If you are on a budget and want to paint your nails at home instead of heading to the spa or salon every time you want a manicure or pedicure, don’t worry if you are new to nail polish application. Here are more tips you can keep in mind to ensure your nail polish is smooth and even.
Make sure to wipe away all traces of old nail polish with a cotton ball in nail polish remover before applying a fresh coat of color. Even if the only product you have on your nails is clear polish, this will prevent your colored nail polish from going on evenly if it is old and chipped.
Lay down a clear base coat on your nails once they are clean and dry. A base coat will help your colored nail polish go on smoothly and evenly.
Roll your bottle of colored nail polish in between your hands to mix the polish thoroughly. Do not shake the bottle, as this will create air bubbles that will affect the quality of the polish. Unscrew the bottle of polish, wiping the excess product on the brush off on the opening of the bottle so that it trickles back inside.
Swipe a stripe of polish down the middle of your nail from cuticle to tip before following it with color on either side. This guarantees that your nails have more polish in the center rather than on the sides, where the product can pool and roll off of your nails onto your skin. Begin your nail polish application with your smallest finger, saving your thumb for last instead of following the reverse order.
Allow your nails to dry, or at least let a half hour go by before applying a protective clear top coat on all your nails. Aside from making your nail polish last longer, a clear top coat also helps the colored polish settle smoothly on your nails. Any mild grooves or unevenness in application will disappear once the top coat spreads over your nail.
Dip the cotton-covered tip into nail polish remover and go over any spots of nail polish on your skin for nails that appear to be flawlessly polished.