Having my nails painted really helps me feel semi-put together. The problem comes in when I try to do it by myself. Then it looks like I gave my toddler the paint brush and let him go wild. For some reason, I have yet to master being able to paint my nails by myself despite trying for years. If you are lucky enough to be able to paint your own nails check out our favorite nail polish hacks below.
Loofah
First, apply your base coat and let dry. If you have an older loofah sitting around, take it apart and place it over your nail. Using a sponge, ‘paint’ over the loofah. Doing this will create a fishnet type look on your nail.
Sealing Your Manicure
When it comes comes to sealing your freshly done manicure, be sure to seal the top edge too. The top edge is the edge opposite of your cuticle. Run the brush horizontally long that edge to make sure the whole thing gets sealed.
OOPS!
If you accidentally get the nail polish on the skin around the nails don’t panic. If you take a small paint brush, dip it in nail polish remover and trace the edge where the extra polish is. This will easily remove any excess polish without ruining your hard work.
Applying Glitter
When applying glitter polish, it is best to dab it on instead of brushing it. When you brush it the glitter sticks in big blobs in certain places. When dabbed on (with a sponge) you are better able to evenly distribute the glitter on your nails.
Minimize Smudging
If you’re like me, your nails are constantly smudging. To eliminate that, apply several very thin layers of polish instead of one or two thick layers.
Vaseline
Applying Vaseline around the skin around the edge of your nails will help minimize the amount of polish that gets stuck on your skin. The vaseline allows you to simply wipe it away.
Old Polish
I have so many bottles of old nail polish in my bathroom. Instead of throwing them away, you can add some nail polish thinner to it and it will be back to normal.
Dip Powder Nails
You can use a dip powder nail kit at home to make beautiful nails instead of spending tons of money at the salon!
Humidity
If you are painting your nails and it’s really humid, make sure to give your nails at least twice the time to dry. Otherwise you could potentially cause bubbles in your polish.
Fans
When painting your nails, it seems as though a fan would help them dry faster. However, this isn’t the case. The fast moving air can possibly cause bubbles too.
Broken Nail
If you’ve ever broken a nail, especially right at the base you know what a pain it can be (literally). Instead of cutting it off or even ripping it off, you can patch it. Take a piece of a tea bag that is slightly bigger than the broken part. Attach the piece of tea bag with super glue. After the glue dries, apply nail polish like normal and seal it with a clear coat.
Straight Lines
The best way to achieve straight lines while painting your nails is to use nail tape.
Neon Colors
Neon colors don’t always seem to be as bright as you would like once put on your nails. After your base coat, apply a coat of white polish. Doing this will help your neon colors pop.
Remove Oils
Our nails tend to have some oils on them naturally. This can make it difficult to get the manicure you are looking for. Putting some white vinegar on a paper towel and wiping your nails down before you paint them will help the polish adhere to your nails better.
These tips will help you achieve that salon style manicure right at home. Do you use any other tips at home to get that perfect manicure? If so, please share your tips in the comment section. I’d love to hear them!
