The DIY Manicure Mistakes You May Not Know You Are Making

For a hot minute this past winter I started getting into a routine of getting my nails done. It was such a nice little treat that I enjoyed.

Now with the boys, and the rest of the busyness in my life, I’ve resorted back to home manicures. They never last as long as the gel manicures I would pay for, but they get the job done.

I have a few tips to share that I’ve learned throughout years and years of home manicures. It makes a huge difference if you prep your nail bed so if there is only one thing that you take away from this post, let it be #1.

1. Always prep the nail bed. Use a cuticle remover (Vanish is my all-time favorite) and make sure the entire bed of the nail is clean and free of any skin. I use a metal cuticle pusher and nipper to clean everything up!

2. Make sure you file your nails in only one direction. “Sawing” your nails as you file, aka going back and forth, may cause more peeling at the tips. Pushing one consistent direction will help the ends stay a bit more structured.

3. Wash your hands, and consider using a prep treatment before polishing. OPI makes Bond Aid, which is great for prepping your nail beds.

4. Work with thin coats of polish. Globs of polish, from base coat to color to top coat, are more prone to leaving bubbles on your nails. Plus it takes much longer to dry!

5. Don’t press the brush against your cuticles at the back of your nail. Leaving a little gap between where the color starts and your cuticle area will look more professional and lead to less peeling from the back.

6. Allow adequate dry time upon finishing. EVEN with quick dry top coat (which tends to be the most chippy for some reason). Quick-Dry drops, like this one, are helpful but simply cannot do the work that time does!

The quick tutorial for the heart nail as pictured above can be found here. Happy polishing!