Sometimes, you have to start from the beginning.
While Lindsay and I had some nail-painting skills before we began the July Challenge, we are by no means experts. Lindsay is just now learning how to care for her cuticles, and I still can’t make a perfectly-curved nail shape to save my life. As we learn these new tricks (and become super rich hand models) we’ve found a few other tips we’d like to share with you – just the basics, so you can get started on your profitable hand modeling career, too.
- Keep your hands hydrated and clean. For those about to paint: put lotion on your hands, do your cuticle work, and then wash your fingers before painting. You’ll get the hydration you need while prepping your nails, but also have a clean “work space” to paint on.
- Buff, buff, buff! Buffing your nails makes them more even, which in turn makes them much easier to paint.
- Oxygen is awesome. Well-ventilated rooms make polish dry more quickly and evenly.
- Shake it up! Roll the polish bottle between your hands before applying: it gets rid of air bubbles and evens out the color as it’s applied to the brush.
- Center, side, side. It might seem smartest to paint from one side of the nail to the other, but starting with one stripe, right in the center, then doing each side makes for a more even coat. (And people are going to see your nails straight on, more often than not, so who cares if the sides are a little uneven?)
- A clear top coat: it’s worth it. Seriously.
- Go acetone-free. Along with being less toxic, non-acetone polish remover won’t dry out your nails. Either that, or use lemon concentrate.
- Keep it cool. Nail polish should be kept away from heat and light – cool, dry places are best…so figure out where your potatoes are stored, and ask your polish to join them. (Or put them in the fridge. You know, since it’s easier than the basement.)
The above photos are me and my favorite brand of polish, Zoya. Zoya is free of toxic chemicals like toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor, goes on smooth and dries quickly. The above red is Posh Matte – yes, matte, I love matte, matte matte matte – and the blue is Robyn. If you get tired of the matte style, just add a clear top coat and let the shiny commence.
Do you have any nail polishing tips for us?
Check out other posts that are part of the July Challenge: Manicure/Pedicures!