Nail polish virgin needs help!

[dontcryitsonlyajoke]

I'm 39 and am a recovering nail biter of 30 years standing. I'm still a bit prone to a nibble when they split at the edges (they're still quite weak) but am getting better at having nail files lying around so that I fix it instead.

I've only ever used coloured polish on my toes and clear varnish on my fingers. But this holiday they are nice enough to try something and I went with hot pink! DH thinks they look great, and I'd like to wear colour more. But they look rubbish close up and I have so many questions which the internet isn't answering in enough detail so I thought I'd ask you all!

Here goes:

1. what should my basic nail care regime be? They are weak and split, and not quite as long as they probably should be to look their best given in overcoming decades of biting. Do I need special products? Can I wear polish all the time or do they need a breather?
2. how do I choose what colours to wear? I mainly wear navy, grey, cream, orange and mustard colours (another of my many preparing for my 49th projects is my wardrobe!)
3. how do I put varnish on? The Internet just says "paint on the varnish starting in the middle". But I have so many more questions - how close to the nail bed do I go? How do I avoid getting it on the sides or tip of my fingers? How do I get it even rather than streaky or blotchy? How do I get it to dry quickly? How do I clear off the bits I get on my skin - when it's still wet or when it's dried? How do I remove polish without smearing it all over my fingers as I then spend ages and loads of cotton wool pads getting it off my fingers??
4. what tools do I need? I have cotton pads, cotton buds and a bottle of varnish remover. Do i need fancier stuff?

So many questions! Any help, or links to good blogs/webpages gratefully received

A nail polish remover pen is also handy to have as it makes it easier to clear up any smudge of polish around the nail.

That sounds perfect! Cotton buds are so imprecise.

Yes, they need to breathe!

I hardly wear polish because she. You take it off your nails are all manky

Don't file back and forth as that will split them. Try each colour out, maybe buy a variety set? I have been wearing light grey and baby pink a lot. I think that red makes my hands look puffy.

Go to just below the top of your nail and wiggle the polish up as high as you can without getting it onto the cuticle, and then paint down. I've never found that a topcoat keeps it in any better condition but I do use a base coat. Try and dab some on the ends of the nails to stop the paint peeling or flaking

Treat yourself to a manicure and watch how they do it. Sit for an hour afterwards without using your hands.

I find that if I get some on my skin it comes off in the shower. I use my thumb nail to tidy up as I go then paint those last.

Regarding application, YouTube videos are brilliant for watching technique, look for Deborah Lippmann, for example. Then practice.

I am an avid nail painter and am pretty good at doing my own but would just say that's a result of lots and lots of practise!

I luckily have strong nails so don't have many tips for improving the condition of your nails. I do use cuticle oil sometimes when my nails feel a bit dry and find that helps.

My nails are painted 5 days out of 7 probably but I do leave them bare for longer sometimes if they feel a bit dry.

I have all sorts of nail varnishes and have found most expensive are often the most disappointing! My favourites are Essie, Revlon and MUA probably. Best advice is to always use a base coat and top coat. I use sally Hansen for both and use the Insta dry top coat which is fab.

Hope that helps!

I second the Sally Hansen recommendations. Their Insta Grip Base Coat and Mega Shine Top Coat make even the cheapest polishes last a week on your hands and a month on your toes.

In terms of blogs, I like The Polishaholic but that's not so much a technique blog as it is a showcase of the latest colours. It's a good way to check out new ranges though.

Oh and when you're buying a polish, open the bottle and have a look at the brush. If you're a beginner then a wide flat brush is best. Boots No 7 have the best brush out there, and their Gel Finish polish is very good indeed.

I like the Barry M corrector pen for sorting out mistakes. It's available in Boots & Superdrug (probably other shops too). I got a pipette from a pharmacy & refilled it with acetone, making it a pretty good bargain. There's 2 spare pen tips as well, mine has lasted me quite a while so far.

You'll get a lot more proficient & confident with practice. I woul recommend always using a good basecoat if you're using colour, as it can stain. Top coat will prolong the life of your manicure. I personally leave a couple of hours between each coat, I find each coat dries properly & fairly quickly, & I'm not stuck with soft nails for a couple of days.

Thank you all. Such good tips! I definitely need to practise a lot, particularly on my right hand as my left hand isn't very adept (I'm the opposite of ambidextrous!)

Another tip I've heard (but not tried) is to paint glue around your nail and then peel it off once dry. Any wayward streaks of polish go on the glue and peel off with it!

Mine were awful, then I bought some Jessica Phenomenoil which I've been rubbing into my nails and cuticles. They are looking much better.

2nd the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in the red bottle. Otherwise you're waiting around for ages.

You have to use a base coat under strong colours or your nails will stain.

My fave brands are Barry M & Rimmel. Cheap and cheerful. If you've got short nails, try a red. It often looks cooler on shorter nails as long as they're even. Less talon-y.

If you're too nervous for red, a decent opaque pale colour is good, Rimmel have one called English Rose which I use when my nails aren't that great as it just makes them look "clean".

My main top tip is do it whilst watching telly. Its relaxing and you're not doing anything with your hands anyway.

Oh and I remember a diagram I found which I found enormously helpful for application, I'll see if I can find it for you.

I was taught to paint in 3 strokes, one down middle and one either side. You don't have to go right up to the nail bed as you won't notice a slight gap. Works for fingers tho depending on how wide your thumbs are you may need an extra stroke. I leave bits on skin for a few hours till I know it's totally dry as it then comes off easily.

I think this was it:

You can when dry run your nail or whatever along the sort of moon area (where you make mistakes between the nail and skin) and this can sort of peel the excess polish off.

Q Tips or cotton buds with polish remover for mistakes.

Top coat as Telephone says is good for extending. Base-coat is good but I don't bother!

For brighter colours I tend to leave to a nail salon as they're more precise.

The colours you suit depend on your skin tone/colour as well as what you wear. I err on beige for finger-nails but as I can get away with it, bright almost royal blue, a grass green one in boots and also a blue one (lighter, more pastel) but also orange

polishtopia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/nails-inc-ibiza-orange.html

You'll get the most professional look if you leave a tiny gap either side and below i.e. do not apply polish all the way down to your cuticles. This way there shouldn't be any on your skin to clean but if there is, it's easy to peel off when dry especially after washing.

Rimmel 60 Seconds polishes are great value when you're starting to build your collection. Also invest in a base coat and a quick drying top coat, Sally Hansen is fine. I wear all sorts of colours but generally avoid very pale ones. Try a taupe, charcoal, coral, navy and dark red.

It just takes practice. I've done my nails twice a week for many years now and have pretty much mastered it.

Another tip for extending the life which works IME: finish the application of each coat by running the side of your brush across the free edge of your nail. It helps to seal everything up, so water can't get in under the polish and start chipping it off.

See here

You need basecoat and topcoat. Quick dry topcoat is best. Sally Hansen Insta dri is good.
For Messes on the cuticle or sidewalls use a small, flat makeup brush dipped in acetone to sweep round.
Nails don't need a break from polish but you will get yellowing staining. Base coat reduces but doesn't eliminate that.
Before you apply polish use cuticle remover and push back your cuticle. Wash hands. Gently file nails in one direction. Wipe the nails over with polish remover and then start basecoat, wait a min, colour coat, 2nd colour coat after 2 mins and then topcoat. Make sure you have enough on the brush that it flows nicely without being blobby/running.
Use cuticle oil daily on nails and cuticles. Wear gloves to wash up and don't pick or use your nails as tools.
It's worth getting a pro mani to see painting technique and getting them occasionally to have your cuticles done properly and a treatment like paraffin wax.
Good cheap polish options are Barry m and gosh.

Base coat to protect the nail from staining
Top coat to keep the Colour in place.
Nail hardener and shine by Sally Hansen
A nail buffer
Nail files
Hand cream
Cuticle cream
Cuticle cutters.
For the polish Go to poundworld.
They have a range of colours
For starting out colours. I would recommend
Red
Light pink
Peach
Gold
Silver/grey

Taking cod liver oil will really help the condition of your nails

I am partial to OPI and Essie polishes but they can be pricey. And really, if you have a good quality base and top coat then even the cheapest polish will go the distance.

I use Nail nurse from Rimmel to sort out my split nails. They are tons better.

I find that if I use a decent polish (generally OPI), when it's really dry I wash my hair and the lathering action seems to lift off any little bits that are on the skin. Doesn't work as well with cheaper polish.