Achieving beautiful, well-groomed nails at home can be a satisfying and enjoyable experience. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a flawless DIY manicure that rivals even the best salon results. However, as with any beauty routine, there can be challenges that arise when trying to perfect your nails on your own.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 beauty hacks every nail lover should know, as shared by nail expert Pamela Laird. These tips will help you overcome any obstacles and achieve salon-worthy nails in the comfort of your own home.
Maintaining a lip or paint brush:
Maintaining a lip or paint brush nearby is a great tip for ensuring a polished and precise manicure. After completing your nail painting, you can use the brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up any mistakes or smudges for a neat finish.
Never Skip the Base Coat:
One of the most important steps in achieving a flawless manicure is never skipping the base coat. This will ensure a smooth and even surface for the polish to adhere to, preventing patchiness and the need for multiple layers of color.
Using a base coat like Diamond Shine by Sally Hansen not only will grip your polish but also will dry to a low gloss finish and can be used as a Top Coat, which is a bonus.
Holding the nail polish brush at a 90-degree angle:
Holding the nail polish brush at a 90-degree angle while painting is crucial for achieving a smooth and even application. This technique prevents the brush from dragging the polish and ruining the surface of the nail.
Apply thick layer of new nail polish on top of the old one:
If you find yourself without any nail polish remover, don’t worry – there’s a simple solution. By applying a thick layer of new nail polish on top of the old one, you can use a cotton pad to wipe it away, removing both the old and new polish in one go.
Creating a French manicure at home:
Creating a French manicure at home can be challenging, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be a breeze. One foolproof method is to first paint a coat of white polish on the tips of your nails, making sure to extend further in than where you want the final line to be. Once that is dry, use your lip brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up and create a perfect smile line. Finish it off with a top coat such as Sally’s 3D Gel Shine Top Coat for added shine and durability.
Marbling:
An easy and fun DIY nail design that can be done at home is marbling. To create this look, you will need a mug of room temperature water and a few different shades of nail polish. One great option is to use the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure shades in Hats off to Hue, Back to the Fuchsia and Arm Candy.
For a marbling nail design, start by adding drops of your chosen nail polish shades into a mug of room temperature water. Begin with the darkest shade first and repeat the process with the other shades, using a toothpick to create the desired design. Once you are satisfied with the design in the water, dip your finger into it and repeat the process for each nail. Remember, anything goes with marbling, so have fun experimenting with different designs and color combinations.
Use a Quick-Dry Top Coat:
A common misconception is that blowing on your nails can make nail polish dry faster, however this is not the case. Nail polish dries through a chemical reaction that occurs when the solvent evaporates from the polish. One way to speed up this process is by using a quick-dry top coat, such as Insta Dri Top Coat, which dries in just 30 seconds. Additionally, applying a cuticle oil, such as Vitamin E Cuticle Oil, or even olive oil, all over the nails can also help to trap oxygen and speed up the drying process.
Apply Two Coats of a Base Coat:
Achieving the perfect sparkle with large glitter polishes can sometimes be difficult when trying to apply them straight from the bottle. A solution to this problem is to first apply two coats of a base coat, like Double Duty, which can also be used as a top coat. Then, pour out your glitter polish onto a plate and use the tip of a pen to pick up and place the chunky glitter pieces on your nails as desired. Finish off by sealing the glitter in place with a topcoat.
Flawless at-home Manicure:
To achieve a flawless at-home manicure, it is important to control the amount of polish on your brush. To do this, remove the brush slowly from the polish bottle and use the edge of the bottle to control the amount on the brush. When applying, position the brush in the middle of the nail about 1-2 mm away from the cuticle and gently push towards the cuticle. A polish with a round brush, such as Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polish, can also aid in achieving a polished finish.
Use Scotch Tape:
One way to achieve straight lines on your nails is to use scotch tape as a guide. Cut the tape to the desired size and apply it to your nails, leaving a little extra on one end for easy removal. After the first coat of polish has dried, paint over the area where you want the lines to be and allow it to dry for 30 seconds. Use tweezers to gently remove the tape, revealing clean and precise lines. To ensure the design stays in place, apply a top coat like Insta Dri Top Coat, which dries quickly in 30 seconds.
