Tips for painting your nails are everywhere, but I’ve done you a favor and streamlined the process down to a few manageable steps that will make giving yourself a manicure enjoyable rather than overwhelming. I rarely go without painting my nails because there’s just something pulled together about having polish on them. If you’re like me or just want to paint your nails now and then, use these tips for painting your nails and you’ll get the look you’re after each and every time.
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Roll, Don’t Shake
This is a gem of a tip that I got from a make-up artist when I was very young. It turns out to be one of the best tips for painting your nails out there. Here’s why – when you shake your nail polish it stirs air into it, which can leave you with bubbles after your manicure. Instead, hold the bottle gently between your hands and roll it back and forth. This way, the polish mixes, but it keeps the air to a minimum for smooth application every time.
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Use a Base Coat
I know it might seem like just one extra step, but using a base coat serves a purpose. It gives your colored polish a smooth, clean surface to adhere to, but it also prevents staining your nails from dark polishes. I don’t know about you, but I’ve discovered a yellowish tinge on my nails after wearing dark hues without a base coat. Now I never go without it. It only takes a few extra minutes and it’s so worth it.
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Paint with Three Strokes
This simple three-stroke method takes a lot of the guesswork out of painting your nails, and it comes recommended by top manicurists everywhere. What you want to do is get a small bit of polish on your brush. Starting at the base of your nail, brush it to the right, then the left and finally down the middle. There! That wasn’t hard at all, right?
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Dab with Glitter
Who doesn’t love a bottle of glittery nail polish? What I don’t love is how hard it is to get to spread evenly. The answer is dabbing it rather than spreading it. Use the edge of the brush to dab the glitter all over your nails so it piles on evenly and gives you just the sparkle you crave.
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Go for More than One Coat
It might be tempting to slick on a thick coat of your favorite color to save time, but the truth is that it only takes longer to dry this way. Instead, layer on at least two thin coats of your colored polish, allowing a few minutes drying time between each. That way you get the rich, deep look you want without having smudged nails when you thought they were dry.
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Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Always Apply a Top Coat
Why? It helps seal the color on your nails and gives them a bit of shine too. Also, a top coat protects the tips of your nails so you won’t have to worry about dings and chips as you live your life. I love a clear top coat because it makes my nails so shiny and fun to look at.
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Try a Quick Drying Technique
If you’re anything like me, you love having your nails painted, but you don’t have time to sit there while they dry. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways around this. Try submerging your nails in cold ice water for a few seconds. The cold will set the polish. You can also give them a quick coating of cooking spray to set the polish and keep smudges at bay.
Did you learn anything new with this article? I hope my tips make painting your nails fun so you can enjoy your manicure. What other tips do you have?
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