About toe-nail painting?

[UnderTheDesk]

I have just horrified my DP by explaining my ‘system’ for painting my toe nails to him. It’s the first time I have revealed this to him, and he is reeling as if I suddenly revealed that I eat small children for lunch.

So basically my system is this - I slap the varnish on in the general direction of my toe nails, and the next morning in the shower, I pick off any overspill that has gone on to the surrounding skin. I might use a nail brush if really necessary. Then, ta-dah! Perfectly applied toe nail varnish!

Honestly, am I the only person that does that and a blot on toenail-painting humanity, as my DP’s reaction would seem to imply, or is this sort-of normal?

‘‘Tis my favoured method too. The varnish has to have had a decent time to dry though - ie preferably overnight - otherwise it just smears rather than being pickable.

In other ‘beauty tips to revolt people ‘ news: I never bothered using vaseline round my hairline when dyeing hair, as it would get everywhere including the actual hair resulting in a poor dye job. Instead, I would just not wash my face for a few days before dyeing. any dye that got on greasy skin would tend to wipe off pretty easily.

@steff13 good point, well made.

I think he was more flabbergasted at my complete lack of painting skills and nonchalance re same (he is actually a painter/decorater by trade so perhaps felt professionally offended), but now you mention it, I am getting retrospectively irked at the implied criticism.

cmlover I found applying the latex thing faffier than actually painting my nails- was stamping my nails so still helpful.

I actually don't do this unless I mess up, but I'm flexible so I can find a decent angle generally- even though I'm unfit and overweight I can easily touch my shoulder with my foot.

Sprogletsmuvva I've heard of not exfoliating your skin so it clean easier ...

How did I not know about this after being on the planet for nearly 40 years?! Although only been painting toenails for around 25 years so maybe I'm still catching up.
Now my related question, if I'm wearing peep toe shoes that only show two toenails, and going somewhere where I'm highly unlikely to have to take my shoes off, WIBU to only paint the nails that can be seen?! Please say it's fine.

Yep when I do it, however I often ask my oh to do them for me ! Still requires a shower but less picking off

@Sprogletsmuvva I like your style, although that personally wouldn’t work for me as the dye/dirt would just harden into the dry cracked crater that is my face. I just use the cream I wipe my toddler’s arse with to ‘gently lift off any residue’. Admittedly, my face smells like baby’s bum, but...eh.

We should start a newsletter. ‘Lovely and slovenly’ perhaps we could call it.

Oh gosh I do this too. I tend to always use the same colour, so I just keep adding it on to the freshly grown nail and tips and then dab the gel nail stuff on the top.

Then a flannel in the bath or shower in the morning and a slather of body lotion and my grotty feet look presentable.

YADNBU

I do similar.

If I've been particularly slap dash, I dip cotton buds in polish remover and gently rub around the worst bits.

Once dry, my feet get thoroughly soaked and wrinkly and the excess varnish comes away cleanly.

Never heard of this!

Is this why people pay so much for pedicures before holidays?

I’m not agile but I have never had difficulty reaching my toenails.

Yup, I do this too: it works brilliantly, but I agree not on fingers in the same way (why would that be? C'mon, someone on MN will have a scientific explanation...)

But I do it without the body lotion - what does the body lotion do

I the painted for nails. Hate them. I think it looks vulgar which is weird as Ibsm more than happy to slather on matte red lipstick at 8 in the morning. C'est la Vie.

Trust me my toenails look much nicer painted a pretty dusty rose than they do in their natural state.

Years of ballet when I was younger have ensured my feet do not look at all presentable without some considerable effort on my part

I use this approach for my finger nails every time I paint them! I can't think of any other way to do it.

I also keep a top coat in my car. I have a 25 min commute, so I quite often get in the car, seatbelt on, all ready to go, then paint a top coat and hey presto it's dry by the time I get to work with no boring sitting around remembering not to do anything fiddly.

(I do have a largely motorway based commute, so not much gear changing, but I've done it quite successfully on more faffy journeys too!)

YesI do that too!

I do this for toes and fingers! It definitely does work. I always wait for it to dry and then go and do the washing up... perfect nails after that 🙈

I do this too. I've found my people.

Is subscribe to slovenly and lovely ....

My technique is that I paint them side to side rather than up and down (apart from the big toe). Most toes are just one swipe.

i tried the latex thing once - i got it on half my toenails so whn i peeled it off so did the nailvarnish
so i reverted bck to picking the bits of the skin the next day

This thread has changed the life of women everywhere.
OP, we who are not worthy salute you.

I have to try this - genius idea !

I do this, OP, learned it from my mum.

I'm assuming that you could just use pva glue? I have a fairly large pot of it since dd abandoned her last craft efforts.

Yay! I do this too 👍🏼