How to get a perfect, long lasting manicure

Hello everyone!

Ever wonder why some people can wear the same nail polish for a week without chipping, yet yours seems to chip after one day?   Well, some of that is genetics (stronger nails = less bending and less splitting, therefore less chipping) however some of it may have to do with the technique you use to paint your nails. Lets talk about how to get a beautiful manicure every time you paint your nails!

The first step to getting a beautiful manicure is prepping your nails!  If you already have nail polish on, you obviously need to take it off.  I like to use non-acetone polish remover whenever possible, because it is less drying.  Cotton balls are the best way to take off nail polish because they do not break and flake off and make a big mess like tissue paper.  If you have nail polish stuck around the edges, you should use a q-tip to remove that as well.

After my polish is removed, I always wash my hands quickly.  Pretty much everyone who knows me has probably heard my rant about microwaving plastic tupperware and how I don't like to store my food in it.  I am worried about getting cancer from the toxins that plastics leak into your food (I get this phobia from my mom, THANKS MOM) Same goes with nail polish remover. Wash those toxins off as quickly as possible! However, do not soak your hands in the water for a long period of time.  Water makes your nails swell.  When they are dry again, they will shrink. If you put the nail polish on while they are still even a tad bit wet,  they will chip when dry. I usually wait about 5 min. after washing my hands to start applying new polish so that it gives my nails some time to dry.

If necessary, this is the time to use that great Sally Hansen cuticle remover that I talked about in my last post to soften up those cuticles and push them back. After I have waited for my nails to dry off, I then apply a base coat.  This is where we get into the nitty gritty of nail polish application.  Starting in the middle of your nail, do one smooth stroke then two on the sides.  Come as close to the cuticle as possible without touching it.  If you get nail polish under the cuticle it looks bad,  and as your nail grows out, it may create some flaking near this line.

See that lighter line along the center of my nail in the cuticle? That is what you do not want. I came too close to the cuticle and the polish bled under it

 If you do this by accident, you can take a thin paintbrush or nail art brush, dip it in polish remover and then run it along the edge of the nail where you made the mistake. This will remove it.  It is best to do this right away while the polish is still wet.

Use the nail brush just like this

When you have painted your whole nail, don't forget to cap the ends.  For those of you who do not know what this is, look at the picture below. Basically, you take your brush, and run it along nail edge.  This will seal off the edge, helping to prevent chips and tip wear.  Remember to always use very thin coats of polish. Too thick polish takes forever to dry making you more likely to ruin the manicure you worked so hard to create by touching things and smudging it.

This is me capping my ends.

Next, move on to your color coat. Same process here. Thin coats, cap the ends. Don't touch the polish brush directly to your cuticle. I usually only do 2 coats of color, unless the color is too translucent  and I am trying to cover up streaking. If the polish gets too thick, it is going to peal right off.  Do the same steps with the top coat. One thin coat,  cap the ends. Top coat is essential to make your manicure shiny, cover up any unevenness in the color, and to make it last longer.  If there are any mistakes you can again use that thin paintbrush to get excess polish off your skin. Make sure you wait for all polish to dry between coats, usually about 10-15 min so that your manicure doesn't get ruined when you touch things.

When you are done, remember to wash your your hands again.   Then use some moisturizer, like cuticle oil, or that great J.R. Watkins hand and cuticle salve that I talked about in my last blog.

Does anyone else have any tips or tricks to make your manicures last longer?

Favorite nail and hand care products

Hello everyone!  I hope you enjoyed my first post.

As many of you know, I work in the healthcare field.  That means that I am washing my hands or using alcohol based hand sanitizer at least 30 times a day, if not more.  All that washing and alcohol can make skin and nails very dry. So, how do I keep my hands and nails looking beautiful?  I have several tips to share with everyone.  My first secret to getting strong nails is.....

Thats right, prenatal vitamins. If you want to look healthy, you actually have to BE healthy.  I have been taking prenatal vitamins for the past 3-4 months, and they make my nails (and hair) grow faster, longer, and stronger. 

My second secret for healthy nails and healthy cuticles is J.R. Watkins hand and cuticle salve.  I love this stuff.  I put it on constantly. It is super greasy and super moisturizing. It stays on your skin much longer than regular old hand lotion. I feel like it creates a barrier between my skin and those awful hand sanitizers I am constantly using, which means it keeps my hands from becoming a chapped mess. I also put it on my feet at night before I go to bed.  It is also all natural, which I love.  You can buy it online here J.R. Watkins Apothecary.  I don't buy mine online because I don't want to pay shipping and handling, so every few months I make my boyfriend drive an hour to take me to the nearest Cracker Barrel so that I can stock up. They sell all kinds of cool stuff in their little shops, including this. 

My third secret is proper cuticle care. Never cut your cuticles, ever! When my cuticles are looking a little overgrown, I just apply a little dab of Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover and let them sit for a few min. This product is nice because the tip is actually angled, and can also work as a cuticle pusher to push them back after they have been softened up a little.  Even when I go to the nail salon, I never let them cut my cuticles with a cuticle nipper. Thats how you get nail infections!

My last secret to getting healthy nails is using the proper nail file. Generally I keep my nails on the fairly short side because of my job.  Long nails means lots of extra places for bacteria to get stuck.  When my nails get too long, I cut them with nail clippers, then I file them with this Revlon crystal nail file.  Crystal nail files are supposed to reduce splitting and pealing of nails by providing a smoother edge than metal or emery board files. They are also more hygenic, as they are not porous and therefore do not contain all those little spaces for bacteria and fungus to get trapped.  Crystal nail files also generally last much longer than other types of nail files, so although they may cost more upfront, you wont need another file for at least a year.

What do you think of my nail care routine? Do you have any products you love to use? What are your secrets to healthy nails and hands? Tell me in the comments!