Do you want to have beautiful nails, but don't have time to go for a manicure? You don't have to waste a lot of time to get beautiful nails. With just a little practice and a few tricks, you can already take care of your own nails.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparation Stage
Step 1. Choose the right nail polish
Not all nail polish is the same. Some have the potential to contain harmful chemicals, and some are of poor quality. There are a few things you need to keep in mind.
- Use B3F nail polish and base/coating paint, or “3 ingredients free”. These paints are free of formaldehyde, DBP, or toluene, and have become the industry standard. These paints are safer to use.
- Nail polish containing glitter lasts longer.
- When looking for white nail polish, look for one that is thick, soft, and not opaque.
- Quick-drying nail polish is handy, but it tends to dry out your nails.
Step 2. File your nails
Position the file between your skin and fingernail, and rub it in short, sharp movements in one direction. Never use a back and forth motion.
Step 3. Take care of your cuticles
Press the cuticles inward with a wooden cuticle press, but don't cut your cuticles. Soften with cuticle cream or olive oil.
Apply petroleum jelly to your cuticles and the skin around your nails to protect them from nail polish
Step 4. Clean and polish your nails
Use a buffer to gently buff your nails in small, one-way motions. Start from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Use a nail cleaner to remove dirt from inside your nails, and wash with soap and warm water.
Step 5. Mix the nail polish
Roll the nail polish bottle between your palms to mix the contents. Do not shake, because it will cause bubbles which will make painting difficult.
Method 2 of 3: Paint Nails
Step 1. Apply nail polish in three layers
Often the coat consists of a base coat, a coat of nail polish, and a finish. Sometimes, a light nail polish will need several coats before it is covered with a coat of paint, but don't use too much polish.
- If you're painting your nails neon, use a white basecoat to bring out the color of the nail polish.
- You can use clear nail polish with glitter as a cover polish to make it even more sparkly. Nail polish with glitter also lasts longer.
Step 2. Use the 3 dab technique
This technique is widely used by professionals. If done correctly, the painting process will run efficiently and neatly.
- Apply a drop of polish to the nail bed, slightly above the cuticle.
- Gently push the droplet with the brush until it almost touches the cuticle, then pull in a smooth, straight motion all the way to the tip of your nail.
- Move the brush back to the starting point, just above the cuticle. With smooth motions, apply along the curve of the left side of your nail.
- Repeat the same process on the right side of your nail.
- Erase any mistakes made with a small brush (eg an old lipstick brush) dipped in nail polish remover.
Step 3. Make sure your nails are dry before applying each new polish
Soak your fingers in ice water to dry quickly. Let the paint dry for a few minutes, then soak it in ice water for 2 minutes. The cold will sting your fingers a bit, but the paint will dry faster so the next coat can be applied immediately. Dry gently and thoroughly before moving on to the next paint.
Method 3 of 3: Preserving Your Nail Polish
Step 1. Let the nail polish dry
Regardless of how you speed up the painting process, nail polish takes time to dry. Painting your nails before the previous coat dries will only give you poor results. There are several ways to speed up this process.
- Spray cooking oil to help the paint dry quickly and protect it from smudging.
- Don't use the fan. It may appear that the paint will dry quickly if you let it air dry, but bubbles will appear on your nail polish.
Step 2. Fix the smudging
It's hard to be patient, and while immersing the polish in ice water will speed up the drying process, it will still take some time for the polish to dry completely. Most people smear their nail polish while it is drying. If this happens, just wet your fingertips with your tongue, and gently dab on the smear. Moisturizing your fingers will help the paint return smooth without any traces of fingerprints
Step 3. Protect your nail polish
Applying a fresh coat of paint to your nails periodically will help to preserve the nail polish. Apply a coat of paint twice a week to preserve the nail polish without flaking. Usually, quick-drying paints are best suited for this purpose.
