1. Line your nails
with petroleum jelly or white craft glue before painting them for an easy
cleanup.
If you're working on a nail look that's messy,
use a cotton swab to rub petroleum jelly like Vaseline on the skin around your
nails first. This creates a barrier between the polish and your skin so that
after you've painted your nails, you can wipe off the Vaseline and any polish
mistakes along with it.
Another way to prevent paint
from drying on the skin around your nails is to paint around your nail with Elmer's Glue first, and let it
dry. Then, paint your nails with polish and peel off the glue when you're
finished to clean up.
2. To prevent the tips of
your painted nails from chipping, paint two basecoat layers: one on the top
half of your nail and the second coat over the entire nail.
Unless your
polish is super opaque, the natural tint of your fingers will change the color
of your polish. To get the paint's true color, add a layer of white nail polish
first, and then go over it with your colored polish.
3. Use a white nail polish as your basecoat to make your nail color pop.
4. Paint your nail art
designs on a plastic sandwich bag first, pe
el them off, and seal them on your
nails with nail art glue or a clear topcoat for easy application.
If painting designs on your
dominant hand is too difficult, try painting them on a plastic sandwich bag
first. Paint a few thick coats of polish onto the plastic, and then add your
design on top. After it dries, peel each design off the plastic, and adhere
them to your nail with nail art glue or a clear topcoat.
5. Use paper hole
reinforcement stickers as a guide for painting a half-moon mani.
Place the paper hole reinforcement stickers along the base of your nail, and seal
it into place with a bobby pin or a nail art dotter tool. Paint your first coat
on each nail along the stickers. Then one nail at a time, paint a second coat
of paint, let it dry for a minute, and carefully remove the sticker. Use this tutorial for more tips on a
half-moon mani.
6. Give your nails two-tone
designs with tape.
After you've chosen two
different polishes, paint one coat of the lighter polish on each nail, and seal
it with a clear topcoat. After it is completely dry, apply two strips of tape
over the tips of your nails so that they cross in the middle and create a
point. Take the darker of the polishes, and paint a layer over the entire nail
and on top of the tape. Let it dry for a minute, and then grab both ends of the
tape and slowly peel them back at the same time for the finished look.
7. Use the tip of a pencil
eyeliner to place tiny nail art accessories like rhinestones on your nails.
When your fingers or tweezers
are too big to grab and place tiny jewels, use the tip of an eyeliner or lip
pencil instead. The end of a pencil is tacky enough to grip the jewel from
above and won't get in the way of your design.
8. Create a French manicure with ease by looping a rubber band around
your fingertip.
Take a rubber band and tie it
in the middle. Loop one end over your thumb to create tension on the band, and
align the other end over the top of your nail and just below the edge to create
the French tip shape. Use the edge of the rubber band as a guide, and paint the
tip of your nail.
9. Mix loose pigments with
clear polish to make a custom nail shade.
Pour a
little bit of eyeshadow pigment into a spoon, and then add a little bit of
clear polish to it. Mix it all together with a cotton swab, grab a brush, and
try out your new color.
10.
Create a marbled effect by using drops of swirled nail polish and a cup of
water.
Choose an
accent finger and tape underneath and around your nail to protect your skin.
Next, fill a small paper cup with filtered, room-temperature water. Grab two
different colors of paint and add drops of each polish into the cup of water,
alternating paints each time. Once you've added a few drops, grab an open paper
clip and swirl the layers together to create the design you want. Then, stick
your finger into the cup with your nail facing the paint layer. Holding your
finger in the cup for a few seconds, use your paper clip to gather the rest of
the paint away from your finger. Pull your finger out of the water and clean up
the edges for the finished look.
11. Make
your nail polish dry faster by soaking your nails in ice water after painting
them.
Fill a
bowl with ice and water, and soak your nails for a few minutes after painting
them. The cold water will set the paint and help your nails dry faster.
12. Spray
nonstick cooking spray on your nails to help the polish dry faster.
PAM
nonstick cooking sprayalso works as a quick-dry spray. Hold the can a few
inches away, and spray your nails evenly. Wait a few minutes, and then wash the
oily residue off your hands.
13. Fix a
smudged nail by adjusting the polish with the tip of your tongue.
If you
accidentally smudge almost-dry nails, try readjusting the paint with the tip of
your tongue instead of your finger. Your tongue is just soft enough to fix the
paint without leaving any imprints. Only use this tip only when necessary
though, and try not to lick your nail polish too often.
14.
Remove stubborn polish by soaking cotton pads in nail polish remover, wrapping
them around your nails, and securing them with foil.
To remove
stubborn or glitter nail polish easily, soak a cotton pad in nail polish
remover, and place it on your nail. Wrap a strip of foil around the cotton and
your figure, and squeeze to secure it. Leave the foil wraps on your fingers for
five minutes, and then slide off the foil and cotton at the same time. Your
polish will come off with it.
15. Paint
white craft glue as a basecoat before painting coats of glitter polish for easy
removal.
One way
to make glitter polish easy to remove is to paint Elmer's Glue on your nails as
a basecoat. Let the glue dry completely, and then paint over it with as many
coats of glitter polish as you want. Whenever you're ready to remove your
polish, peel back the glue and the glitter will easily come off with it.
16. Roll
your nail polish bottle instead of shaking it to avoid air bubbles.
Hold the bottle between your palms and rub your hands back and
forth to stir the polish without creating bubbles.
17. Loosen a stubborn nail polish lid by soaking it in hot water.
Place the nail polish bottle upside down in a cup. Fill the glass
with really hot water just high enough to cover the lid but not high enough to
soak the bottle of paint (hot water can tamper with the consistency of the
polish). Wait a few minutes, remove the nail polish bottle from the glass, and
then open the loosened lid.
To keep your polishes organized, paint a strip of
polish on an adhesive file folder label,
punch out a hole, and stick the paint sample on the top of the nail polish
bottle. Repeat this for all of your polishes, set them in a box, and store them
in a cool, dry place.
18. Unscrew a tight lid by wrapping a rubber band around the
handle for better grip.
Wrap a large rubber band around the top of a nail polish bottle
before trying to open it. The rubber will provide a better grip for twisting.
19. Spread petroleum jelly around the lip of the bottle before
closing it to prevent the polish from drying shut.
With a cotton swab, wipe a small amount of petroleum jelly into
the ridges on the top of the bottle. This will make it easier to open the next
time and prevent it from sealing shut.
.
20. Store your nail polish upright in a box with painted stickers
on top to indicate the colors.