No beauty look is complete without a flawless manicure. It’s the finishing touch everyone needs for a balanced look whether you favor bright polish and nail art or keep your nails entirely bare. And if you happen to treat yourself to a professional mani regularly, chances are you want to extend the life of it as long as possible. Following simple rules for upkeeping your mani is key when a salon visit isn’t in the cards. We all know the importance of the standard nail filing and using quality polishes to achieve a clean and neat look.
Don’t apply too many coats
Applying thick coats of nail paint gets you one step closer to ruining your perfect manicure. Slapping on layers of polish will increase your chances of getting smudges and nicks as the paint will take much longer to dry completely. To avoid such accidents, apply thin coats of the paint to ensure faster drying.Always wait for a few minutes before adding more layers of polish. Also, paint it in just one direction to achieve a smooth finish.
Avoid hot water
If you’re looking for a manicure that lasts, then avoid contact with hot water for at least six hours after getting a manicure. Hot water can ruin your hard work, so wear gloves while doing water related chores and save your polish from chipping. On the other hand, cold water will be your savior. Dip your nails into a bowl of ice water for 1-2 minutes. This will set and dry your polish in a matter of minutes.
Don’t shake the bottle
DO NOT shake your bottle before applying the nail paint. Shaking creates air bubbles which should always be avoided if you’re looking for an immaculate manicure. When air gets trapped inside the bottle, it creates froth making your nails chip faster. Instead of shaking, roll your bottle in your hands and see the difference.
Don’t skip the base coat
Just like a good primer can keep your make-up looking flawless every day, using a base coat will provide the same service to your nails. A layer of base coat can easily extend the wear of your manicure by at least a couple of days. Soaking a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol or white vinegar and applying to your nails before the base coat will help in sealing the natural oils and giving an even finish to your manicure.
Don’t cut your cuticles
Cutting your cuticles is a major health risk. Even beauty experts agree that cuts can easily get infected and it’s not an ideal to commit this sin. Rather, push them back using cuticle pusher tool. This will prevent the paint from sticking to the cuticles which can heft the polish from the nail bed and cause chipping. If you don’t have a cuticle oil handy, make your own using a combination of olive and coconut oil. You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture. Apply your homemade oil directly to your cuticles and gently massage.