A stunning manicure can really set the tone of your look and make you feel put together, even when you’re not. Imagine running out for errands in sweats but you’ve got candy red nails that are so shiny and perfect you can see your reflection in them?
It’s all about the little things that make us feel good. SO, if you’re a DIY nail girl this post is for you. Here are some easy, affordable hacks that you can do yourself to elevate your nail game.
16 Cool Nail Polish Hacks
♡ Apply a white base coat.
Anytime you paint your nails, you should ALWAYS apply a base coat. You’ll find it adds a little something extra to the finished product. It also helps your nails from discoloring from bright colors like red, blue and green. Sure, you can do any old clear coat, but a small amount of white is the perfect choice for a base color because it makes your nail polish POP. Blues, reds, and even yellows will look SO MUCH more vibrant.
♡ Dab your glitter for flawless glam.
We love a little glitter polish, whether for a dreamy yacht weekend, the holidays, or even a wedding. The problem? Most glitter polishes have shit coverage.
Here’s an AMAZING trick: dab the polish instead of swiping it.
When you swipe, too many pieces of glitter get picked up into the brush. It’s SO MUCH more efficient to pick up the sparkle, dab it on, and seal it with a top coat.
Want even more glittery, sparkly coverage? Use a makeup sponge.
♡ Make your own polish.
Often we find that greens are too blue, blues are too purple, some reds are too orange–you get the point. So, why not make your own polish?
Blending colors together is SUPER SIMPLE and only takes a little color theory. Want a red that’s more pink-toned? Add a little white. Looking to deepen that blue to a navy? Add a little black. The options are endless. Use a paint pallet for easy mixing and cleanup.
♡ Use a buffing block to create a matte manicure.
Matte is a DREAM when you’re wanting a high-fashion manicure with a professional edge. But, painting a matte top coat and making it perfect can be a little tricky. Instead, use a multi-surface buffing block for the PERFECT matte mani.
It’s so easy, just buff the surface of your nails once your polish is 100% dry. Just be sure not to buff off the color entirely.
This tip specifically works really well on gel nails.
♡ Use tape for French tips.
There are far too many of us who avoid nail art, even though it adds SO MUCH to a manicure. The idea of trying to freehand a straight line makes us instantly shakey. But, using masking tape for nail art is a go-to nail hack to keep in your mani bag.
All you have to do is cut a piece of tape, press it down, paint, and take it off when your polish is still wet. It’s a lifesaver. Say buh-bye to the messy rubber band hack or use those annoying press-on French tip stickers–use this tip instead.
♡ Use a makeup sponge for ombre designs.
Ombre is a MAJOR go-to when looking to transform boring nails into a masterpiece. With just one bottle of polish, you can spice up your nails for any occasion. Not to mention you don’t need an airbrush to do it.
A makeup sponge and your color of choice is all you need. Dab the sponge gently into your nail polish and then tap it onto your nail. Start from the tip and work it about halfway down. So easy, so chic.
♡ Save your old loofah for the perfect stencil.
If you want an edgy, scaly pattern for your nail art look, loofahs are the best stencil.
You just do your usual base coat, and then when you get to the design phase (after the base coat have totally dried), you stretch a loofah netting over the top.
Then, you dip a makeup sponge (these are super useful for nail art obviously) in just a little bit of polish (in a different color) and gently stamp it over the top of the netting onto your nail. We like to do this with two slightly different colors for a subtle, elevated scaled pattern.
♡ Do a splatter paint throwback using a straw.
Weren’t we all obsessed with splatter-paint everything in middle school? If you want a tasteful throwback, splatter paint nails are the perfect go-to.
First up, start with a base coat of your desired color. (Let’s maybe leave the neon green and pink in the past.) Then, dip your straw into the next color you want to layer on, hover the straw over your nail, and blow into the straw.
The paint will literally splatter onto your nails (and the table and your skin). You can layer on multiple colors until it looks how you want.
Once you’re done, clean up your skin and cuticles with nail polish remover and add a top coat.
♡ Use a tea bag for nail repairs.
Dealing with a broken nail? You actually don’t need to run to the salon. All you need is a tea bag, nail glue, and your trusty buffing block.
First, you’ll need to cut a sliver of the tea bag that will cover the chip or crack. Apply it to your nail using the nail glue and let it dry. Then, buff it out with your buffing block until the surface is smooth.
Sounds easy? Good, because it’s saved us SO MUCH time!
♡ Use cold water for faster drying.
Ok, we know how scary this sounds at first. Dipping your freshly painted nails into cold water? No fucking way. But, hear us out.
A bowl of ice water will cut your drying time IN HALF. Yes, half. When your nails are about halfway dry, dunk them into your ice water. The cold will help the polish dry faster for those final few minutes.
♡ Remove your polish using tin foil.
Removing your polish wrong is something we’ve all been guilty of. Whether you’re a habitual nail picker or if you reach for a handy dremel, it’s not ideal. Improper polish removal can literally work away layers of your nail. This, in turn, can lead to brittleness and thinness.
Sure, you can soak a cotton pad or a cotton swab and remove glitter nail polish by scrubbing. But, a far better alternative is to use tin foil and cotton pads. You can do this with your household cotton pads and foil or grab these pre-made nail polish remover options.
Dab some nail polish remover on your cotton pad, wrap it around your finger, and seal it in using a strip of foil. Wait a few minutes, remove, and viola, your nail polish comes off easy as can be.
♡ Always use a top coat.
This might seem obvious, but the importance of a top coat cannot be understated. Seriously. Whether you’re doing regular polish or gel, a top coat is a must-have. You’ll want something easy to paint on, quick drying, and long-lasting.
A top coat’s job is to adhere to your underlayers of polish, adding extra grip. It also helps prevent chipping, especially if you paint your nail edge.
Our go-to top coat? Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Nail Coat. It’s affordable and adds extra nail armor.
♡Use oil on your cuticles.
Washing your hands after a fresh manicure feels like it rejuvenates the skin. And sure, it can be helpful to get rid of nail dust. But, it’s not hydrating.
The Ice Queen face oil is so nourishing and versatile. Put a drop on each cuticle and massage it in. This will rehydrate the skin around your nail making your hands look youthful and supple.
♡ Buff your nails GENTLY.
One key to a longer-lasting manicure is to prep your nail beds properly before painting. Buffing is one of the first steps in a mani. But, the trick is to not go too softly or too hard.
Buffing your nails should leave you with a rough-ish surface, especially for gel. You’re basically removing the oils from your nail bed for better adhesion. That said, you don’t want to buff them so hard you lose healthy nail layers.
A professional buffing block will make a world of difference, especially with your regular self-care routine. You’ll have a rough edge, a shining edge, and other surfaces to keep your nails strong.
♡ Always, ALWAYS prep your skin.
There’s always talk about prepping your nails before a manicure. Of course, it’s important. But what’s even more important is prepping your cuticles and skin.
Unkempt cuticles can seriously take away from all the hard work you put into your nails.
You’ll want to use a high-quality and sharp pair of cuticle nippers as well as a hydrator to keep your cuticles clean and smooth. Coconut oil is a great moisturizing option for keeping your cuticles in tip-top shape.
Feel free to use your Ice Queen Face Oil. It’s perfect for nourishing your cuticles and your hands. (That’s right! It’s for more than just your face.)
Using these must-know nail hacks is sure to transform your manicures.
Lauryn loves Russian manicures from @that_russiangirl_ and always opts for Big Apple Red, Alpine Snow or Funny Bunny. What are you favorite nail colors and manicure hacks? Tell us everything below.
x, The Skinny Confidential team.
+ For more tips on how to have a manicure that lasts, stalk this post.
++ If you’re into press-on nails, check out this post.
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