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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Tips on applying nail polish evenly PLEASE!

15 replies

boogiewoogie · 09/12/2013 13:05

Okay, I've just had a really disastrous experience with painting my nails red.

-Nail varnish smudging while painting the nails on the other hand
-Correcting with nail polish remover and catching strands of cotton wool on the not yet dry nails.

Some nails looking lumpier than others.
Bottle slipping out of my hand when carefully reaching for it to close lid and not smudge second attempt and thus spilling some of the contents on my jumper!

Really, how do people do it so that it looks professional especially when they have to paint the nails on the stronger hand with the weaker han ? I've got stubby nails as it is and am probably cursed with butter fingers!

OP posts:

MaryShelley · 09/12/2013 13:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hopefully · 09/12/2013 14:49

3 stripes per nail. Paint the stronger hand first - easier to avoid smudging with your stronger hand.

Go for several thin layers rather than one thick one - if you run out of varnish half way through a nail don't re-dip, just leave it till the next coat.

2-3 mins between coats. Don't rush, expect it to take a couple of attempts before it's perfect. Top coat and drop dry fast drying stuff solves most minor blips.

TallulahBetty · 09/12/2013 14:51

I don't worry about getting it in the skin around the nails. It comes off in the shower or can be picked off later.

mrsmoscow · 09/12/2013 19:49

Sali Hughes from the Guardian suggests painting a perfect nail shape on your nail. I find it looks so much better than trying to cover your own nail.
Hope that makes sense!!?

nomorecrumbs · 09/12/2013 20:02

I find it's all above not overloading and underloading the brush. Tricky to master!

Original poster

boogiewoogie · 09/12/2013 21:47

Thanks. I shall pop over and have a look at the Sali Hughes article. I guess it's just a matter of practice right? A pity that I only apply it when there's an event. I find that I have to literally do nothing with my hands for the next half hour or so before they're safe from denting and smudging.

OP posts:

Cariad007 · 09/12/2013 22:01

Try and get yourself a nail polish remover pen for tidying up a around the cuticles. Much better than a cotton bud!

Original poster

boogiewoogie · 09/12/2013 22:06

Thanks for that Caria. I'll have a look in Boots.

OP posts:

frankietwospots · 09/12/2013 22:14

I think nail polishes that have quite a fat brush make a difference to the application. I've got a fab red called Devil's Delight by No7 which has a really fat brush. It's so easy to apply. One stripe down the middle, then the edges, done.

PepeLePew · 09/12/2013 22:29

I think it depends on the nail varnish as well. These days I only really use Rimmel 60 second polish - it's thick so a dream to apply with an excellent wide flat brush and dries fast so you can put another coat on quickly (bit more than 60 seconds though). I find expensive polish just isn't worth it - streaky, chips easily.

I always clean my nails first with remover before starting. Then I put on a base coat and two coats followed by a top coat and Seche Vite. I do it while watching tv - nothing for 30
minutes afterwards.

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 09/12/2013 22:36

Agree with several points above, fat brushes really help, Essie are good as well as Rimmel. Wipe clean with remover first, then base coat, 2-3 colour coats and Seche Vite or another fast drying topcoat. Sit at a table with white paper under your hands and good lighting and space right round your hands. Half load the brush so it doesn't drip. Hold it at a 45 degree angle and touch onto the nail a couple of mm from the cuticle and go back towards the cuticle stopping just short then sweep back to the tip without lifting the brush off. Repeat either side.

WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes · 09/12/2013 22:38

I do it just before bed, get ready so you can wait for a couple of mins and then go to bed without doing anything else, I leave my hands outside the covers for 10 mins or so.

whereisshe · 09/12/2013 22:38

What I do:

good base coat (I use Nubar Foundation)
two thin coats of polish (if the formula needs 3 coats I don't use it), wait as long as possible between coats. I usually do one stripe up the middle then do the sides, not too much on the brush. And I don't go all the way to the edges, then it doesn't bleed into my cuticles
fast dry top coat (I use China Glaze fast forward)
drying drops (currently Orly but they're all pretty similar)

I do all of one hand before I start the next one. Red is hard btw, very unforgiving and hard to tidy up. I'd start with something more forgiving like taupe.

tabulahrasa · 09/12/2013 22:53

I do it the night before...anything other than massive amounts on your fingers will come off in the bath when you're getting ready for whatever you've painted your nails for and if you really stuff up you've got time to start again.

Scrape at least half the polish off the brush, three strokes, middle then sides, do one hand, then the other...wait ten minutes repeat, sit on mumsnet for half an hour at least.

trixymalixy · 09/12/2013 23:21

Has to be decent nail varnish. I like Essie. It also comes with a nice fat brush so you can do your nails in 3 strokes. One down the middle, then one down either side, sweeping round the nail bed then straight down to the tip.

Get your DP/DH to do the other hand! If not stat with your weak hand and let dry completely before doing the stronger hand. It just takes practice.

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