Everyone knows that using nail polish is a great way to add a splash of color to your look. There's an endless array of colors to choose from, and so many ways to bump up solid colors and get creative. Unfortunately, there are some simple errors that people commonly make; these mistakes can totally bonk up your nails, which means you've wasted your time and products, and end up with icky nails. So here are a few tips to help you get nicely polished nails :-)
1.) Don't shower, swim, etc, before painting or grooming your nails. Your nails absorb moisture which makes them more vulnerable to breaking. It also affects the application of the polish and how it holds/sticks to your nails.
2.) Remove the remover. Did you just remove your old polish? Give your nails a quick rinse (again, you don't want water-logged nails, so just a quick rinse will do). Having any nail polish remover residue on your nails can also affect how the polish applies to your nails.
3.) Use a base coat. Not only does using a clear base coat of polish prep your nails for your color and extend the life of your polish, it prevents your color from staining your nails. Trust me, you don't want stained nails, it's icky.
4.) Use a top coat. Topping off your color with another clear coat helps extend the wear time.
5.) Don't over-shake your color. Yes, nail polish colors settle and need to be shaken up a bit to remix the contents. But don't over do it; it can cause air bubbles to form in the polish, which results in a bumpy texture when you apply your color.
6.) Allow each coat of polish/top coat/base coat to dry before applying the next coat. This helps prevent smudges and streaking.
7.) Toss out old polish. This should be a no-brainer, but let's face it, it's hard to let go of our favorites! Sadly, polish only stays good for so long. Once it begins to get too sticky/gunky, it will never apply evenly nor will it dry because the coats of color are too think (from being gunky).
8.) Hold off on lotion and cuticle oil. For the same reason as showering and swimming, having lotion or oil on your nails will hinder the application of your nail color.
9.) Practice, practice. Hey, it requires skill to apply nail polish evenly and without making a mess! Especially when painting the nails of your primary hand with your opposite hand. But keep at it, because before you know it, you'll be a pro and it'll take no time to apply your polish.
10.) Have time to dedicate to the process. By that, I mean, if you don't have time to make a decent effort, or allow enough time for your nails to dry, hold off until you do. Rushing through it and/or doing things before your polish dries will only results in smudged, messy nails. And that's not what you want, is it?
There you have it, 10 tips to make your polish-wearing experience a little better!
No comments:
Post a Comment