Moisturize cuticles. Cuticle oils penetrate the skin bed best. Don't have cuticle oil on hand? Use a rich hand cream or even lip balm.
Prep nails by filing. File nails in an oval shape just like the curve of your nail base. Square tips could make your fingers look chubby.
It's important to wipe nails with a nail polish remover before applying polish even if you aren't wearing polish. Why? Oils left on the nail (like the hand cream or lip balm) will keep polish from sticking. But don't clean nails with cotton balls. Why? They'll leave little fuzzies on your nails. A better option is to use a makeup sponge or Stripper to Go pads from celebrity manicurist Deborah Lippmann.
Wrap the tips of your nails with polish. When applying polish, be sure to bring it over the front edge of the nail and slightly under the tip. This helps prevent chipping.
If the polish chips, it's best to remove the paint from the nail and start over. If you don't have time, dip your finger in nail polish remover and smooth over the chipped area and re-apply a topcoat.
Smudged your polish while painting? Try this trick: dip your finger in nail polish remover and use it to smooth the surface, repainting with a topcoat.
The secret to keeping nails from smudging: Dry time! Surfaces will feel dry to the touch after 10 minutes, but don't be fooled. It actually takes an entire hour for nails to completely dry.
When a nail breaks, the best thing to do is to cut it off. But here's a trick if the break is low down (& painful, undoubtedly): cut a tiny strip of gauze from a teabag, place it over the tear & the paint over with polish.
To maintain a fresh polish, add a fresh layer of topcoat every other day.
How long should your manicure last? Experts say one to 2 weeks. A pedicure should last 2 to 4 weeks.
A couple expert tips we've learned over the years:
1. Want to ensure your nails are the right shape? Line each finger up with its opposite, cuticle-to-cuticle.
2. Fingers stained from nicotine, berries or too dark polish? Take a whitening toothpaste (we like Rembrandt & brush away the stains.
3. Two thin coats are better than one thick coat. You'll find it dries faster.
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