my personal tips, tried and true, based only on my experience :)
Basic Care
- Keep your nail plate free from stubborn tissue like, cuticle (I use a cuticle remover - see Shop my Favs) and keep your nail fold short.
- Use a high quality cuticle oil...A LOT. Use it as much as you can, on the nail plate, on the nail fold and on the backside of your nails. It will help the nails grow and keep them deliciously healthy and appropriately flexible. (no biting!)
- You'll be surprised at just how comically easy it is for a nail to break for almost no reason so...don't give them a reason, no using your nails as tools. Do everything you can to not use your nails.
- Keep 'em polished, especially if you have longer nails. The layers of polish will add a level of protection, which is really needed when you get them wet. Wet nails are particularly fragile, when possible wear gloves to do dishes or water activities.
Nail Polish Application
- Find a favorite base coat and use it, even if you think it's not doing anything. It is!
- If you need to shake your polish before using it, make sure to let it rest so the air bubbles can rise out of the liquid. Otherwise, your manicure will end up with tiny air bubbles. I let my polish rest for about 15 minutes after shaking.
- Remove oils from your nail plate with alcohol or acetone.
- Wait for each coat to dry, be patient :)
- You've heard this everywhere: Wrap the tip. Personally, I find that wrapping the tip extends the longetivity of my manicure because once the tip of the manicure/nail has suffered damage, it won't be long before the polish lifts/chips. Wrapping the tip provides extra protection against damage.
- Top coat that last coat. Have you seen those clips where painters show the process of varnishing their painting? Top coat essentially does the same for your manicure.
- I have a Nail Polish Video Tutorial for beginner-intermediate users here
Nail Polish Removal
- I recommend the soak off removal method, it basically does most of the removal job for you saving you the task of having to extensively rub your nails with acetone. I especially recommend this method if you used a textured polish like a glitter formula, rubbing this type of polish off your nail can cause damage that may not be visible to the eye.
- Unless you used a peel off base coat, avoid peeling the polish off your nail bed since layers of your nail can also come off with it.
Growing out your Nails
- Cuticle oil can help grow your nails in a few ways like: keeping it healthy so it doesn't snap and the massaging or rubbing motion when applying can stimulate blood flow to the area around your nail, encouraging growth.
- In my experience, a proper intake of vitamins has noticeably sped up my nail growth (this is not medical advice)
- Get good sleep! Sleep helps trigger growth hormone and I've also experienced slower & more rapid growth when I get better or worse sleep (this is not medical advice)
Shaping your Nails
- I always recommend a glass file, they seal the keratin layers at the edge/tip of your nail which helps to prevent peeling. Also, file in 1 direction.
- Make sure you're looking at your nails from as many angles as you can while you file to avoid shaping your nail in a funny way
ps: my final tip is to encourage you to do whatever you want. Last time I checked, I wasn't a pro. Have Fun! :)