Painting your nails at home always seems like a good idea at first. (Cheap, fast and in your underwear...) But between the streaks and the smudges and the general fear-of-screwing-everything-up anxiety, you could end up swearing off the process forever. First, calm down (you can do it). Second, read up on three genius tricks that will help you finally master the at-home mani.
1. Always leave your thumbs for last. They come in handy if (sorry, when) you need to clean up any edges. Instead, paint your pointer or pinky finger first. Then slowly work your way over to the rest of your digits.
2. Don't fear the non-dominant hand. To ensure that both sides are equally polished, think backward: Keep your non-dominant hand (the one with the brush in it) in one place and move your dominant hand underneath it to catch the paint.
3. Never worry about getting a little polish on the surrounding skin. Just let your nails dry and harden overnight. Then the next morning in the shower, you can peel off the mistakes like magic.
10 Tips For The Perfect Manicure
Remove Polish(01 of10)
Open Image Modal"Remove any previous nail polish using a cotton pad." (credit:Shutterstock)
Exfoliate (02 of10)
Open Image Modal"After removing your previous polish and before you start the nail care process, gently exfoliate your hands for smooth, clean skin." (credit:Shutterstock)
Soak(03 of10)
Open Image Modal"Soak your nails in a small dish for about two to three minutes in warm water (not hot), to soften your cuticles." (credit:Shutterstock)
Prep(04 of10)
Open Image Modal"Dry off your hands and gently start to push back your cuticles. Tip: try to avoid trimming your cuticles as it can cause hangnails. If you find you have several hangnails, use cuticle scissors to clean them up."Quo Professional Cuticle Scissors, $25 (credit:Shutterstock)
File And Shape(05 of10)
Open Image Modal"Ensure your nails are dry before you start to file and shape. If you find that your nail is slightly discoloured (an off-white or yellow nail), use a nail buffer to brighten and smooth [them out]. File your nails to a length and shape that best fits your style. Tip: spring 2012 trends show short nails or longer nails with round tips (a claw-like effect) are popular." (credit:Shutterstock)
Base Coat(06 of10)
Open Image Modal"Always apply a base coat to prevent nail discolouration and to help maintain your manicure. You only need to apply one coat."Strong bond, Quo By Orly, $10. (credit:Quo By Orly)
Colour(07 of10)
Open Image Modal"Next, pick any colour from your polish collection and always apply two coats (this will bring out the true colour of your polish).Tip: if you have polish on your skin after your apply your two coats of colour, use a Q-tip dipped in a small amount of polish remover to clean them up before you apply your top coat." (credit:Shutterstock)
Top Coat(08 of10)
Open Image Modal"Last and most important is the top coat (one coat is enough) for a shiny, flawless finish (let your nail colour sit for a few minutes before applying the top coat to avoided smudging)." (credit:Shutterstock)
Dry(09 of10)
Open Image Modal"Let your nails dry for about 30 minutes." (credit:Shutterstock)
Hydration (10 of10)
Open Image Modal"Finish off your manicure by hydrating your cuticles and hands." This will prevent drying that can happen as a result of using alcohol-based products. (credit:Shutterstock)