Shellac top coat - dispensing into gel pot?

[Pooh8bear]

I have put one bottle on top of the other and let the two mix, however my brush was left out for too long and went hard. When I dipped it in d-solve the brush went soft but the bristles stuck out so much I couldn't use it. Any suggestions how to get my brush back to normal and how I stop it from going hard while I mix my bottles?!

Just like the bottles....do not expose to light.

Wrap the brush in foil away from light till ready to put back in the bottle.