With fanciful fingertips ruling the runways and sales of nail polish rocketing, there has never been a better time to hone your at-home manicure skills.
And as pretty and practical as it may be, the French Manicure no longer cuts it.
With shatter polishes, nail decorations and stick-on talons vying for our attention, there are plenty of clever application techniques to brush up on.
But in order to simplify your nail routine you also need to know some basic tricks.
Three strokes
The pro way to apply nail polish is with three strokes; first one in the middle, than one on each side. Start with a clear base coat, do two or three layers of colour and finish off with a clear top coat. If the first layer of colour turns out uneven, don’t worry. Most varnishes need two coats. If you try to make the first coat even you’d probably end up with too much product.
Top tip
Keep a cotton pad with nail varnish remover at hand while painting your nails. When you are done, wipe the rim of the bottle clean before screwing the top back on. That way, the lid closes properly and nail varnish will not dry out.
Clean up
If the polish accidently ends up on the side of the nail, don’t worry. When the polish is completely dry – after 30 to 60 minutes – wash your hands. When the skin is damp you can easily scratch off any accidental spills. © Cover Media