PolishPal
A cast silicone topper that slips over a standard nail polish cap and gives a whole hand something to grip, for people who cannot manage a pinch and twist.
- Category
- PolishPal
- Year
- 2026
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Role
- Solo
- Course
- RISD Industrial Design
- Tools
- Foam modeling, Clay, Mold making, Casting, Rhino
- Materials
- Silicone, Plaster mold, Cast urethane
The problem
Opening a bottle of nail polish takes a pinch grip and a steady twist. The cap is about the size of a pencil eraser, the bottle is glass and slippery, and the seal is tight because the polish has to stay airtight.
For hands with arthritis or reduced strength, that is the whole barrier. I wanted to change the grip without changing the routine: the same polish, the same bottle, with a form that a whole hand can close around.
The topper
In use
The topper turns a fingertip pinch into a full-hand motion: hold the bottle in one hand, close the other around the topper, and twist. The extra diameter does the work that finger strength used to. It grips a standard cap, so it works across colors and brands rather than needing its own bottle.
Making it
I sculpted the form, cast a plaster mold from it, and poured silicone into the mold so the topper comes out soft, grippy and slightly squeezable. The inside is shaped to grab the factory cap, so it pushes on and turns with it.