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Original poster

Any tips for doing nail varnish please?

32 replies

Pointlessfan · 30/12/2014 22:41

When I do my nails it always looks like a small child was playing with mummy's nail varnish!
Any tips please, especially for getting it neat around the base of the nail. I leave a little gap but it's always wonky!

OP posts:
WerewolfBarMitzvah · 30/12/2014 22:44

Try this ...

Any tips for doing nail varnish please?
MegMogandOwlToo · 30/12/2014 22:46

It takes practice, really, but I find the easiest way is to aim to paint each nail in three quick strokes - one in the middle, and one either side.

That way you avoid streaking.

Also don't try and get it perfect on the first coat, the second coat can be the one to fill in the gaps.

If you do get any on the surrounding skin, you can easily pick it off once it's dried.

daimbardiva · 31/12/2014 00:17

Just go for it - the more you do it the better you'll get at it. I've also find that using a good quality polish actually does really make it easier.

Original poster
Pointlessfan · 31/12/2014 07:10

Thanks, do you use base coat?
I always get it on my skin and use a cotton bud dipped in remover to get it off but it doesn't really work very well and often smudges the nail, picking it off when dry is much more sensible!

OP posts:
mkmjimmy · 31/12/2014 07:21

How do you paint your right hand if left handed. Left hand nails look ok....right hand look like 3 yr old painted them...

violetbunny · 31/12/2014 07:27

Keep well away from the nail bed. Leave a small gap and it will look a lot neater.

amigagal · 31/12/2014 09:35

Practice. Try different makes and colours as some are easier to paint than others. Essie in Boots has a good shaped brush which is wide and flat which helps get a neat line. OPI also has a wider brush.

Original poster
Pointlessfan · 31/12/2014 09:47

I think I need more practice! I try to do them every week but in reality it's much less often. Wish I could afford to get regular manicures!

OP posts:
Drquin · 31/12/2014 09:57

Try Rimmel's Salon Pro.
It's quick drying and a wide brush ..... Depending on nail size, one sweep is almost enough to cover whole nail.
Don't go too close to sides or nail bed.
Leave to dry - then dip nails in cold water to harden.
Dried excess can be picked off - especially easy in the shower next day!

Picastyle · 31/12/2014 10:10

The secret is to hold the brush a couple of mm in front of the cuticle, splay the brush and push forward a mm.

IME It's all about anchoring really. Starting back a bit anchors the brush to the nail, anchor your hand to be painted on a flat surface and the elbow/ forearm of the hand that's doing the painting needs to be anchored too.

Holding fingers in mid air is nigh on impossible.

hollyisalovelyname · 31/12/2014 10:40

Sally Hansen polish sold in Tesco Boots et all has the best brush imo.
I've actually transferred polish into SH bottle as the brush is so good.
Not a fan of Essie for home manicure- the brush isn't good for an amateur and the polish too watery .
I'm a 'put nail varnish on for an evening in a rush' girl. I don't expect it to last for a week.
If I want a long lasting manicure I get a Gelish manicure. I get almost 4 weeks out of it , ev
ery 6 months approximately

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/12/2014 10:51

YY to the brand and the brush.
I have very slim nails, I find the OPI small bottles have the ideal size brush but it's a shorter length which alot of people don't like.

Conversely, I found the brush on the No7 bottle kept dripping colour down the length as it was so long, no matter how I swirled it to remove the excess.

Watch Leighton Denny on QVC , he does the 'leave a gap and push the colour back towards the cuticle' then you don't flood the cuticle.
I don't leave a side gap, I don;t think it looks flattering, it just looks like you've missed a bit Hmm but then I have very slim nails.

zipzap · 31/12/2014 10:58

Try poundland for nail varnish - I've bought brands like essie, Sally Hansen, revlon, and more, for just a pound instead of several pounds in Boots or a department store. It's a great way to try different brands cheaply to find ones that you like!

Also - i know it's not quite what you're asking - for toe nails done quickly and easily - do them before you get in the bath or shower and they dry out in the water. Don't attack your toenails with a towel to dry them but they're pretty good. And a couple of minutes after getting out, if you have any extra bits on the skin, it's easy just to scratch them off.

Unfortunately it doesn't work so well for fingernails as you're invariably using your fingers to wash with so likely to smudge it before it sets - although it might be worth trying if you're going to have a long soaky bath and not intending doing anything to start with!

allmycats · 31/12/2014 11:18

Always, always use a base coat, then 2 coats of colour and then a top coat,
you should now have a 'professional' looking finish- and don't touch ANYTHING for at least 1/2 an hour.

Decanter · 31/12/2014 11:37

Agree with allmycats. Loads of time between coats. Base, 2 colour coats and top. I never take less than an hour to do my nails if I want them to look professional, and last. I never touch my skin, not at the cuticle nor the sides with the polish. I have quite thick fingers and learned years ago that using a dark polish and painting it in narrower, not going right to the sides, makes nails appear slimmer. Agree about anchoring. I make sure the heel of my hand or even my elbow are resting on something, and it makes it stable. Really though, practice is the key. I was totally crap at it once as well and now I do familys' nails. I like opi, and any of the more slightly watery polishes, as I can do 2 (or 3 if needed) light coats and it won't smudge as it's not a big thick build up.

Original poster
Pointlessfan · 31/12/2014 15:57

Thank you for all the advice. Going to get all the polish off later and try again following these tips. Good idea to try Poundlabd too!

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 31/12/2014 16:03

A good nail brush that suits you is everything. I can only do mine really well with OPI and Maybeline 60 second finish brushes. Always have a little pot of nail polish remover on had with ear buds to remove smudges

confused79 · 31/12/2014 16:13

A decent Base coat and top coat are a must. I use Revlon which is pricey but usually manage to get a buy one get one half price deal at Boots, and lasts for ages (that's with me doing both my toe and finger nails all the time.
I always have my nails short as nail polish tends to last longer then, they snap too easily otherwise.
Thin coats are better than thick. When I do the top coat I put a coat on normally, then "cap" the nail ; a coat along the tip.
I tidy up my nails with cotton buds, nail polish remover and a nail file. Don't necessarily use the cotton bud itself to remove the nail polish as the pressure can also take the nail polish off the nails. Instead use the cotton bud to place the nail polish remover on, and then the nail file to take it off.

I can usually get a week of heavy handedness using this technique, and I always get compliments on how good they look!

MrsKravitzFromAcrossTheStreet · 31/12/2014 16:35

I tried to buy a micronail electric buffer today but they were out of stock - apparently they make varnish go on much easier as they smooth out all the ridges.

I have found that Seche Vite top coat has transformed applying polish for me - it really does dry quick and prevent smudges, which I was always getting before as I am so impatient! Also make sure you wipe nail polish remover over your nails first to remove any grease that will prevent the varnish adhering. Definitely use a base coat and as pp's have said short nails chip less.

I really like the brushes in boujois bottles, but I prefer the coverage and colours of OPI. But one of my favourite polishes in colour and application is a cheapo collection 2000 one! (geranium if anyone's interested)

flux500 · 31/12/2014 16:38

I always take the brush out of the bottle and only scrape excess from one side of the brush, then turn the brush over and this is the side I apply to the nail (so the side I have not scraped is the one I use on the nail). Seems to have just the right amount on.

Practice is the only way to get it right. I find boots seventeen have great little polishes and they have a flat wide brush (and are really cheap) and I have one in a pale pearlescent creme color which is so easy to apply and even if you go a bit wrong you can't even notice. I would say this is a good colour to get your practice in with and then when you're more confident move onto darker colours. If I want excellent nails for a special occasion I get OPI gel :)

GraysAnalogy · 31/12/2014 16:43

Best long lasting nail colour ive found it Barry M with a top coat. Couldn't believe how long it lasted.

SinglePringle · 31/12/2014 18:14

I do three strokes - on one either side then one down the middle to 'join' them. Two coats with at least 20 mins between each and then Seche Vite on top. I usually use Essie polishes and my manicures last a week.

Original poster
Pointlessfan · 31/12/2014 18:40

OPI seems popular here, I've never heard of it! Is it expensive? If so, would it be better to practise with cheaper brands?
I have a few from Avon that I'm experimenting with at the moment.

OP posts:
Decanter · 31/12/2014 20:22

I honestly don't know if opi is expensive here now but it's not budget. Best to compare online. Most of my opi polishes (around 20) were bought in America around 8 Years ago and they are still going strong - have never gone gloopy and are still in use. Definitely good quality so worth paying for if they turn out to be expensive.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 31/12/2014 20:26

I have a bottle of "I'm Not Really a Waitress" that is in excess of 4 years old . I wore it on my very long false nails on Hallowe'en.

YY to eBay - I got a small bottle of a Christmas 2014 for about £4.

Used to get on QVC but I'm not a nail varnish wearer IRL.

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