Nail polish - I'm clueless - YouLookFab Forum

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Nail polish - I'm clueless

Astrid

Veteran

I've never really used nail polish, only a clear topcoat from time to time. Now I've bought two colors (nude and some berry color) yesterday and I have no idea what I'm doing! How do I use them so that the color on my nails looks even? Do you prefer a certain brand? Are there any secret tricks I should know about?

Thanks!

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

rute

Veteran

To be even I use always a base coat and then I chose a good nail polish, the important is the brush, I love L'oreal, Borjouis, maybelline.
There are certain colors that are more difficult to paint and white is always on the top!

krishnidoux

Veteran

I use a clear base coat first, to protect it from direct contact with the colour (After a while of wearing colours, your nails can become yellow).

Applying colour is tricky and will require more than one try. Be prepared, have your nail polish remover next to you, cotton balls and a wooden stick. Oh, and a good chunk of time ahead of you.

When the base coat is dry, I apply the colour. I like OPI and Essie, because they tend to last longer. Shake the bottle. Remove excess polish from the brush, but leave enough for entire strokes. Start applying from base to top of the nail but DO NOT TOUCH the skin or the edges. Use three strokes: first in the middle of the nail, then on either sides.With colour you will need to apply a minimum of two coats. So it's okay if your first coat is thinner rather than thicker, actually it's desirable.

If you do touch the edge by mistake, don't worry about it. When all the other fingers are done and dry enough, roll some cotton from the cotton ball onto the spiky end of the wooden stick, then dip that into solvent. Next carefully rub over the areas that you want to "erase". You may have to re-do a nail or two in the beginning, don't worry about it.

After two coats, I like to apply a top coat of fast dry solution that also make the nail shine more. Otherwise, you can also use this old trick: a drop of oil on each nail when they are almost dry will dry them completely. Just dip to the tip of your finger in oil (any, even olive oil) and dab in on each nail; then rub it on gently.

I repeat myself, but applying colour is not easy. You have to do it a couple of times before you find what works for you. I found this video useful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I always use a base coat too as my nails seem to yellow very easily. I use Opi but mainly because some of the others give off a smell that makes my head hurt.

I am not as careful as the others. I find if I do my nails in the evening, the little bits I get on my skin wash off in the shower the next morning without resorting to polish remover.

I do basecoat, two coats of color, and one coat of clear topcoat. I have oily nailbeds too so usually wipe the nails with rubbing alcohol before I start so it lasts longer.

As to color, anything you really like is fair game. I like the pinky corals and nudes.

Sara L.

Veteran

I use Sally Hansen Manicure in a Bottle. You don't need the base and top coat with it although I still use at least two coats to get the opaqueness that I like. It comes off easy too which is the part about painting my nails I hate the most. I'm like dianthus - I paint my nails in the evening and then wash off any stray paint that got on my skin in the shower the next morning. I usually paint them in the evenings when the kids are in bed and all the chores I done. I can just sit on the couch and let them dry for a couple hours before bed. Water is terrible for nail polish so try to stay away from getting your nails wet for the first few hours after painting them.

christieanne

Veteran

I am horrible at painting my own nails and toes mostly because i don't have the patience to let it dry long enough and end up smudging. You already have good advice but mine would be to let dry without moving around (or reading a book even) for a long long time.

Practice with your lighter shade first too

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks everybody for all the advice! Seems like base coat, two layers color and top coat is the way to go. I don't have a base coat yet, but I used the nude color and my topcoat to try it out and I think it looks alright. Not perfect, but not too bad for a first try. I'll practice some more...

Aida

Veteran

Astrid, if you can get Seche Vite top coat I would highly suggest that as your topper. It is nice and strong, really lengthens the durability of your manicure, and also will help dry the polish out with lightning quick speed. Definitely start with a base coat, I'm using OPI's basic base, but I hear Seche Vite Retain is a fab one.

The video that Krish linked looks pretty good, though I would suggest a slightly different painting method. After getting the paint on the brush, set it down a little upwards from the cuticle, then slide the brush gently towards the cuticle before moving the brush back up the nail and out to the tips (did that make any sense? ><). Do the same for the sides, seting the brush in the center and away, the slide gently towards the cuticle on the sides and then painting up the side. This keeps polish off your skin while giving you a nice interior line. You do want to have a good bead of paint for this method or you won't have enough to cover with each stroke. Practice makes perfect for sure.

Start with your off hand (so if you're left handed, paint your left hand first). Do the base coat on each hand, then one coat of your polish on each hand. Wait a few minutes, then do a second coat. Wait a few minutes and then apply the Seche Vite top coat. After about 10-15 minutes you should be good to go!

EDIT: Another tip: when doing the second polish coat, before going into the nail, get a very thin coat of paint on the brush and then run it along the tip of your nail so you get polish along the tip and a little underneath. This will "wrap" the nail in polish and also helps prevent chips. You can also wrap with the top coat for real chip resistance!

Sylvie

Veteran

I push back my cuticles with an orangewood stick (only after a shower or soaking). Having that clean spot of the base of your nail is one of the things that helps a salon manicure look so good.

Also, it goes without saying that a little shaping/filing of your nails beforehand will help the aesthetic appearance as well.

I don't usually do my hands because I chip them almost immediately, but when I do my toenails, I go all out and give myself a full on pedicure.

Soak feet, scrub off dried skin, slather with lotion, etc.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I use OPI. I must have 30 of their colors. OK, some of them are for DD, but they are also pretty to look at.

raclar

I love when my nails are painted BUT I don't like actually painting them- I have having to sit still while they dry and also my left hand can't paint the right very well! I think I just need more practice... and more patience!

I really like Butter of London polishes- they're a bit spendy but it seems like they last a bit better for me.

ManidipaM

Veteran

I hardly ever use nailpolish any more, but I was a regular at one point (I think I had over 60 different colours) and did a lot of painting, largely because I'm both clumsy and impatient.

Krishnidoux and Aida have said all there is to say about technique. I'm just going to add that for a beginner especially, it's very handy if you can get a nailpolish remover pen. It's like a felt-tipped marker that you slide along the skin to take strays and smudges away. MUCH easier than fooling around with cotton buds and balls, where stray fibres keep trying to stick to your 'new' nails and the sogginess is harder to control.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks everybody for the additional advice! Maybe you'll see me in some future outfit post with colorful nails, who knows?

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I say; good luck! I have no tips to contribute.

It's funny how I can sew up lacerations in other people but can't paint my own nails!

Aida

Veteran

Oh Manidipa, that is a good point! I don't use pen, but I do use a small paint brush and dip into acetone for detailed cuticle cleanup if it's needed (a small angled make up brush will also work). This also preserves the polish on my fingers during cleanup