Top Secrets from Manicurists to Get Perfectly Painted Nails at Home ...

The first step in a perfect manicure is taking care of the nail itself! Your manicure will not look good if your nails are not properly prepped beforehand. Take the time to buff out ridges, trim down length, push back cuticles, and shape them with a file! And don't forget to moisturize your hands as well- dry hands and nails are not appealing. 💁🏻

Wanna keep your nail beds looking their best? Use cuticle oil and use it often! Any oil will do actually and I am particularly found of coconut oil and olive oil! Bonus- they're already in your kitchen so, super convenient. Cuticle oil, or the equivalent, keeps your nails healthy, hydrated, and the perfect base for a stunning mani!

No one likes to sit around and wait for your nails to dry, but this is the perfect time to add some fun designs! Try decals, a cool design, or better yet, holographic powder! Holographic nails are so hot right now! Don't forget a high-shine top coat to protect your fresh mani.

Don't you hate how an otherwise perfectly painted nail looks so bad when you have polish all over your skin?! And trying to remove it seems to only ruin your polish job. Here's a little tip-use a small eyeliner brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up the edges and around your cuticles! It works perfectly and doesn't mess up the nail at all. Just make sure your nails are somewhat dry (tacky is fine) so they don't smudge easy.

We all know the importance of face primer before foundation (the equivalent of a primer coat before a paint job). Well, same is true for your nails! A base coat allows your polish to adhere to you nails better, extends the life of your manicure, reduces, chipping, and prevents staining of your nail beds! It's safe to say applying a base coat is a pretty important step. 🤓

This a step that often gets neglected but is so important! You've probably noticed that when your manicure starts to chip, it fades around the edges of your nails first, leaving a white-rimmed tip. It totally takes away from the polished look! To avoid this, simply swipe a coat of polish along your edges, and again with your top coat to seal them. You'll be surprised how much longer your mani lasts!

When I'm not wearing a shellac manicure (I have a home kit!) I like to "refresh" my nails every couple days to keep them looking great. Just buff off the outer layer of polish, apply a thin layer of color, and finish with another thin layer of top coat. It's seriously so easy and quick and it looks as if you just had your nails done! Of course, this method doesn't work if you have serious chipping going on. But for minor wear/a dull appearance, a refresh is perfect. ✨🤗

I've gotten into the bad habit where I don't like the look of my natural nails! Polished nails are just so fun to look at and always look amazing. Fortunately, it helps that I love to do my own nails (as I'm sure most of you do as well!). I would love to hear any additional tips you might have in achieving that perfect mani! 🙌🏻