Buzz
Creating neat and even nail polish strokes is no simple task. To achieve clean, sharp lines, you’ll need practice, patience, and a steady hand. If you happen to smudge the polish, there’s always a way to correct it!
Steps
Preparing Your Nails Before Painting
Remove old polish. To ensure a clean and even manicure, start by completely removing any old nail polish. Acetone-based removers can dry out your nails and cuticles, so opt for an acetone-free nail polish remover if possible.
- Place a cotton ball or swab over the bottle’s opening, ensuring it’s fully covered.
- Turn the bottle upside down and wait a few seconds to let the cotton absorb the solution.
- Gently rub the cotton over your nails to remove the polish.
- Re-wet the cotton if necessary.
Trim, file, and buff your nails. After removing your nail polish, take the time to trim, shape, and buff your nails using nail clippers, a nail file, and a buffing block.
- Use clippers to trim your nails if needed.
- Use a nail file to smooth the edges. Shape your nails into round, square, or squoval styles.
- Gently buff each nail with a fine-grit buffer to create a smooth surface.
Soak your hands in warm water. After trimming, shaping, and buffing your nails, take a moment to pamper and relax. Fill a bowl with warm water and add a gentle cleanser. Exfoliate your hands with a scrub before soaking. Submerge your hands in the soapy water for about 3 minutes, then dry them with a clean towel.
- Soaking softens the cuticles, making them easier to push back.
Push back the cuticles. Stop if you feel pain to avoid bleeding. You might experience slight discomfort if it’s been a while since your last cuticle care. Cuticles are part of the skin that protects the nail matrix (the growing part of the nail) from infection. Cutting cuticles can expose the matrix to infections and cause nail deformities like ridges or discoloration. Instead, gently push the cuticles back to create an oval shape, making it easier to apply polish.
- Use a cuticle pusher to carefully push the cuticles toward the nail bed.
- Push back the side edges of the cuticles as well.
- Remove any dry or damaged skin.
- Repeat for all nails.
Moisturize the cuticles and hands. After exfoliating, it’s essential to hydrate and nourish the softened skin. Choose a rich hand cream or lotion and massage it into your skin. You can also apply almond oil (often in pen or bottle form) or a specialized cuticle oil. This step hydrates the cuticles and treats any dead, white skin.
Remove oil and residue from the nails. If not cleaned, the oils from hand creams or lotions can reduce the longevity of your nail polish. Use a cotton swab or pad soaked in rubbing alcohol to wipe away any residue.
- Place the cotton swab or pad over the alcohol bottle’s opening.
- Invert the bottle and wait a few seconds for the alcohol to soak in. Place the bottle back on a flat surface.
- Wipe the cotton across each nail to remove oil.
- Repeat if necessary.
Tips for Painting Nails Neatly and Beautifully
Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) around each nail before painting. Before applying nail polish, you can take preventive measures to avoid smudging. Achieve a flawless manicure by dabbing a small amount of Vaseline around the edges of your nails. The oils in Vaseline create a barrier between your skin and the polish.
- Dip a cotton swab into Vaseline. If you don’t have Vaseline, lotion can also work.
- Gently swipe the Vaseline-coated swab around the edges of your nails—ensure it only touches the skin, not the nail itself.
- Prepare your nail polish and begin painting.
Expert Answer
Question
When asked, “How can I paint my nails without smudging polish onto the surrounding skin?”
EXPERT ADVICE
Answer from Marta Nagorska:
Marta Nagorska, a nail care expert, says: “You can apply liquid latex around your nails before painting. Wait 1 minute for it to dry, then proceed with your nail polish as usual. If polish smudges onto your skin, simply peel off the latex, and all the excess polish will come off with it. Liquid latex comes in various colors, including glittery options and latex-free versions for those with allergies.”
Apply a thin layer of liquid latex around each nail before painting. If you struggle to keep polish neatly within the nail, take steps to simplify cleanup. Brush a layer of liquid latex around the edges of your nails for clean, precise lines. The latex acts as a protective barrier against smudges.
- Dip a cotton swab or brush into the liquid latex bottle.
- Use the swab or brush to apply a thin, even layer around each nail edge. Avoid getting latex on the nail itself.
- Allow the latex to dry before applying polish.
Clean up smudged polish after painting. As your nail-painting skills improve, you’ll make fewer mistakes. Instead of using Vaseline or liquid latex, you can opt to clean up smudges after finishing your polish and topcoat. Complete your manicure with a makeup brush and nail polish remover. This method requires a steady hand and patience.
- You can also use a clean cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover.
Paint your nails and let them dry
Apply a base coat to each nail and let it dry. A base coat strengthens and protects your nails. This initial layer also helps your colored polish last longer. Brush on a thin, even layer of base coat and allow it to dry.
- Wipe the brush against the bottle’s rim to remove excess polish.
- Always use a base coat, especially if your nails are prone to chipping, cracking, or peeling. It reinforces nail strength.
Apply the first coat of color polish with three strokes and let it dry. For a neat and even manicure, apply 1-3 thin layers of polish. Control the thickness of each layer by ensuring the brush has just enough polish to cover one nail. Remove excess polish by wiping the brush from base to tip inside the bottle. Once the brush has the right amount, paint the nail with three strokes.
- Place a small dot of polish near the base of the nail, above the cuticle. (This prevents pooling.)
- Drag the brush toward the cuticle, leaving a small gap between the polish and the cuticle.
- Stroke the brush straight from the base to the tip of the nail.
- Return the brush to the base and sweep it along the left curve to cover that side.
- Repeat the motion on the right side to cover the right curve.
- Repeat for each nail.
- Let the polish dry before applying another coat.
Apply the second and/or third coat with three strokes and let it dry. Once the first coat is dry, decide if a second layer is needed. Transparent polishes may require two or more coats, while opaque ones might not. If desired, apply the second coat after the first has dried.
- Place a small dot of polish near the base of the nail, above the cuticle.
- Drag the brush toward the cuticle, leaving a small gap.
- Stroke the brush straight from the base to the tip.
- Sweep the brush along the left curve to cover that side.
- Repeat on the right side to cover the right curve.
- Repeat for each nail.
- Let the polish dry before applying a third coat or topcoat.
Apply a topcoat to each nail and let it dry. A topcoat adds shine and protects your manicure. Once the nails are completely dry, brush on a thin layer of topcoat. You can use a quick-dry topcoat if available.
- Soak your nails in ice water to speed up drying.
Clean up smudges after painting your nails
Use a cotton swab to remove Vaseline around the nails. If you applied Vaseline earlier, wait until the polish is fully dry before cleaning it off. Once the topcoat is dry, use a clean cotton swab to wipe around the edges of the nails. This will remove both the Vaseline and any polish that smudged onto it.
Peel off the thin layer of latex and excess polish around the nails. Once your nails are dry, carefully remove the dried liquid latex from your skin. Peeling off the latex will also take away any smudged polish outside the nail lines. After removing the latex, you’ll have a neat and polished manicure.
Clean up excess polish using an old makeup brush and nail polish remover. After completing your manicure, you can carefully tidy up any stray polish with an old makeup brush dipped in nail polish remover. Additionally, use cotton swabs or pads for thorough cleaning. Once touched up, your nails will look flawless.
- Pour a small amount of nail polish remover into a bowl or bottle cap.
- Dip the brush into the remover and dab it onto a cotton swab or pad.
- Place the brush next to the smudged edge.
- Gently swipe the brush along the edge of the nail. Repeat for each nail.
- Use the brush to remove dried polish from the skin.
- Re-dip the brush into the remover and dab it onto a cotton swab or pad as needed.
Tips
- Always apply a base coat before the colored polish to prevent staining.
- If your nails are peeling, work slowly and carefully on the affected areas.
- If your first attempt isn’t perfect, keep practicing—you’ll improve over time.
- If your polish is too thick, consider using a polish thinner. Avoid adding nail polish remover.
- Take your time! Rushing can lead to smudges and uneven results.
- When painting, start in the center of the nail, then move to the sides. Use three strokes per nail, always starting from the cuticle toward the tip. Let the polish dry before applying a topcoat.
- Use a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover to clean up any polish on your skin.
What You’ll Need
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Nail buffing block
- Warm water
- Bowl
- Gentle facial cleanser
- Body exfoliator
- Nail polish
- Topcoat
- Cotton swabs or pads
- Nail polish remover
- Liquid latex
- Vaseline
