A question for the ladies

[Gempress]

How do you paint your nails??

My mother wasn't a nail-painter, so I never learned. And I wasn't into that kind of thing in high school, either, so I didn't get any practice. Now that I'm older, I'd like to paint my nails more. And I'm horrible at it! It tends to come out uneven, lumpy and blotchy. I've seen a *little* bit of improvement--now my nails looks like they were painted by a third-grader, not a kindergartener. But it's still pretty pathetic.

I'm tired of swearing, wasting several hours and going through half a bottle of nail polish remover just to come up with a somewhat-okay-looking nail job. If nobody looks at it too hard. In daylight. With decent eyesight.

I'm too cheap to pay for a manicure whenever I want pretty nails! Help!

 

[jess2416]

I dont paint mine...

so im no help lol

 

[iwantmypup]

When I paint mine since I am a lefty, my right hand always looks better. And I go from top to bottom, evenly. and if needed another coat

 

[Saje]

Honestly it's just about a steady hand. My left hand always looks a bit better then my right because I'm right handed. I just make sure my hands are clean and dry. I also push my cuticles back. Then I paint them from the cuticles out. And try to keep it even. If you want it to last you should use a base coat and a top coat although I usually just get one that is built in and use that.

Oh and make sure you don't have too much polish on your brush. Less is more. You can do another coat.

This might help
http://www.oneminuteu.com/default.taf?page=content&id=371

or this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J5icwNbgDA

 

[borzoimom]

I never paint my nails. I was told as a child it denies the nail of oxygen and makes the nails weak.

 

[noludoru]

What Saje said. It's a pain, and most girls I know get their toenails done on weekends with friends. I don't even paint my nails anymore - for a lot of reasons, most of all the stench. It's just a pain.. and why am I doing it, really? I'm sticking poison on my nails so they'll look pretty when they already do.. arrgh. I prefer acrylic paint, to tell you the truth. I can use a small brush and pain the coolest freaking designs on my nails with acrylic. And you can peel it off when you're tired of it.

 

[Gempress]

Thanks for the help, all. I can do all these teeny-tiny pointless details on ceramics, but I can't paint nails. I don't get it.

Hmm, and I never heard of nail polish weakening the nail before. I only paint my nails once every few months, so I never notice any difference. Anybody know if this is true?

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Yep, if you apply enough of it over and over and over again, it makes your nails brittle. My aunt wears nail polish at ALL times and has for years and years and years and it's the same red color... her nails are in horrible shape.. so she just keeps the nail polish on. I would say this is more for those that get the acrylic tips done or something along those lines or in such a case as the above. I get my toes done every month or so and I really like it. I don't typically get my nails done- or do them- (although I did for graduation) because it tends to chip off.

 

[noludoru]

Thanks for the help, all. I can do all these teeny-tiny pointless details on ceramics, but I can't paint nails. I don't get it.

Hmm, and I never heard of nail polish weakening the nail before. I only paint my nails once every few months, so I never notice any difference. Anybody know if this is true?

What BP said...

I have also noticed that when it's applied, my nails grow very slowly in comparison to how they grow when there's been no polish there for a month or two. The last time I applied nail polish to my toenails I could see the polish line nearly a year and a half later - and since I haven't been applying any, I have to trim them regularly. I think it has something to do with how sick I was during that time period.. but honestly.. I've been sick a lot lately and they're growing just fine. So go figure.

 

[milos_mommy]

Nail polish isn't terrible for your nails or anything, you've just gotta let them breathe.

You've got to get the right amount of polish on the brush. Too much and it runs all over, too little and it smudges. Also, get a good polish. Very thin or gloppy polishes are much tougher to paint with. Start with a decent glob in the middle and sort of brush it (straight up and down) towards the outside...if you sort of follow the shape of your nail it will prevent it from chipping, but i don't know how the heck to explain it.

Go get a regular ole 7 dollar manicure and pay close attention. then just copy what they do.

 

[Renee750il]

What everyone said about polish destroying your nails . . .

Now, that aside, for doing them for once-in-awhile, the best advice I can give you is to get a GOOD sealer and put it on first. Get a good one at a beauty supply. It will give you a good, smooth base to apply the color to, plus the color won't chip as easily and it will protect your nails somewhat. Let it dry thoroughly.

I really suggest, since you don't do your nails regularly, that you use a softer color as it will be more forgiving of mistakes. Best to get a good, professional lacquer from a beauty supply, and often using the same brand of polish and sealer is a good idea as they are meant to work together.

OPI is a brand that you'll see a lot of professional manicurists use.

Before you start painting, ROLL the bottle of polish between your palms for a couple of minutes. Don't shake it. Rolling it mixes it more homogenously, giving you a smoother lacquer that's easier to work with.

Do at least two coats. Two or three thin coats are better than one thick coat! Thick coats are what makes it glop. Give it time to dry between coats.

Finish off with a topcoat.

And that, among other things, is why I don't polish my nails Buffing 'em works well enough for me, lol.

 

[zoe08]

I don't

But if I want my toe nails painted my hubby does it for me

 

[girlbuffalo1]

OPI sucks on natural nails. I have had polish on my nails every day for oh I don't know the last 15 years or so (and I am 26 LOL). I cannot stand unpainted nails--it's almost a phobia--I do not like excessive chipping either.

The best brands for my natural nails are Sally Hensen and Avon (seriously these are better than OPI, Hard Candy, Urban Decay--lots of other expensive brands). I generally do two coats and a topcoat. I change polish every 3 days generally. Make sure you don't keep polish too long--when it starts getting sticky or runny throw it out. Rolling between your palms is a good idea. Make sure you have a good remover.

 

[Renee750il]

Probably a differfence in nails, or base coats, GB. I never used acrylic nails, and OPI is the only thing that ever stayed on my nails back when I kept them done.

Sally Hansen just peeled up in a big sheet on my nails after a couple of days, but I expected mine to last for the best part of a week.

 

[bubbatd]

My nails are not pretty !!! If I painted them it would draw more attention to them , and my crooked fingers . My Mother had beautiful hands and nails and they were always polished beautifully , even at 104 .