Toe nail polish

[OldJoseph]

If you paint your own toe nails what brands / colours do you use? Also do you have any top tips to make them look professionally done?

I like Essie, Nails Inc, and for a budget option, Barry M. My tips would be always use a base coat (like Essie grow stronger) and shiny top coat (like Barry M Plumpy) (if you want them shiny of course). Use several very thin coats and dry totally in between. paint almost to the edges of nails but stop short of where the nail touches the skin, so it looks neat and doesn't bleed onto your skin. But at the tips, paint over the end and onto the top edge of the nail - stops them chipping.

I love bright pink/orange colours but there's a nice thread about colours and brands here

Also don't use heavy glitter nail polish on your toenails unless you want to spend half an hour scrubbing it off later :o I sometimes do decide it's worth it but it's a palaver.

I like Body Shop, also Chanel (pricy). I recommend painting the nails the day before the event as they just tend to look a bit better after 24 hours. Maybe that's just my crap technique though!

Thank you and thanks for the link. Do you do any other prep before painting (thinking with a DIY head here)?

I just put body lotion (superdrug vit E) on feet / toes every day but I don't poke the cuticles around or anything.

But then I am a bit slapdash at DIY prep as well :) just slap it on!

The Wilko Essence gel base coat and top coat are pretty good- I get a good week with no chips during sandal season if I use those with my varnish.

www.wilko.com/essence-makeup/essence-the-gel-nail-polish-base-coat/invt/0416091

www.wilko.com/essence-makeup/essence-the-gel-nail-polish-top-coat/invt/0416092

Give your feet a good soak in warm soapy water and use a cuticle remover. Use a Newton Chiropody sponge to deal with dry bits, especially heels. When dry, use Flexitol Heel Balm and be generous with it. Do the Flexitol bit every day

Keep toenails short and cut or filed square. Use a base coat - Barry M or similar. Finish with No 7 Quick Dry topcoat

Thanks again, the base and top coat are clearly important.

I use OPI, Orly, Essie or atm I have on Sensationail.

I often use the OPI Liquid Sand polishes as they are ridiculously hard wearing and the glitter makes them look shiny. I reckon mine can last 4 weeks...