There’s nothing worse than spending time doing your nails and not having them come out as you expected. Here are the top 5 nail polish mistakes we’ve all made and tips on how to prevent them.
- Applying coats that are too thick-this technique is a surefire way to get smudges since it takes longer to dry. Instead, applying a couple of thin coats.
- Washing your hands in hot water after applying polish-Exposing freshly painted nails to heat and steam can cause them to bubble or smudge. If you need to wash your hands once your nails dry, use cold water.
- Using old nail polish-Yes, your bottle of polish comes with an expiration date. As a rule of thumb, replace any bottles you haven’t purchased in the last 12 months.
- Dipping the edge of a paper towel in nail polish remover to take off polish that may have gotten on the skin. This technique can ruin your whole nail. Instead, dip a cotton swab in some nail polish remover for more control.
- Shaking the nail polish bottle-it’s not a Polaroid picture (actually you shouldn’t shake those either). When you shake the bottle, air becomes trapped inside leading to bubbles. To mix up your polish, simply roll it in your hands.
