Best Non Toxic Nail Salon in Houston

An imperfect, but stunning, combination of red and clear color is something every nail manicurist and savvy beauty lover has noticed. But if your nails are anything less than perfect, the results can be truly lackluster. As expected, when it comes to creating that pleasing polish look, you have to take some extra steps, both at home and in the salon.

So if you’ve got any nail questions, this list will help you figure out exactly what you need to know — for better or worse. Read through to get your fast-paced nail tips, and if you’re not having any luck, you can always call on Tina Morris, a makeup artist, to see how she tries to maintain her nails. Check out her foolproof ways of giving your nails that perfect all-around look.

Prep Your Nails

First, make sure you have the right cuticle oil on hand. The white one from Sally Hansen provides all the moisture that your cuticles need. (Tip: The orange one from White Sands will reduce your risk of yellowing skin on your cuticles.) The tinted version from iD is great for fresh, colorful nails. If you don’t have either of these products on hand, simply have a dry towel with a dab of olive oil on it on hand. Seriously.

Then, lay your cuticles on a large sheet of newspaper so they’re the right side out. If the paper is smaller, press it all the way down, over and over, until the paper is completely covered. That way, your cuticles won’t get scrunched up like a pot of potatoes.

Prep Your Foam For Your Nails

Morris advises: “If you want to create a washed-out red, just follow the foam’s instructions to the letter. It’s not a miracle work!” Allow it to soak in a couple of minutes before applying a clear or foamy base coat to just clean a few tiny spots. “You’ll feel as though you took an oil slick and spray it all over.”

You don’t want any red pigments seeping into the foam at all, but a little drizzle should be okay.

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Give Your Cuticles

“Your cuticles should be more bloodstained, more sanded, and more bruised, because it means your nail is stretched out, which means more time to preserve the polish,” Morris explains. At the same time, a lot of greasy, wet paint off the nail should be washed away. Sometimes, you’ll even want to take the cuticles out entirely for a more permanent glossy finish. “You just want your nails to look soft but strong, solid but not rigid.”

© 2018 Tina Morris

Top Off The Cover With Color

Since it takes a lot longer to apply an over-the-top top coat and gel than it does to apply a plain colored base, it’s not a bad idea to mix it up! Morris recommends using a coat of high-gloss, solid-colored polish before going for your glitter or polish. “Directioned glitter is one of my favorites. Something earthy with a hint of gold, and a bold mineral gold,” she says. “For a thin, lip-pink-like effect, I’d use shimmer nude polishes.”

Make Your Ink Work Better

“Try taking one finger from each hand and buffing it in every where,” Morris advises. As for your base coat? “You don’t want to get it creamy and shiny, so you need to be very delicate. If you do it right, it’ll look a lot more natural.”