When assembled properly, The Hummingbird® makes a nice strong squeak, which means you’ve got it, so your color should flow well. Most importantly, the valve needs to be seated properly in the applicator FIRST, and next the colored part of the tube is inserted all the way into the valve. Screw the Hummingbird® head on firmly until feels snug. Try your squeak again.
Bowl and brush color formulations do not work well in The Hummingbird®. It likes formulations that are meant for a bottle; light lotions, light gels and liquid glosses.
Hummingbird®'s do not like dishwashers, as the high heat damages the material.
It's super easy to take the components apart, using the yellow spoolie provided, to clean narrow areas like the beak and valve. Then, simply air dry overnight before reassembling. Your Hummingbird® is then ready to use again and again.
Pro Tip: for hard to remove color, add a tsp of salt and warm water to your bottle, and shake vigorously with your mixing cap to break it up!