Every woman who knows how to paint her nails with varnish can have perfectly groomed nails. After all, both the appearance and durability of the coating depend on proper application.
Before you start applying decorative coating, it is worth assessing the condition of your nails. The varnish will look attractive only on well-groomed hands, so if the nails are uneven, there are burrs around, and the cuticle is dry and hard, you definitely need to get a manicure. If you paint unkempt nails with varnish, then all the shortcomings will only become more obvious.
Preparation
Before you start applying polish, it is important to pre-treat your nails with a sanding file. Thus, the nails will acquire the necessary shape, and their surface will become more even. The latter is necessary so that the varnish lies evenly. It is important to treat the side of the nail and the cuticle.
You should also remember to degrease your nails. You can even do this by simply washing your hands with soap and water.
Tools for the perfect manicure at home
An important factor in home manicure is not only the question of how to carefully paint your nails with gel polish, but also how to do it. A set of professional tools allows you to perform any operation and achieve the desired effect using various devices. It’s not always possible to purchase a high-quality and expensive set at home, but you need to have at least the basic tools, without which you can’t do a single manicure.
The main devices, materials and tools for home nail care include:
- manicure scissors for trimming cuticles;
- overgrown nails are often trimmed with tweezers or nippers so as not to dull the scissors;
- wooden sticks;
- files of medium and high hardness;
- polishing buff;
- disinfectant liquid;
- cotton wool or cotton pads.
Gel manicure also requires special varnishes, bases and coatings for nails, each of which has its own purpose and application features. After purchasing, it is important to carefully read the rules for their use in order to get maximum results. You should also not neglect the base base and final coating, which determine not only the strength and duration of wearing the manicure, but also the appearance of the nails.
Thus, a beautiful manicure at home depends on many factors. And if you make an effort, you can make it neat, beautiful and of high quality.
Little tricks
First of all, you need to apply a base coat to the nail - a clear or strengthening varnish. This is necessary to level the surface of the nail. This measure also prevents the penetration of aggressive components of colored varnish into the nail plate.
When applying nail polish, it is important to follow a few simple rules:
1.Before applying, it is recommended to warm the bottle of varnish in your hands. This will help the solution acquire a more uniform consistency.
2. It is best to start painting your nails from your little finger. In this case, the hand should hang from the table, and the elbow should be motionless. It is necessary that the light falls from the top on the left side. These small nuances will help you apply the polish more accurately and without bubbles.
3. During the painting process, do not touch the cuticle. It is better to leave a distance of 1 mm from it to the place where the varnish is applied.
4. Nail polish should be applied in two layers. The first layer should begin to be applied from the middle of the nail (slightly retreating from the cuticle) and continue to its end. Then the side stripes are painted over with two quick strokes. The second layer is applied only after the first has completely dried, otherwise everything will be smeared. It will help remove all the flaws made in the first layer. It will also convey all the beauty of the chosen shade, making the color rich and bright.
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The correct application diagram is shown in the photo below:
5.Finally, a top coat is applied to the nails. It is necessary to add shine and to ensure that the nail polish lasts a long time.
All these principles are suitable for applying varnish to fingernails and toenails. The only addition is that on your feet you need to separate your toes with a special separator. This is done so that during the painting process they do not touch each other and blur the result.
Strengthening varnish - what is it?
Strengthening varnish is a preventative agent that acts in different directions. Therapeutic is a special remedy whose effect is aimed at:
- nutrition of nail plates;
- strengthening the structure;
- protection from negative external factors.
The composition of strengthening agents includes the following components: fruit acids, proteins, silk threads, iron, keratin, vitamins A, C, E and calcium. This medicinal drug is colorless and transparent. It is used as a base for decorative varnishes or independently. For the desired effect you need to apply it in two layers.
Manicure of short nails
Painting short nails is not an easy task. To do this you will need varnish with a fairly liquid consistency. Otherwise, it will be possible to stain both the cuticle and the side ridges around the nail.
When it comes to choosing colors for short nails, you should choose pastel colors. Bright colors will look untidy and untidy.
In order to apply the polish more evenly on short nails, you need to take just a little bit of polish onto the brush. Otherwise, excess varnish will be smeared on the sides and cuticles. You can visually lengthen your nail if you leave a slightly unpainted space at the base of the nail, from the cuticle.
How to remove nail polish
No matter how beautiful the decorative coating is, sooner or later the time comes to remove it from the nails. The vast majority of varnishes are removed using a special liquid. Attempts to remove nail polish by peeling off the gradually peeling coating lead to delamination of the nail plate.
A cotton pad is moistened with liquid and applied to the nail for 10-20 seconds. After this, the disc is passed several times along the nail from the cuticle and to the tip. Do not rub the cotton wool up and down; such movements can damage the nail, especially if the polish being removed contains glitter or metal particles.
How to remove nail polish without special liquid on hand
- You can use any organic solvent: gasoline, white spirit, turpentine, acetone. But in no case should you get carried away with the use of such funds - this is an emergency one-time measure;
Some varnishes can be removed with an alcohol solution, for example, eau de toilette. But the time the swab soaked in alcohol is left on the nail should be quite long;- Some hairsprays will dissolve if you spray them generously with hairspray;
- You can soften the coating using an oil bath. Fingers are dipped in heated vegetable oil for 20 minutes, and then the nails are wiped with a cotton swab.
In any case, a special nail polish remover will do the job better than any other product. It is only important to choose the right liquid, avoiding those products that contain acetone. Modern products are prepared on the basis of ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, which are not inferior to acetone in their solvent properties, but are less harmful to the nails and respiratory tract.
Additional nail care is provided by castor oil, vitamins, and plant extracts included in nail polish remover.
Nail polish remover doesn't have to be liquid. Manufacturers also offer gel and cream textures. Such products evaporate less and contain more caring components.
Beautifully painted nails certainly adorn a woman's hand. Fortunately, any woman can master the art of properly applying nail polish. You just need a little practice, desire and a good mood.
Long nail plates
It is easier to paint medium and long nails than short ones. And absolutely any shade will suit here. We do everything as described above, but completely immerse the varnish in the bottle, and carefully run one side along the wall in order to remove the excess. It turns out that on one side of the brush there will be almost no varnish, but on the other there will be plenty of it - this side should be painted. Before painting each subsequent nail, you should renew the varnish on the brush.
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The varnish is applied to extended nails in exactly the same way as to long nails. The main thing to remember is that you should not use acetone on gel nails, as it destroys it.
Review of famous brands
Nail polish OPI (Oh Pi Eye)
The decorative cosmetics product is manufactured in the USA. The varnish is made on the basis of nitrocellulose with the addition of TSF, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and other components. The formula contains amino acids and natural silk particles.
Depending on fashionable world trends, the collection of shades is constantly updated. Today there are about 300 flowers on sale. The shape of the bottle is designed so that decorative fillers (glitter and mother-of-pearl) do not settle to the bottom. A brush made of natural material of a special shape is provided, which allows you to apply the varnish evenly and comfortably to the surface of the nails.
Nail polish Golden Rose
This amazing product from Turkish manufacturers is presented in several collections, each of which has a variety of colors and textures.
A distinctive feature is the presence of a wide brush, which allows you to apply the varnish carefully and quickly. The texture of the product is medium, not thick and not runny. The products are presented in the middle price category.
Nail polish Dance Legend
The Russian company offers unique varnishes that combine fashionable, rich shades, safe to apply, created on the basis of innovative technologies that allow you to create various effects. Today, the manufacturer offers more than 1,500 varnishes of various textures, presented in 30 series. Fashionistas will be pleased with the constantly updated collections. You can purchase professional varnishes with various visual effects (color changes depending on the temperature or brightness of the sun's color). Holographic and multichrome varnishes are available to customers.
Nail Look Nail Polish
Decorative coatings of this brand were created in England in 2010. Today the collection consists of a huge number of beautiful shades of different textures. Varnishes do not fade or crack when applied. The coating dries in 8-10 minutes and lasts about a week. The most saturated shades do not stain the nail plate because they contain pigments and other high quality ingredients.
Thanks to the convenient brush of 236 bristles and texture, the polish is easily applied and distributed over the surface of the nail. The volume of the container is 8.5 ml.
Nail polish Orly
Few people know that it was Jeff Pink, the creator of the Orly brand, who at one time first used French manicure, which became one of the most favorite options for applying varnish. The company was founded in 1975.
Varnishes of this brand are considered absolutely safe and are of high quality, and are also presented in a wide palette. In 2002, the company created its own unique cap with a brush, the outer surface of which is made of rubberized material. Thanks to this, you can open the polish with one hand, and the material completely follows the contours of your fingers.
Over many years on the market, Orly has managed to win 12 ABBIES awards, which is one of the most valuable in the world of cosmetology.
Thanks to their dense structure, Orly varnishes look great when applied in 1 layer. The line of cosmetic products includes varnishes produced in jars with a capacity of 5.3 ml and 18 ml. This allows you to purchase small samples, and if you like the color and it suits you, you can buy a larger bottle.
Essence nail polish
Presented in various collections: from neutral to rich and neon tones. The coating is quite dense and looks expensive on the nails, despite the quite budget price. For application, a convenient wide brush has been designed, which picks up a sufficient amount of varnish and distributes it efficiently over the surface of the nail plate.
In the bottle the product does not thicken for a long time and retains a liquid texture. However, when applied, the varnish dries within a few minutes.
Essie nail polish
The collection was created in 1981 by Essie Wijngaarten from New York, who came up with 12 shades of decorative varnish and 3 healing products. A distinctive feature of the collection is considered to be special durability and excellent quality. The secret formula allows the varnish to create a durable coating that lasts for about a week. Moreover, during this time the shade of the varnish will not change and will remain as bright as on the day of application.
Collections are updated once a year. The permanent assortment includes more than 250 shades. I would especially like to note the plastic brush, with which you can apply nail polish in one motion without staining the cuticle. The product dries quickly and acquires a beautiful glossy shine.
To be fair, I would like to note that the product line is quite expensive, although due to its excellent qualities, this type of product has many fans.
Varnish Vinylux
Provides a super durable coating that stays on the nail surface for up to 8 days. Does not require prior application of a base coat. It dries in 10-15 minutes, but unlike gel polish it does not require special conditions for removal - it is washed off with regular nail polish remover without acetone. Does not contain formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. One bottle of varnish is enough for 33 coats (if you paint in 2 layers). The product is applied in a thin layer.
Red Carpet Manicure Polish
This series presents gel polishes that are completely suitable for use at home. The coating procedure takes 10-15 minutes; a UV lamp must be used to harden the varnish. First, a base coat from the same series is applied, then the colored varnish is applied directly in 2 layers, each of which is dried under a lamp. Then the top layer is applied. The consistency of the coating is similar to regular varnish, which does not cause difficulties during application.
RGB Nail Color
Products are manufactured in the USA. We have several collections. Characteristic advantages are that it does not contain formaldehyde and formaldehyde-containing resins, and does not contain camphor and toluene.
Varnish Avon Nails Inc
Decorative cosmetics for nail care are presented in several collections. The varnish contains diamond dust, panthenol, acrylic, as well as special polymers that guarantee shine. The coating lasts up to 10 days on the nail plate.
Each bristle of the brush has an angular bevel, which allows for the highest quality, precise and even distribution of the varnish. Rich tones are applied in 2 layers. After applying the first layer, you must wait 1 minute and apply the second layer.
Rimmel varnish
Decorative cosmetics of this brand are manufactured in the UK. The brand traces its history back to 1834, when the famous perfumer, who served Napoleon's wife, Josephine, moved to England and founded his own business. Today the company's products are the best-selling in the UK and rank third in Europe.
The varnish of this brand is of high quality. The coating is easy to apply thanks to the patented brush. The varnish dries in less than 60 seconds.
Revlon varnish
Products are made in Spain. When applied to prepared nails, the polish dries in less than 60 seconds. The decorative product is distributed evenly over the surface, since the individual bristles of the brush are cut in the shape of an angle.
The composition includes ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, nitrocellulose, panthenol, keratin, as well as diamond dust and other components. The manufacturer distinguished itself by introducing fragrant varnishes in one of the collections.
Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish
The brand was founded in 1998 by Ji Baek and literally translated means “Saving Beauty.” At first, a beauty salon arose, where work was carried out in especially sterile conditions. In parallel with the opening of the salon, the founder of the brand launched a new collection of cosmetics, in particular, varnishes.
The texture of the product is medium and very convenient for application. The brush is triangular in shape, medium thickness. The coating dries quite quickly. For a beautiful nail design, you need to apply the product in 2 layers. The polishes are not cheap and sell for $18 per bottle.
China Glaze Nail Polish
Decorative cosmetics are made in the USA. The main difference is that the composition is free of formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and therefore deserves the name “environmentally friendly”. To make nails stronger and harder, manufacturers add kaolin (white Chinese clay) to the composition. The assortment includes more than 300 shades. The varnishes are suitable for home and professional use.
Maybelline Colorama nail polish
The American company has been delighting its fans with new ideas and excellent shades for 100 years. The series presents quite bright and rich shades that are suitable for application at different times of the year. The affordable price of the bottle makes decorative coating affordable for many.
The manufacturer himself guarantees that the varnish stays on the nails for up to 7 days, but this property depends not only on the composition of the varnish, but also on the characteristics of the nails themselves. The kit includes a brush that guarantees convenient and accurate application.
The disadvantages of varnishes include the inclusion of toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde. To apply a rich shade, two layers are not always enough. In some shades, even 3-4 layers do not provide coverage without gaps.
Dior Vernis nail polish
The decorative cosmetics of this company will certainly appeal to those women who are not attracted to too bright, saturated, poisonous shades. Manufacturers took shades of famous spices as a basis, which means that you will find many natural colors in the collection.
The series includes various varnishes: with metallic or craquelure effects, with glitter and translucent. You need to apply the product using a special brush with beveled corners: thanks to the fairly wide and moderately flat shape of the bristles, they pick up the right amount of product and distribute it evenly over the surface of the nail plate.
Varnishes of this brand do not thicken or separate during storage. The natural composition has a beneficial effect on the condition of the nail plate, strengthens it and makes it healthier. The varnish does not stain the surface of the nail and can be applied even without a base coat.
Givenchy nail polish
This product provides reliable coverage that lasts up to 7 days. Thanks to the special formula, the nail plate is nourished. The texture of the varnish is quite dense, which allows it to be applied even in 1 layer. When applied, the varnishes dry quickly and create a special shimmer and shine.
According to some customer reviews, the varnish thickens quite quickly, which makes it much more difficult to apply.
Nail polish CND Shellac
The products of this brand are natural, and therefore can be used by allergy sufferers and even pregnant women. A special advantage is that the product stays on the nails for about 2 weeks - during this time the natural nail plate can grow significantly, since it has reliable protection against breakage.
The assortment includes many shades, from which it will not be difficult to choose the one you like.
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Varieties of nail painting methods
Sometimes the monotony of the same tones gets boring and you want something new and bright. This is where variations of French manicure will come to the rescue. In fact, this is covering your nails with two colors of varnish. One goes as a base - it covers the entire nail. And the second (brighter) one is to paint the tip of the nail plate with stripes. The stripe at the end of the nail can be either straight or oblique. The closer summer is, the brighter your version of French manicure can be.
If with such a clear transition from color to color everything is quite clear and understandable, then how to make a smooth transition is not very good. So, let's figure it out:
– First, you should choose two varnishes that will be combined with each other - a base and a secondary tone. It is necessary to cover the entire length of the nail with the main varnish;
– Using a toothpick, mix two varnishes on any surface, in the order in which they should go;
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– It is necessary to lubricate the entire skin adjacent to the nail with a rich cream;
– Next, the mixture of varnishes is applied to the nail using a sponge. It is first blotted in mixed varnishes, and then the color scheme is transferred to the nail with light touches;
– Use nail polish remover to remove excess nail polish from the skin;
– All that remains is to apply the top coat.
The history of nail polish
There is still no definite information about who and when created the first nail polish. There is an assumption that in 3 thousand BC. The ancient Chinese used enamel nail coating. This varnish (red or pink) lasted for several hours and was prepared using the sap of the lacquer tree. In addition, representatives of noble families used especially long manicures (up to 25 cm) as an indicator that they were not fit to engage in manual labor like commoners. A long manicure was also a sign of wisdom, and therefore this decoration was often used by men.
Later, it was in China that a mixture was invented that resembled modern nail polish. The composition included gum arabic, wax, gelatin, egg yolk and natural natural dye. Just 6 centuries ago, gold and silver nails worn by the nobility became fashionable in these parts.
In Ancient India, nails were painted with henna, which was also absorbed into the plate and remained as a decoration for the hands for a long time.
The noble people of Ancient Egypt used bright red shades, while ordinary people could apply an almost colorless coating. Varnishes were made from natural resins such as amber and mastic. Already in the 8th century AD, varnishes were made from a mixture of nut, linseed and hemp oil, which dried quickly.
In Europe during the time of Queen Catherine de Medici, a bright and long manicure was considered a sign that a woman was practicing witchcraft, and therefore ladies preferred to cut their nails short and not cover them with colored varnish, so as not to incur displeasure from the church. However, the tradition of wearing short nails had another explanation: in the Middle Ages, various epidemics and diseases hit Europe every now and then. Given that long nails were the main cause of dirt accumulation, they were encouraged to be cut short to reduce the risk of infection.
In the mid-19th century, a fashion for a kind of “French” manicure appeared in Europe: lemon juice was mixed with water and applied to the regrown part of the nail, whitening it.
The insoluble varnish formula was first invented by Charles Revson in the 1930s. It is to the famous founder of Revlon that modern fashionistas owe such an interesting and useful discovery. Of course, the first attempts to create a coating were not very successful and the varnish peeled off after 2-3 days, and it could only be removed with ordinary acetone. Over time, the formula was improved and today fashionistas are offered a wide range of various varnishes that allow them to create a matte, glossy, iridescent finish that can stay on the nails for more than 7-10 days.