You have chosen the best nail polish colour for today and you go on to do your nails but after a few minutes, they are all smudged or chipped. Does it sound familiar? Well, you are doing some things wrong during your manicure ritual but not realising what. Don’t worry as you are about to find out and some tips on how to fix it.
Mistake #1: You don’t wash your hands before applying nail polish
Your nails have natural oils on the surface that make them slippery. These natural oils prevent the nail polish from blending with the surface of the nails correctly and create the effect of smudgy nails. To avoid this, apply polish remover and clear the nails extensively and then soak them under water to get rid of the remaining nail polish remover or oil. Use some soap to be sure that the nails won’t be slippery and dry them off.
Mistake #2: You are filing the nails in all directions
If what you are doing with the file looks like sawing the nails – then stop, take a step back and leave the file. You should gently run the file across the nail in one direction, starting from the outside edge and then pull toward the centre. In case your nails are thin hold the flush to the nail and tilt it so that you can file from slightly underneath. This will prevent you from over-filing. Ok, now take the file again and start filing the nails in the right way.
Mistake #3: You don’t buff your nails
That one is a huge mistake. If you don’t do it, the natural oils of the nails will build up anew and will leave the manicure-ruining residue on them. The buffing will brighten the nails, the same way as brushing does to the teeth. The result is more youthful looking nails without ridges.
Read about Mistakes #4, 5, 6 and 7 on the next page.
