You don’t have to be a professional manicurist to paint your nails, but you may need to watch out for common nail polish mistakes. We list the 5 most common mistakes and tell you how to do it instead.
1. BASE COATING
A base coat under the nail polish is the same as a primer under a foundation. The base coat prepares the nail for the first layer of nail polish and prevents it from getting stained.
Your natural nail contains oil, which means that the nail polish does not stick properly if you paint the nail polish directly on an untreated nail. So that is why you should always start by painting your nails with a base coat, so the nails will look good longer.
2. YOU FILL FORWARD AND BACK
Since the top part of the nail is the oldest, it is also the most brittle. Filing back and forth can damage the nail, it can be split or even broken off. To do this: place the file in one corner of the nail and file in the same direction, stay in the middle, and then start from the same place where you started. Repeat until you reach the desired shape.
3. YOU CUT THE NAIL BANDS
Removing small skin chips around the nail is one thing, but something you can never cutaway is your cuticles. The cuticles are protection against bacteria. So the only thing you have to do is pull them back, no more than that!
To keep your cuticles healthy, you can apply nourishing nails. When the cuticles become dry they can crack, and it can hurt very much. Have a nail room on your desk or in your bag and dab a few drops on your nails when they feel dry.
4. YOU APPLY FOR MANY STORES
Thin layers of nail polish are the key to a long-lasting manicure. If you paint for thick layers, they will smudge and get ugly when you touch things with your nails. Two thin coats of nail polish are generally the best!
5. YOUR Nails are tiling
Does your paint have a tendency to chip away at the edges? You’re not alone! Just using a topcoat is sometimes not enough. What you can do after you paint the first layer of the varnish is to paint the short side of the nail tip.
Do the same procedure after painting the second layer. Finally, you can apply a topcoat. Now your manicure should sit properly!