How to paint your nails

Video: Paint Your Nails PERFECTLY At Home!

Content

Method 2 of 3: Painting
Method 3 of 3: Adding a Design
Tips
Warnings
What do you need

1 Choose a nail polish color that suits you.

Choose a color that will reflect your mood or suit your outfit. Remember that using dark colors like magenta, black, dark red makes your nails look smaller, so they can only be used if you have long nails.
It is also necessary to choose a not very old varnish, as over time the varnishes become thicker and more difficult to apply.
If you want to revive a thickened polish, try dripping a couple of drops of acetone-based nail polish remover into it; screw the varnish cap back on and shake the mixing bottle well. You can also purchase special varnish thinners.

2 Choose a place to paint your nails. When choosing a suitable spot to paint your nails, look for a clean, durable surface in a well-lit room. A desk or kitchen countertop is a good choice, just be sure to spread a paper towel to avoid staining the surface. The room should also be well ventilated, as fumes from nail polish and nail polish remover are harmful to health.

3 Gather the necessary supplies. Collect cotton balls or pads, cotton swabs, nail polish remover, nail clippers, nail file, cuticle stick, and a bottle of clear nail polish. Having all of these on hand will speed up the painting process and reduce the chance of you greasing your nail.

4 Wipe off old nail polish (if any). Dip a cotton ball in nail polish remover and hold it on your nail for about 10 seconds. Then rub the nail with a ball to remove the polish. Use a cotton swab to remove any residual nail polish from the edges of the nail.

Even if you haven't had any nail polish applied, you should still run some nail polish remover over your nails before painting to degrease them. This will allow the varnish to be applied more evenly and will hold better.

5 Trim or file your nails. Use nail clippers if your nails are overgrown or have uneven ends. All of your nails should be about the same length. Then use a nail file to smooth out the shape of your nails. You can make the tips of your nails rounded or square, depending on your preference.

When processing nails with a file, always move the file from the edge of the nail to the center, for each side of the nail separately. Each subsequent movement should go in the same direction, never move back and forth, as this weakens the nails and they can break.

6 Move the cuticle down. The cuticle is the area of skin at the base of each nail. It can make your nails look messy if not pushed down before painting your nails. Cuticles are easiest to push back when they are softened, so try soaking your hands in a bowl of warm water for 1 to 2 minutes. Dry your hands and nails thoroughly, then use the cuticle stick to push it down towards the base of the nail.

7 Rub the bottle of varnish in your hands for 20-30 seconds to warm it up. This helps to mix the contents of the bottle, lifting any lingering pigment from the bottom. Don't shake the bottle instead, rolling the bottle will prevent bubbles from forming in the polish and your nails will be evenly painted.

Method 2 of 3: Painting

1 Apply a clear polish base. Base application is the best thing you can do when painting your nails. A base coat will give your chosen polish a good base to hold, increase the durability of the finish and prevent the color from passing from the colored polish to the nails themselves. Let the base coat dry completely before continuing.
- There is no need to be very careful when applying colorless varnish, because even if you get a little on the skin, no one will notice, since there is no color!
- There are two different types of basecoats: a leveling base, which will eliminate uneven nails and create a smooth matte paintable surface; and a firming base that protects and helps nails grow stronger and grow faster. If you wish, you can apply on a layer of both bases!
2 Press your hand firmly against the table. Do not just put your hand on the table (it may shake or move), namely, press it against the table surface, spreading your fingers to the sides. Start with your index finger and work towards your little finger. Then raise your hand and place your thumb on the edge of the table to paint it as well.
- It doesn't really matter which hand you start painting with: working hand or not. Just do it the way you like. The non-working hand always trembles more than the working hand when applying the varnish, but practice will help to cope with this.
3 Open the bottle of colored varnish and remove the excess from the brush. The presence of the optimal amount of varnish on the brush is the key to creating perfectly colored nails. To achieve this, remove excess varnish from the brush on the inner edge of the bottle neck. Knowing how much varnish to leave on the brush is the result of experience gained over time!
- Also pay attention to which brush the varnish has. Most lacquers use round brushes, however, more brands are starting to produce lacquers with flat brushes that make it easier to apply the varnish and dilute less dirt.
4 Apply a drop of nail polish to the base of your nail. Place the brush at the base of the nail right above the cuticle in the exact center. Allow a drop of polish (enough to cover the entire nail) to fall at this point and drip slightly back to the very base of the nail.
- This technique is used by nail professionals and may take some practice, but it is the easiest and most accurate way to apply nail polish.
5 Use the three-stripe rule. Manicurists and beauty experts agree that the three-stripe method is the easiest and cleanest method for painting nails. To do this, dip the brush into a drop of polish at the base of the nail and run it straight up the center of the nail to the very tip. Move the brush back at the base of the nail on the left to draw a second strip. Use the remaining amount of varnish to paint the third strip from the right.
- You should have enough polish to cover your nail in a thin layer without having to dip the brush into the polish. If you apply too thick a coat of varnish, it will take much longer to dry and the chances of accidentally smearing it will be much higher.
- When applying the side stripes, do not completely varnish the edges of the nail, leave an inconspicuous gap between the nail and the skin. This gap will be barely noticeable, but you will not stain your hands with varnish.
6 Let the first coat dry completely before applying the next one. Almost all varnishes involve the application of at least a double layer, and some - a triple layer. It is much better to apply several thin coats than one thick one. This will make the result cleaner and less likely to be blurry. It is necessary to allow each coat to dry completely, this will take about 5-10 minutes, depending on the brand of varnish.
- Apply the second coat of varnish in the same way as the first. Try to be just as careful not to get impatient to finish what you started quickly, or you may ruin everything. Let the second coat dry completely and then decide if you need a third coat.
- As you can see, painting your nails takes time and it will take you 30 to 60 minutes to get it right. For this reason, it's a good idea to prepare a snack in advance, turn on the TV, and go to the bathroom so that you don't get bored while you wait for your nails to dry.
7 Apply a clear top coat. Once your second or third coat of colored varnish is dry, apply the final coat of clear varnish. This will prevent the colored layer from chipping and add extra shine to your nails. Apply the finishing coat completely over the colored layer, then work it over the inside of the tips of each nail. This will give more durability to the coating and more strength to the nails.
8 Clean up your bloopers. Once your nails are completely painted and dry, it's time to clean up any marks that may have happened during painting. To do this, simply dip a cotton swab into nail polish remover and then run it over the edge of each nail to remove excess nail polish and stray stains.
- Do this slowly and carefully, otherwise the stick may fall off onto the nail and an unpainted stain will form on it!
- Try to use your own cotton swab for each nail, otherwise the excess polish collected on the tip of the stick will bring in even more dirt.

Method 3 of 3: Adding a Design

1 Use nail stickers. Using nail decals is a super easy way, they come in a wide variety of shapes and designs.All that is required is to gently remove the sticky backing (or, in some cases, apply a little glue) and press the sticker firmly against the nail for 20-30 seconds for it to adhere. Small rhinestone stickers (like the image below) are also popular and can be found in most beauty stores.
- It may be helpful to use tweezers when applying these stickers. This will prevent the decal from falling or sticking to your finger instead of your nail.
- Stickers can only be applied after the varnish is completely dry.
2 Crystallize your nails. Another popular effect you can create at home is crystallization using glitter or sugar grains. When the top coat is still wet, sprinkle glitter or sugar grains over your nails. When the coating is dry, these crystals will stick to the nail and give it an interesting effect!
3 Apply the pattern to your nail. The art of nail art encompasses many different designs and techniques, many of which require a steady hand and a lot of experience! When applying a pattern to a nail, the choice of designs is almost unlimited, they can be applied using varnishes of various colors and toothpicks, for more creativity, you can try gradient, acid, watercolor techniques and create a unique, eye-catching design.
4 Try using a color blocking color combination. The color combination technique involves the use of 2-3 or more contrasting colors to create geometric shapes on each nail. You can use a thin brush, not the one that comes with the varnish, to paint a clean, well-colored block.
5 Get a French manicure. French manicure is all about using natural pink and peach polish with white nail tips. It gives your hands a sophisticated look and can be made at home with a little practice.
- Contrary to what you might think, the white tip is painted primarily using a special white polish that can be found in most manicure kits. In the same kits, you can find special stickers on nails that will allow you to apply a perfectly even white strip along the edge of the nail. Otherwise, you need a very steady hand!
- Once you are finished with the tips and they are completely dry, you can start to apply the natural colored varnish over the white tips and then apply the final clear coat.
6 Try other nail art ideas. Once you understand the basics of nail art, your possibilities are endless! You can paint a galaxy on your nails, leopard spots, or even blots to express yourself. If you can think of something, you can implement it too! Your possibilities are endless!

Tips

Be sure you are using a clear base coat! This prevents staining of the nail itself and ensures that your manicure or pedicure lasts longer.
Apply the cling film around the edges of the nail to prevent the nail polish from getting on the cuticles and skin.
Do not apply too thick varnish; if you apply several thin coats, your nails will look neater.
The tape will also help you with your French manicure.
Start with your little finger to reduce the chances of accidentally smearing your previous nail on the next.
We put duct tape around your nails to protect your skin. After adding nail polish, you just need to remove the tape. The tape means you haven't made a mess and you are left with perfectly colored perfect nails.
If your nails are constantly breaking and the nail polish is giving them a rough look, get a hardening base (found in cosmetic stores) that you will need to apply before applying the nail polish.This will improve the condition of your nails, making them stronger, longer and more beautiful when you paint them.
If nail polish gets on your skin, wait for your nails to dry and then put it under warm water and wipe off the nail polish from the skin.
When painting your left hand, try to keep both hands on the table.
Avoid getting nail polish on the cuticles and leave a small gap between the nail and the skin.
If you have liquid latex, you can apply it around your nails (on your skin) to help your manicure.
If you apply a little petroleum jelly to the skin around your nails, the nail polish will not stick to your skin when you paint outside of the nail.
Lubricate the skin around the nail with petroleum jelly before painting the nails. The petroleum jelly will make it easy to remove any nail polish that gets on your skin.
If possible, find someone to let you practice on your nails before you get your hand filled and can move on to yourself.
You can use a hairpin to create a unique fun design in your style!
Soak your fingertips in water with a few drops of dishwashing soap to remove any oil from your nails and rinse off the water. Then wipe with nail polish remover.
If you push back the cuticle, your nails will appear longer and grow faster.

Warnings

Always keep varnishes and other chemicals out of the reach of children.
If you forget to apply a colored base coat and your nails are colored, you can remove the yellowing by dipping your unpainted nails in lemon juice. However, you shouldn't have any cuts or you will feel a burning sensation!
Perform in a well-ventilated area because nail polish or nail polish remover can be toxic if inhaled.
Do not forget to close the varnish bottles tightly so that it does not dry out.
Perform the procedure in a well-ventilated area because nail polish or nail polish remover can be toxic if inhaled.