Pish posh on $30+ glamour manicures in fancy salons… Especially when you can do the exact same thing at home – for less than $10!
Holler: I in no way claim to be a professional manicurist. So. The weird hate mail I’ve been receiving for getting nail polish on my cuticles can be redirected to… nowhere, preferably! Thaaank you. :)
Here’s how:
Step 1: Paint base coat!
Since I picked up a super-discount bag of various nail polishes yesterday, I decided to use one of the funkier ones… Sally Hansen Chrome Nail Makeup in “Ruby Chrome”! That crazy link was the only place I could find it, because its been discontinued. Anyhow, this is what it looked like once all my digits were properly lacquered. See? I think the color is neat… Anyway. Onward!
Step 2: Tape + Dried Nails!
I can’t stress enough the importance of “DRY NAILS” during this step. If they’re not completely dry… If they’re even the slightest bit tacky, you’re screwed. No joke!
Get some scotch tape (like 50 cents at Rite Aid, isn’t it?) and rip off a piece about 1.5 inches long. Delicately apply it to just the top of your nail, leaving only the curved part uncovered.
Be sure to press out all the air bubbles beneath the tape, otherwise our next polish will seep in and ruin our straight line!
Step 3: Paint over that ish!
Once you’re all prepped with varnish and tape and no-air-bubbles… Choose a different color polish (I chose my Borghese Nail Laquer Vernis in “Notte Black”) and carefully paint over the exposed top part of your nail. You can do two coats, if you like, or just apply slightly thicker if you’re rushed or impatient (like me :) ).
OMG LET THEM DRY. I know it’s tempting to try and yank off the tape to see the prettiness you’ve created… But you must hold off!
You can admire them, or take photographs of them while you wait… Like this!
Neat, huh?
Step 4: Peel it off!
You’re sure they’re dry…? 100% sure? Alright… Slowly peel off the tape. If it begins to rip the tape near the middle, lift up the other side of the tape and begin again from the other side. You should have some gorgeous nails after they’re all off!
Step 5: Apply Topcoat
Because they’re a tiny ridge between the new polish and the old, apply a liberal or two-coat top coat to smooth things out and keep from chipping. :)
Voila! You’ve cheated the system.
xoxo.
