Nail Art and The Care Required to Nail it Like a Pro
Focus on more than colour when choosing nail polish. Choose high-quality nail salon brands. Essie, OPI, and Sally Hansen are professional favourites found in most beauty aisles.
START WITH THE RIGHT NAIL POLISH
FILE AND BUFF YOUR NAILS
Start your manicure or pedicure with clean hands and nails. File and buffer nails. Corner-to-center nail file movement. Nail files are not saws. Avoid dragging it across your nails—it can splinter and damage tips.
DON’T FORGET THE BASE AND TOP COAT OF THE NAILS
No professional nail technician skips this step, so don't either! A solid base is needed because residue and oils on your nails can chip or peel polish. Base coats prevent nail and cuticle breakage, splitting, and peeling.
OUTLINE YOUR NAIL CUTICLES WITH A FINE TIP BRUSH
Use a clean, fine-tipped acetone polish remover brush to outline cuticles. This greatly improves salon results by repelling polish from the skin. Moisten cuticles with oil or lotion after polishing.
APPLY THE NAIL POLISH PERFECTLY AND WITH CARE
Roll the nail polish bottle for 15-20 seconds before opening it. This mixes the polish without bubbles, which can unevenly coat the nail. When you take the brush out of the bottle, clean one side and fan it along the neck.
ROTATE YOUR DOMINANT HAND TO APPLY NAIL POLISH
Using your non-dominant hand to apply nail polish is difficult. Applying polish with your left hand can be difficult for righties. Lay your right hand flat and rotate it as you move along the nails instead of using your weak left hand.
ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE DRYING TIME
Leave your nails to dry completely after the last coat before continuing your day. The drying time depends on the nail polish and number of coats, but 20 minutes is needed to set the colour.