Have you ever painted your nails and wondered why they don’t look as “perfect” as they do when you leave a nail salon? Or does it bother you when your nails chip on day two right before you have to be somewhere? Well today, we are sharing 15 nail polish tips that will not only help you master your at-home polish skills, but they will also help prevent chipping and make your polish last longer! Check out our tips below:
- Chill Your Nail Polish In The Fridge
While you may not want to store your favorite polishes here at all times, pop your nail polish in the fridge for 15 minutes before applying. This will make the polish much easier to use and give a smoother finish. - Use Nail Polish Remover Before Painting Your Nails (Even If You Don’t Have Any Polish On)
Aside from removing previous polish, nail polish remover helps remove excess oils from your nails. This helps prevent chipping to make your polish last longer! - Rub Vaseline Around Your Nails Before You Apply Polish To Easily Wipe Away Mistakes
If you’re like me and have a tendency to paint the skin around your nails (using my left hand can be a challenge!), apply Vaseline on your skin around your nails before painting. This will allow you to easily wipe away excess polish once your nails are dry! - Don’t Forget To Buff Your Nails
While the prep work to apply a coat of polish can seem tedious, taking the time to buff your nails before applying polish makes a huge difference! Your nails will have that smooth “fresh from the nail salon” look every time. - Use A Base Coat
While I always finish off my color with a lasting top coat, applying a base coat before polish helps the color last longer while helping repair brittle nails. - Apply A White Polish As Your First Coat To Make Colors More Vibrant
Have you ever found certain colors require more coats to achieve the color of the bottle? Use a white polish as your first coat, then apply the desired color as your second coat. This will help the color pop with less coats! - Two Coats Is The Perfect Amount
While one coat is never enough to achieve a desired color, three coats can make your polish too thick and peel off. Stick with two coats. - Apply A Top Coat To Your Nails When Your Polish Is Still Wet
Instead of waiting for your polish to dry, apply the top coat while the polish is still wet to allow it to soak into the color and create a smoother finish. - Double Your Dry Time If You Live Somewhere Humid
Unfortunately, I can never seem to escape humidity, so this is vital for me. If you decide to head outside in a humid climate, double your nail dry time to prevent messing up freshly painted nails! - Spray Your Nails With Pam For A Quick Dry Finish
In a hurry and your nails won’t seem to dry? Spray Pam cooking spray on your nails to speed up the dry time. Your hands will feel a bit oily, but a quick rinse after they’ve dried will make it so worth it. - Use Glitter To Cover Chips When You’re In A Hurry
Chip your nails before heading out to dinner? Apply a quick coat of glitter to your nails before running out the door. It’s way faster than a new coat of polish, and the glitter specks hide any imperfections! - Buy A Pair Of Gloves For Household Chores
While it may seem like a no-brainer, the chemicals in soaps and household cleaners can break down your nail polish and cause chips. Toss on a pair of rubber gloves before cleaning to make your manicure last longer!
Do you have any favorite nail polish tips we should try? Let us know in the comments section below!