If you’re anything like me, nails, like hair, are one of your most consistent hair accessories. Whether it’s a matching manicure to your outfit or a mani-pedi to the office, there’s simply no going wrong when it comes to gettin’ your nails ready for action. But here’s the thing about nails: they take time to get “the look.”
I admit, I’ve had nail woes in the past — slicing fingers, damaged nails, a new designer nail — so I take care of my tips with utmost care. It takes me an hour or more every single day to get them fully-enhanced (a matte, glossed, or glittery finish should take about half as long). In the meantime, we decided to take a look at some of the coolest products on the market that can help the only skin on your body get the booty on the same page.
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tips on how to put that nail polish to good use.
For self-esteem: Apple blossom nails are like the self-esteem of every little girl’s day. So, no matter what your style, they’re an iconic style and style statement to have. That’s why they make my favorites.
I start with China Glaze Wind and promise that if I have the regular Apple Blossoms, they will look totally different. Simply brush over to the other side for the “finish,” and then dabged a small amount to the corner of your eye for that little spritz of brightness. This is a little tricks of the trade that can get your nails to do more than they’re designed to do. If you don’t have the patience, try customizing the polish so it’s only on the nail.
As I mentioned, these are great for self-esteem because they’re generally kept to the side of the nail, but if you put the top on first, those red tones are to help reinforce the look you’re trying to make.
For cleanliness: No mani can mean no polish in a place you know and love. Even when the air is tight, I know that at night you can snag a stray nail and it can get smeared across your clothes, your fingers, or even your bedspread. I avoid them because it gets pretty embarrassing. I wash my hands five times a day but I’m still always cleaning and picking them off. So that “nail-busting”-effect you get from a soap and a clean pair of hands is also working against your goal of getting properly polished nails.
It’s important to keep a clean room to shine the nails, so taking a few minutes for a quick polish spritz is a no-brainer. Mix a splash of oil or greasy oil into a spray bottle and give your hands a wash. I want to get rid of that nasty shine, but I don’t want to feel like I’m sandblasting my nails with all that excess oil. Spray one drop of a suitable oil over your hands and rub it in. When you lift your hand out, you’ll have a nice clean shine that you can polish around the edges!
As an added bonus, these bottles make a stylish way to keep nail polish bottles close by, even when you’re traveling on a short trip.
For texture: I have some guy friends who tell me they don’t wear nail polish because their hands are too rubbery. They need to have an alternative to polish, and I agree. So let this be that alternative.
I typically reach for a liquid gel (which can be vegan-friendly) and put that on with a little bit of oil (a little bit of coconut oil, walnut oil, and olive oil) to really make your nails shine.
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