How to apply nail polish in 5 steps and some useful tricks - Part I

{In this first part, I will show you how I apply my nail polish and in Part II I’ll share some tricks.}

I know, I know: we don’t have time, we’re just not feeling it, but we still want beautiful colored nails, without having to leave the house, without having to keep checking our schedule so we can finally make an appointment at the salon.

Let's try and practice nail polish application at home with our own able little hands.

The products I use:
- Base coat = serves to prepare the surface of the nail so that the polish can adhere better in an even layer and it also protects the nail from nail polish pigments, thus slowing down the normal process of yellowing or staining of  the natural nail);
- The actual nail polish;
- Top coat = serves to protect your manicure, giving the polish underneath durability and shine;
- Acetone (I prefer acetone and not other products without acetone because I can remove nail polish much faster, without having to scrub the nails for half an hour);
- Cotton pads;
- Nail polish corrector pen;
- Olive oil or a moisturizing hand cream.

Before we begin, a little info: I like to do my nails when I have more free time (when watching a movie / show) and this is not because the product application takes a long time, but because I prefer to let a lot of time pass between layers. But everyone does what they can, of course.

These are my nails (I wear nail polish almost all the time, so it's normal for them to be yellowed).

Let's start:

      1. Preparing the nails: Apply base coat in a thin layer and wait 2-3 minutes for it to dry. I use Revlon - Colorstay Gel Smooth Base Coat.

      2. The nail polish: Apply a thin layer of the nail polish of your choice and wait 5-10 minutes for it to dry. Usually, the first layer is not opaque enough and you can see brush strokes, so apply two or even three layers of the nail polish (depending on your polish sometimes 3 coats are necessary). Wait 5 to 10 minutes after each layer (I, for example, wait 10 minutes). I use the OPI nail polish in the shade "It's my year".

Above: One layer of nail polish

Below: Two layers of polish

      3. Cleaning: This step can be done between each nail polish coat (and that’s what I recommend) or after you finish applying your nail polish completely. Use a corrector pen with polish remover to correct the little mistakes that we all make (if only such a thing existed for our lives, right?).

     4. Protecting your work: Once everything is dry, apply your top coat, in a slightly more generous layer than the others, and thus all your work is "sealed". Wait at least 10 minutes after that. I use the OPI - Top Coat.

     5. Nail care: Finally, apply olive oil to your cuticles or a hand moisturizer and massage gently.

This is the final result:

Do not despair, just practice! :)

At my beginnings of playing around with nail polishes, the polish ended up on my elbows and on the furniture and on the dog and on the cat. :)) With time, everything gets easier!

Good luck and lot’s of patience, my dears!

PS: You are welcomed to read my next article (coming soon) full of tricks and details for applying nail polish almost perfectly (cuz nothing is truly perfect.. and that’s just wonderful). :)