Why is my paint still tacky after 2 days?

Paint still tacky after 2 days can happen for several reasons related to application, environment, and paint type. Most common reasons include applying paint too thickly in heavy coats, which prevents proper curing, especially with oil-based alkyd or enamel that cures by oxidation and needs thin coats. High humidity above 70 percent and low temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit slows drying and curing dramatically, so latex and oil paints stay tacky. Poor ventilation traps solvents. Painting over dirty, greasy, or waxy surface prevents adhesion and curing. Using old or improperly mixed paint, or mixing incompatible paints like oil over latex without primer, can cause tackiness. For oil-based alkyd, tackiness after 2 days is normal if thick, as it can take 7 to 30 days to fully cure, though dry to touch in 8 hours. Latex paint tacky after 2 days often means high humidity or thick application. To fix, ensure good ventilation, use fan and dehumidifier, keep temperature 60 to 80 degrees, apply thin coats, and wait longer for cure. If still tacky after a week, you may need to remove and repaint with proper prep and thin coats.