Time and money are precious resources for most college students, so going to the salon on a regular basis isn’t a major priority. But you and your nails deserve better! Here are the basic tips, tricks and techniques that, combined with some practice, will get you a flawless, week-long manicure from the comfort of your own couch.
Start with Clean Nails
Break out a bottle of white vinegar from the kitchen and rub it with a tissue or cotton balls over bare nails to get them extra squeaky clean. Nail polish remover works too, and if you want to avoid nasty chemicals, try Essie Naturally Clean Purifying Polish Remover.
To Cuticle or Not to Cuticle
Some prefer to leave their cuticles alone, but if you’d rather have them gone, pushing them up with a cuticle pusher (wooden if your cuticles are soft, steel if they’re tougher) is always a good option. Snipping with cuticles scissors is effective but it’s also more dangerous, so cut with caution! Another method that’s often overlooked is to first break down the cells that make up the cuticle with cuticle removers- usually in the form of a gel or cream, they make it easier to push back the cuticle and/or remove it altogether.
Get Messy!
Nail polish isn’t meant to stick to skin, so feel free to go wild and then hop in a shower after your manicure- the mess you made should rub right off under the water. But you don’t want too much polish accumulated around the edge of the nail or else the excess will lift off the polish you want to stay. In that case, run a small, thin brush along the edges (especially the cuticle) to swipe away the surplus. The e.l.f. Professional Concealer Brush is super cheap and does the trick.
If you’re not blessed with steady hands, an alternative trick is to apply a barrier of glue all around the nail bed. Wait for the glue to dry, paint the nail, peel off, and you’re done! Bonus points go to this method since you get to peel glue, but applying Vaseline with a cotton swab works too.
Applying Polish
There are different techniques to applying coats that vary by skill or just personal preference. Unless you’re trying to go pro, one swipe down the middle and two on each side should be sufficient. It’ll take some experimenting to figure out how much polish to load on the brush to get a thin, even coat as the consistency varies a bit by brand, but usually you’ll need to wipe some off at the rim of the bottle. Speaking of bottles, rub them back and forth between your palms for around thirty seconds before opening to help the polish apply more smoothly. Don’t shake! Shaking only leads to even more unsightly air bubbles.
Don’t Forget to Wrap the Tip
Kiss chipping goodbye with this simple trick- hold the brush, covered in a thin layer of polish, at a right angle to the very tip of the nail and gently wipe side to side, coating the free edge. Really lock down your color by doing this with the base coat and top coat too.
Wait, How Many Coats?
Base and top coats are always a good idea. A base coat protects your nails from discoloration and helps the color stick better, while the top coat is essential for sealing in all the work you’ve just done. Some brands might be more effective than others for your own nails, but you can’t go wrong with Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat. As for the polish that goes in between, always apply at least two thinner coats rather than one thick coat for maximum control over color opacity and smoothness.
Save on Drying Time
You’ve got places to be, so fill a small bowl with water and lots of ice and submerge the tips of your fingers for a few minutes. Once you’ve taken your hands out, your nails should be hard as rock. Alternatively, hold a can of PAM cooking spray a few inches away from your nails, spray a thin and even layer, wait a few minutes, and wash off the oil with cold water.
Oh Hey, You’re Done!
If there’s still some residue around your nails post shower/glue peeling, dip that e.l.f. brush into a bottle of nail polish remover and rub it over the leftover spots. Now go out into the world with your bomb nails and carry around ten little pieces of your own art!