Here are 11 easy nail hacks for a flawless DIY manicure. If you do your nails at home, here is every tip you could possibly need to ensure a salon-quality manicure.. Special thanks to Peggy
Fix a smudge by licking it. If you accidentally smudge a nail while it’s still wet, you can easily fix it by licking your finger and gently smoothing the smudge out (you can even use your tongue to smoothe). The saliva reacts with the nail polish to soften and blend the surface. (Remember: LICK don’t EAT.)
Apply Aquaphor or Vaseline to cuticles to protect your skin from errant nail polish strokes. But be VERY careful! Any ointment that gets on the nail will prevent the polish from sticking.
Soak nails in a solution of water and white vinegar before applying nail polish. You could also just wipe your nails using a paper towel dampened with vinegar. Vinegar will strip the nails of any oils or moisturizers left over from polish remover in order to prevent bubbles. It helps the polish adhere better, therefore prolonging your manicure.
The first coat of chunky glitter polishes should be dabbed, not brushed on. This will help to distribute the glitter evenly and get the big chunks where you want them. If all else fails, use a toothpick to move the chunks of glitter around.
If your nail polish is B3F, make sure your base coat and top coat are, too. B3F stands for “Free from Formaldehyde, DBP & Toluene,” a standard which many new nail polishes have adopted. If you’ve ever woken up the morning after a manicure with smudges and dents on your nails, this could be the culprit. If the top coat isnt B3F, it will dry much faster than the polish underneath.
Apply multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat. A thick coat of nail polish will only dry at the top layer, leaving your manicure vulnerable to smudges.
