good option.
Well, did you know, such tips will be helpful even if you also wish to pack liquid lipstick in your bag. As far as the carry-on rule goes, they need to be placed in a quart-sized bag, which is clear or transparent. This enables easy screening at the TSA security checkpoint.
Is it Allowed to Use Nail Polish On A Plane?
Well, you must confirm this from the airline crew, as nail polish emits fumes and there could be a smell. This might not suit other passengers on the flight. Besides, the stains could get accidentally applied to a passenger sitting next to you, thereby irritating them.
Can I Bring Gel Nail Polish On A Plane?
Absolutely! Gel nail polish can also be brought on a plane. It’s up to you whether you need to take it in your cabin bag or checked bag, or in fact both.
Since it is in gel form, the guidelines remain the same and you must pack it as per the TSA liquid limit or the 3-1-1 rule, which has been discussed above already.
Gel nail polish in large containers whose capacity is more than 3.4 ounces or 100 ml need to be packed in checked luggage. Furthermore, the same instructions issued by the FAA for that of usual nail polish will be applicable here as well.
Well, just to enhance your knowledge, you can also bring other gel-based items such as gel eye drops in your cabin bag and/or checked luggage.
Conclusion
You may carry nail polish in both types of bags on a plane, but as per limits specified by TSA. So, beware of the same and plan accordingly. Otherwise, if anything triggers an alarm during X-ray screening, it will intensify the checking process. Also, you might have to go ahead without your favorite product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some important queries related to can you bring nail polish on a plane for your ready reference.
Yes, you can take nail polish on a plane in a cabin bag and/or checked luggage, as per requirement. However, nail polish in a cabin bag must be taken as per the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule for liquids, which sets a limitation on the quantity of the item. You can take more quantities in your checked baggage. But, the FAA has set certain limitations in that case also.
As per the TSA rules, nail polish can be taken in both carry-on and checked baggage. Your carry-on can have nail polish in mini bottles or containers whose total capacity is not more than 3.4 ounces. If you need nail polish in more quantity, you can pack it in checked luggage. But, there are restrictions on the quantity of nail polish and the capacity of a container carrying the product, if packed in checked baggage, according to the FAA.
Yes, you can bring nail polish on an international flight. You need to abide by the same TSA rules as that for domestic flights. But, you are advised to confirm if there are any related guidelines set by your airline. Also, you must be aware of the rules defined by your destination country.
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