*use cotton balls, instead of tissue, saturated with nail polish remover to remove polish.
Now you are ready for polish! In case you haven't come across this helpful diagram on pinterest, it's a great tool for applying nail polish:
(source) (if you know the actual source of this diagram, will you tweet it to me?)
So once your nails are prepped and ready, try some creative ways to wear polish:
*don't mind the crooked line on my pointer finger **or my dry hands
By day old nails I mean don't do this on the same day that you polish them.
Some other fun nail polish techniques can be found here!
I love to wear deeper and darker colors in the fall and winter. Some of my favorites are Essie's Mink Muffs, OPI's You Don't Know Jacques, and OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark
To transition your nail colors from summer to fall, just look for darker shades of what you already wore.
What are some of your favorite fall/winter polishes?
Cute!! I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteI was just wishing you'd do a polish class. Those nails are greaaaaaat.
ReplyDeletewww.southernchiclove.blogspot.com
Thank you for the great tips/tutorial. After seeing this, I definitely need to give myself a new manicure!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love Chinchilly! It's a great neutral. I have also been loving metallic nails and Scarlett O'hara- Essie
ReplyDeleteLove that you are talkin Nails~ Licensed Nail technician here! Just a few extra notes: Always file/shape nails first. Also, some people have unruly cuticles that won't lift away from the nail so it could be painful and unsuccessful to push them back dry. My favorite cuticle softener is called Blue Cross, which I use in every service. I buy it because it works and its cheap! Buy it at Sally Beauty Supply.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sallybeauty.com/cuticle-remover/SBS-246116,default,pd.html
I love doing my nails and collecting polishes! Except for trimming my cuticles this is exactly what I do. Thanks for sharing the names of your polishes....That is how I pick new polishes most of the time. Seeing it on someone else and then finding out what it is called keeps me from THINKING I will like a polish and then never wearing it.
ReplyDeleteI just painted my nails with Lincoln Park After Dark :)
ReplyDeleteI love painting my nails and playing with new colors, but I am horrible at it.
ReplyDeleteMy "day old nails" are already completely chipped off :(
ReplyDeleteI just bought some great new colors for fall! Deep red and taupy-grey, the new ELF ones from Target (I assume you've seen them) they're so cute and only $2 - how could I not?! Lately I've been super into the matte finish topcoat, it adds so much more depth to the nail color, perfect for fall! Great post, Kate!
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's Big Spender! Since I have really tan skin, I love the look of Sally Hansen's Wined Up. It's a nice deep shimmery merlot.
ReplyDeleteI'll need to do your striped design soon. I love it!
I love this tutorial! Such good tips :) Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove this color combo! Chinchilly is on my nail polish wishlist, along with tons others!
ReplyDeletelove this, kate!! and Essie Mink Muffs is my favorite essie color EVERRRR!
ReplyDeleteI have always been taught, and have read in the recent Glamour or Allure magazine that while cotton balls work well, for at home manis and pedis you should use paper towels. Because the cotton can leave microscopic threads we can't see until they get gunked with polish.
ReplyDeleteinteresting! I'll try paper towel next time!
DeleteYou should use a glass file to shape nails b/c the cardboard-y ones can leave microscopic tears on the tips of your nails. And also you should not buff your nails before you polish. Only buff if you are going to have a naked nail. Smoothy, shiny nail beds will cause polish to chip off faster or even pop off in one piece b/c the surface that was painted on was too smooth. Use base coat or ridge filler over dry, unbuffed nails.
ReplyDeleteOPI Lincoln Park After Dark....always and forever. Also love Sally Hansen Commander in Chic
ReplyDeleteOne of the most important steps when applying nail polish (diagram states)is cleaning the nail bed so that it is free of natural oils and or hand creams. Polish remover works well no need for fancy product.
ReplyDeletePretty nails, Kate!!! ;)
Jen Vespa
Kate, which base and top coat do you us? Love those stripes; super cute!
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's 3-way Glaze top and base coat!
DeleteThanks! Will give that one a try :)
DeleteI tweeted you, but thought I'd share it here too.. Here's the original source link to the diagram you found on Pinterest: http://www.lacquerized.com/2010/05/how-to-how-i-paint-my-nails.html
ReplyDeleteLove the colors you chose for this mani! :)
- Sara
Just did my nails at my desk at work! Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteGreat tutorial; thanks! :) I was curious, what base coat do you use / recommend? I've been on the hunt for a good base coat, especially one that helps prevent yellowing of the fingernails.
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's 3-way Glaze top and base coat!
Deletegood to know thanks! and i should have read all the posts before i asked my question (which collectively was asked of you like 5 times by others as well, sorry about that!) :)
DeleteI pinned this because it has so many details that explain what goes into a good manicure!
ReplyDeleteI'm an Essie girl but decided to try Butter London last week. Love Yummy Mummy as a fall neutral. On my hands now....
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of base coat works best? I usually skip that step but my nail chip within a few days. Help?!
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's 3-way Glaze top and base coat!
DeleteWhat is a good top coat and base coat?
ReplyDeleteI love Essie's 3-way Glaze top and base coat!
DeleteI have short, trimmed nails with short nail beds--not a bitter. I've always shied away from color unless my nails were a little longer, but maybe that's old school?
ReplyDeleteI saw the tip on Pinterest too for using a rubber band for guidance on a nice french tip. Love the colors you picked for fall. I tend toward purples and browns for the most part so some good altrnative to choose. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried using Konad products (i.e. nail stamps)? My daughter and I love it! ~Michelle
ReplyDeleteSUCH a cute design. But I would recommend to all reading that when using cuticle pushers AND nippers that you should always, always, ALWAYS soak your nails/cuticles first before pushing or cutting - and cutting should be very rare. Cutting risks infection, and pushing w/out the cuticles being soften can cause damage to your cuticle, skin and nail beds. Not trying to harp but I've seen where dry pushing can cause ridges in the nail beds (former manicurist over here).
ReplyDeleteThat being said LOVE the color, LOVE the design and LOVE the tutorial!
This definitely would have come in handy last week before my new job said NO nail polish (WHAT?!) but at least now I can keep my nails looking pretty sans polish. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteARGH! Mine never turn out like that.
ReplyDeletehttp://frenchpresstights.blogspot.com/
Love this post! So fun and informative. I need one of those cuticle trimmers. I am so terrible at pushing my cuticles back.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Fashion and Beauty Finds
You make it look so easy!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do to make polish removal super easy is to tear the cotton ball into 10 small pieces and then saturate those pieces in polish remover. Then I place the pieces on my nails and just let them sit for about 15 seconds- the polish comes right off! And you only need one cotton ball (medium-sized). Simple! :)
I am an essie girl all the way, my favorites for fall are Merino Cool, Spinning again, and island hopping.
ReplyDeleteLove the pictorial on how to paint your nails..Love your simple nail design <3
ReplyDeletehttp://shelovesthefinerthings.com
Love the nail tutorial! What a great idea to use tape... never thought of that!
ReplyDeletesuch a fun and cool idea to try for different nail style! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletevery informative! i'm thinking Big Spender might be the perfect berry color i've been looking for. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with Essie's Head Mistress. It is the perfect red for fall - or really any season, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI have never used Essie nail polish and was wondering why it is so fabulous? (I'm new to your blog) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteApply OPI Bond Aid before base coat and you will notice how much longer your polish will last. I am a nail technician, and this is definitely a must! Love everything about your blog - thanks!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My mother just started using Deborah Lippmann nail polish, it is more expensive but her nail polish has lasted forever, I couldn't believe it!
ReplyDeleteOPIs "Bastille my Heart". Best fall/winter color ever!!!!
ReplyDelete"OPI Red" is my all time stand-by. It's the perfect shade of red that isn't too orange-y, yellow-y or blue-y (like my technical wording?) It can be worn with anything & doesn't seem to clash. Great for a professional looking color on toes especially - I always use it before business trips.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate, you can try to find the source of that picture by going to Google Images, and on the right side of the search box, click the little camera option. You can upload this picture and it will search the internet for where it has been used. :)
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy your blog. I do have an off topic question. What font are you using on the particular page. Specifically the white letting in the top 6 blocks? Thank you
ReplyDeleteI just bought some Essie 3-way glaze today @ Ulta! I used some from a friend and it really worked well.I am ready to try some fall nail colors too. I recently bought Essie "Angora Cardi" It goes on somewhat darker than the bottle looks,almost like a plum color. Great tutorial Kate!
ReplyDeleteHi Kate- Can you recommend a good cuticle pusher and cuticle nipper?
ReplyDeleteI love neutral colors on my nails, currently I have Essie "Smokin' Hot" on there, I was just wondering if you knew of a very complimentary color that would look good with this style you did? Maybe a brighter color?
ReplyDeleteRandom question - is your wedding set from Cartier?
ReplyDeleteThe beauty nail pep is described here. Good post
ReplyDeleteorganic hair colouring
Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck!
ReplyDeleteHair Removal
Here is the original source of the nail polish diagram:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lacquerized.com/2010/05/how-to-how-i-paint-my-nails.html