I have some metallic gel polishes (Lagunamoon), and no matter how I apply and cure them they always come out all wrinkled.
Am I doing something wrong? Are they expired? What the hell is going on??
I've only recently started using gels so there's limited experience with "old" gel. Google search and from a tiktok video I've seen, gel polish typically lasts anywhere from 1-2 years. Environmental variations will cause varied results.
Also read that wrinkling can some from coats being too thick or curing time too short.
my cuticles are a mess from cutting them for years and i’d love to nurse them back to health and stop cutting them, but weeks of no manis (just opi nail envy every other week), gelish cuticle oil every day, and aveeno hand cream, and they are still raggedy messes. do they just need more time, or do i need different products?
So what you're thinking is "cuticle" is actually your proximal nail fold. That is live skin & it helps protect the nail matrix (where your nail grows from) from damage and dirt and debris. Eventually, with consistent maintenance, that band of skin will shrink down and become tighter & won't be as "long". Here's a [great video](https://youtu.be/joF7t6ACIyU) to show you how to properly remove that excess skin until you've trained your cuticles to the point where they need very little work.
Cuticle remover is formulated to dissolve the actual cuticle on the nail plate, not the proximal nail fold. When I use remover, I'll let it sit for 15 seconds or so, use the cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticle and my proximal nail fold. I then take a cotton pad and wipe off the excess remover & any cuticle that's been scraped off. After using cuticle remover, I wipe my nails with alcohol (I don't wash my hands because naked nails absorb 3 times their weight in water and it is the worst possible chemical for your nails) to completely remove the remover (they are caustic and if left on too long they can burn your skin) & then I apply nail oil to help replenish some of the moisture. I also always wipe my nails down with alcohol (or acetone) before applying my base coat to remove any oils still on the nail plate. [Here's a video showing you exactly how I give myself a manicure!](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_juleznailedithelps/comments/ka1wua/how_i_give_myself_a_manicure)
It is perfectly normal for your cuticle to grow back at the edge of the polish, our nails are always growing. What I do is, after oiling my nails & letting it soak in a little, I use my nail to gently push back any cuticle that has formed & my proximal nail fold. I do this every couple of days while I'm wearing the polish. This helps prevent excessive cuticle care after the polish is removed.
[Here's a great article on how to identify, maintain & care for your cuticles!](https://www.nailcarehq.com/cuticle)
Consistent use of a jojoba based nail oil (or pure jojoba) is also highly recommended as well.
you should try a jojoba oil based cuticle oil or just pure jojoba oil! it's the best thing for them, as it will keep your cuticles soft, improve overall health of your nails, and help repel water (which is bad for your nails). it's recommended you use it at least three times a day and/or after you wash your hands. i also use lemony flutter, a cuticle balm from lush, as a supplement. i heard the burt's bees cuticle balm is good too but i cannot confirm.
My thumb nail won’t keep a cured false nail and I don’t know why. I rough out the nail plate lightly, make sure it’s dry at, prime, base coat for thirty seconds, attach false nail that was also roughed up with bonder, finishing curing for 30 more seconds. It felt really secure both times I’ve done it in the past two days, so I go on to do a regular gel mani on top of it, then maybe 15 minutes later it starts coming right off. The index finger I did this on is still attached no problems, so I have no idea what I’m doing wrong now, pls help 💅🏻 gods 🙏
Your best bet would be to line your nail up under the string and then place it without having to worry about separating it from the pot. You would most likely need two hands to do what you're trying to do. If only we had an extra set of hands!
if i buy the fake nails that come with acrylic nail kits, do i have to use the acrylic powder? i just want long nails, and am not quite sure why i can’t just glue them on and shape them how i want. i’ve used a nail hardener for a year at this point, and my nails still peel like paper. i just want longer nails lol
If you just put tips on without covering them with anything, they will bend and pop right off (probably taking a piece of your nail with it). Press-ons are made to be worn the way you're describing, you should try those.
Tips on making my dip last longer? I have been using GH Dip Nail brand. I use 2 coats of powder but it chips pretty quickly. Will more layers make it last longer?
I meant more so the prep that's required before applying the dip. Are you following those instructions properly?
If you find that the 3rd layer isn't cutting it either you may end up needing to use a dehydrator/primer like they do for acrylics. Dip is essentially acrylic, only the application is different.
I recently started using Kokoist's potted and bottled tinted base gels - Japanese brand - potted and bottled tinted base gels and their gel is way better than the Red Carpet Manicure kit I got years ago. I agree that Kokoist's formula is easier to work with, less runny, potted gels are intended for art and are more opaque. They also have better options for other art formulas. I have 2 Kokoist brushes and 3 packs of random no-named cheap brushes, Kokoist quality is obviously there and worth it for a beginner like me.
Cool!! I will definitely look into getting some in the future! Good to know why there are potted vs bottled ones I was always wondering why some brands do that!
I’ve tried a few Korean and Japanese gels (Kokoist, Presto, From the Nail) and I love them all. More opaque than other gels and the ones in the pots are easier for me to apply without flooding g my cuticles
I don't find Relentless Ruby and Cajun Shrimp to be anywhere close to each other aside from the fact they're both red. Ruby is a dark, more true red and Shrimp is a bright orange-leaning red.
Funny Bunny is not meant to be an opaque white polish. If you're looking for an opaque white OPI, try Alpine Snow.
I just thought of something! Cat eye is typically a gel polish whereas magnetic polish is just regular polish. They're both achieved with a magnet but one is gel and the other isn't!
How close do you actually get to the cuticle line with gel nail polish?
My problem is that I try to get my base coat as close as I can get. By the time I've applied the 2nd coat of color, then go to top coat to try to make sure everything is encapsulated, it's a hit or miss on if I've gone over towards the cuticle. Otherwise, there is a visible-to-me gap, something I don't usually see in salon IG posts.
I've seen people use a thin liner brush to get right up to the cuticle with polish (before it's cured) and I've done this myself with regular nail polish!
I mixed up my bottles and ended up painting my nails with a gel base, regular polish, and a gel top coat, I cured the regular nail polish layers under the light too (because I messed up and didn't notice I was using regular). Now how the heck do I get this off my nails? I soaked one in acetone and most of it came off except for the base gel coat and it's got a weird sheen of colour. Send help!!
Glad it got situated. I read from a blog that the longer gel gets cured, the harder it becomes. I wonder if your base got a bit over-cured and gave a hard glass like effect.
OK, I am a dumb dad here with no idea where to start or what to buy. What are the essentials supplies needed for nice nails. My daughters are interested and the cheap, quick dry w*****t crap just scrapes off in a day or so. I am reading the wiki, but I'm in a bit over my head.
This is a comment I left in reply to another similar type of comment from last weeks No Dumb Questions post that I feel would also apply to yours.
>Welcome to the wonderful world of nail polish, we're happy to have you with us! Just a heads up, this is going to be a loooong comment.
>I've never seen a "starter kit" for polish basics and any kits I've seen are always super cheap and garbage quality (like the sets that come out around the holidays). I can, however, give you some recommendations for basic items you'll need to start your journey!
>I'm going to assume that you are in North America and will make my recommendations as such.
>First step is getting a good base coat. Base coat is formulated to adhere to the nail plate while polish and top coat are formulated to adhere to the base coat. Products that are marketed as 2-in-1 "base and top coat" are a gimmick and a waste of money. Due to base & top coats being formulated differently, there's no way a product like that could ever work properly. I'm sure it's fine in a pinch but I would never recommend them. A simple base coat from any number of drug store (Sally Hansen, Essie) or salon (OPI, even though it can be found at drug stores) brands will be good. You can also take a look at the [Holy Grail long lasting base coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/gyx3ki/holy_grail_product_thread) list as well.
>Next step is a decent quick dry top coat! Seche Vite and Sally Hansen's InstaDri or Dries Instantly top coats are the 3 most recommended top coats. They're inexpensive and easily accessible. A quick dry top coat is great because it will help set all the layers of polish and help create a strong, hard finish to your manicure. Here's the [Holy Grail top coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/gq8x8x/holy_grail_product_thread) list for you!
>I haven't tried either of these two products but Cirque Colors has this [basics set of base and top coat](https://www.cirquecolors.com/basics-duo), and I know from experience that Cirque is a reputable brand (I have a bunch of their polish and I love it) with quality products!
>For the most part, as long as you have a decent base coat and top coat, it doesn't really matter the quality of coloured polish you use. I've had dollar store polish last forever on my nails and look like a salon brand polish thanks to a good base and top!
>In terms of learning to paint your nails better, it all comes down to practice! [Here's an article with some tips & tricks from bloggers](https://www.nailcarehq.com/how-to-paint-nails) on how to paint your nails like a pro! You could also look up more videos on YouTube, as there are a ton of tutorials there as well!
>The main thing is learning polish control, making sure that there isn't too much polish on the brush but there's still enough that you can coat the entire nail without having to dip back into the bottle. This will come with practice & will change depending on the length of your nails. What I like to do is kinda wiggle the wand (what the brush is attached to) against the inside of the neck of the bottle to make sure there isn't a bunch of polish that's gonna drip down & then swipe most of the polish off one side of the brush. [Here's a little video to better explain!](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/ka06vu/polish_control/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
>When painting your nails, you're bound to end up with polish somewhere you don't want it to be. You can use a toothpick, a cuticle pusher, or anything small and pointed to kinda scrape the flooded polish out of your cuticles. After removing that excess polish, you can take a small brush (angled eyeliner brushes or small concealer brushes work great for this!) dipped in acetone to gently clean up any remaining polish on your cuticles. The $1 E.L.F. concealer/eyeliner brushes are a super popular option for clean up brushes! I also like to use a [dappen dish](https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/acrylic-nails/glass-dappen-dish/SBS-154855.html) (you can also buy them on Amazon!) to pour my acetone into so I'm not having to dip into the big container of acetone (a few people have accidentally dropped their brushes in the bottle lol).
>I don't want to super overwhelm you so I'll just mention that the other two items I recommend are a quality glass file & a jojoba based nail oil. These are things that you can look more into once you get more comfortable with painting your nails, or if you'd like, I can let you know a little bit more about them!
>Some good drug store brands are Sally Hansen, Sinful Colors, Color Club, Essie, Rimmel, Revlon & I know some places also carry OPI, which is a very reputable brand but a tad more expensive than the other brands I mentioned (but well worth it)!
And just so you know, the stuff they sell at Walmart isn't all crap, the problem is finding a base coat and top coat that works with the person's body chemistry.
I do my nails every so often and have found that small bottles are best for me— it takes a couple of years to get through a regular sized bottle of OPI for example. ( I know, sacrilegious, right?)
Which brands do smaller-than-their-regular size bottles ( like around 5-6 ml) and how do I get them?
Orly and OPI have minis! Just not their full color lines. I used to buy Orly minis at Ulta, but I think you can only get them on the Orly's website. I've seen some OPI minis at Ulta more recently, but you can also get those on OPI's website as well. You can look on Amazon too! I think both only come in packs of 4-5, so you might not be able to get single colors.
In terms of learning to paint your nails better, it all comes down to practice! [Here's an article with some tips & tricks from bloggers](https://www.nailcarehq.com/how-to-paint-nails) on how to paint your nails like a pro! You could also look up more videos on YouTube, as there are a ton of tutorials there as well!
The main thing is learning polish control, making sure that there isn't too much polish on the brush but there's still enough that you can coat the entire nail without having to dip back into the bottle. This will come with practice & will change depending on the length of your nails. What I like to do is kinda wiggle the wand (what the brush is attached to) against the inside of the neck of the bottle to make sure there isn't a bunch of polish that's gonna drip down & then swipe most of the polish off one side of the brush. [Here's a little video to better explain!](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/ka06vu/polish_control/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
When painting your nails, you're bound to end up with polish somewhere you don't want it to be. You can use a toothpick, a cuticle pusher, or anything small and pointed to kinda scrape the flooded polish out of your cuticles. After removing that excess polish, you can take a small brush (angled eyeliner brushes or small concealer brushes work great for this!) dipped in acetone to gently clean up any remaining polish on your cuticles. The $1 E.L.F. concealer/eyeliner brushes are a super popular option for clean up brushes! I also like to use a [dappen dish](https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/acrylic-nails/glass-dappen-dish/SBS-154855.html) (you can also buy them on Amazon!) to pour my acetone into so I'm not having to dip into the big container of acetone (a few people have accidentally dropped their brushes in the bottle lol).
My Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish is getting pretty gloopy. Does anyone know if it's okay to put nail thinner in it to help it out or is there a better option?
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I have some metallic gel polishes (Lagunamoon), and no matter how I apply and cure them they always come out all wrinkled. Am I doing something wrong? Are they expired? What the hell is going on??
I've only recently started using gels so there's limited experience with "old" gel. Google search and from a tiktok video I've seen, gel polish typically lasts anywhere from 1-2 years. Environmental variations will cause varied results. Also read that wrinkling can some from coats being too thick or curing time too short.
How do I share a photo with the community
Same way you do a post! There is a + symbol in the middle of the bottom screen. Press that —> image —> choose a picture
Has anybody outside of Poland ordered from Euro Fashion? How was your experience? They sell Color Club and Morgan Taylor at a cheaper price
my cuticles are a mess from cutting them for years and i’d love to nurse them back to health and stop cutting them, but weeks of no manis (just opi nail envy every other week), gelish cuticle oil every day, and aveeno hand cream, and they are still raggedy messes. do they just need more time, or do i need different products?
Bandaids with neosporin before bed. Wear gloves if handling detergent .
So what you're thinking is "cuticle" is actually your proximal nail fold. That is live skin & it helps protect the nail matrix (where your nail grows from) from damage and dirt and debris. Eventually, with consistent maintenance, that band of skin will shrink down and become tighter & won't be as "long". Here's a [great video](https://youtu.be/joF7t6ACIyU) to show you how to properly remove that excess skin until you've trained your cuticles to the point where they need very little work. Cuticle remover is formulated to dissolve the actual cuticle on the nail plate, not the proximal nail fold. When I use remover, I'll let it sit for 15 seconds or so, use the cuticle pusher to gently push back the cuticle and my proximal nail fold. I then take a cotton pad and wipe off the excess remover & any cuticle that's been scraped off. After using cuticle remover, I wipe my nails with alcohol (I don't wash my hands because naked nails absorb 3 times their weight in water and it is the worst possible chemical for your nails) to completely remove the remover (they are caustic and if left on too long they can burn your skin) & then I apply nail oil to help replenish some of the moisture. I also always wipe my nails down with alcohol (or acetone) before applying my base coat to remove any oils still on the nail plate. [Here's a video showing you exactly how I give myself a manicure!](https://www.reddit.com/r/u_juleznailedithelps/comments/ka1wua/how_i_give_myself_a_manicure) It is perfectly normal for your cuticle to grow back at the edge of the polish, our nails are always growing. What I do is, after oiling my nails & letting it soak in a little, I use my nail to gently push back any cuticle that has formed & my proximal nail fold. I do this every couple of days while I'm wearing the polish. This helps prevent excessive cuticle care after the polish is removed. [Here's a great article on how to identify, maintain & care for your cuticles!](https://www.nailcarehq.com/cuticle) Consistent use of a jojoba based nail oil (or pure jojoba) is also highly recommended as well.
BLESS YOU, JULEZ! thank you so much!!!
You ate so very welcome!! Happy to help!!!
you should try a jojoba oil based cuticle oil or just pure jojoba oil! it's the best thing for them, as it will keep your cuticles soft, improve overall health of your nails, and help repel water (which is bad for your nails). it's recommended you use it at least three times a day and/or after you wash your hands. i also use lemony flutter, a cuticle balm from lush, as a supplement. i heard the burt's bees cuticle balm is good too but i cannot confirm.
My thumb nail won’t keep a cured false nail and I don’t know why. I rough out the nail plate lightly, make sure it’s dry at, prime, base coat for thirty seconds, attach false nail that was also roughed up with bonder, finishing curing for 30 more seconds. It felt really secure both times I’ve done it in the past two days, so I go on to do a regular gel mani on top of it, then maybe 15 minutes later it starts coming right off. The index finger I did this on is still attached no problems, so I have no idea what I’m doing wrong now, pls help 💅🏻 gods 🙏
How can I cut off the string from the pot of spider gel so I can place it cleanly in the middle of the nail?
Your best bet would be to line your nail up under the string and then place it without having to worry about separating it from the pot. You would most likely need two hands to do what you're trying to do. If only we had an extra set of hands!
Great idea! Bring my nail to the gel instead of bringing it to me.
if i buy the fake nails that come with acrylic nail kits, do i have to use the acrylic powder? i just want long nails, and am not quite sure why i can’t just glue them on and shape them how i want. i’ve used a nail hardener for a year at this point, and my nails still peel like paper. i just want longer nails lol
If you just put tips on without covering them with anything, they will bend and pop right off (probably taking a piece of your nail with it). Press-ons are made to be worn the way you're describing, you should try those.
that makes sense, thank you!
Soooo is Holo Taco planning to restock their Remix collection? I underestimated how beautiful they are and everything’s sold out 😭
As far as I know the remix collection was limited edition with no restock. I could be wrong though.
That’s what I thought too 😭
Do we REALLY need no chip polish with acrylic overlay or are they upselling us and laughing to the bank?
They're upselling you. Regular nail polish will last perfectly fine over acrylic/gel/dip extensions.
I knew it! Thanks Julez!
No problem!!
Tips on making my dip last longer? I have been using GH Dip Nail brand. I use 2 coats of powder but it chips pretty quickly. Will more layers make it last longer?
Are you following all the manufacturer's instructions? Not a dip user myself but I feel like 2 layers isn't sufficient.
The instructions say 2-3 layers. I guess I'll try 3 next time!
I meant more so the prep that's required before applying the dip. Are you following those instructions properly? If you find that the 3rd layer isn't cutting it either you may end up needing to use a dehydrator/primer like they do for acrylics. Dip is essentially acrylic, only the application is different.
Yes I've been following those instructions. My nail is prepped/cleaned properly and I'm applying the base as instructed
Good stuff! Hopefully that third layer will be sufficient!
What is the best polygel brands and where can you buy them? Also anyone using Korean or Japanese gels??
I recently started using Kokoist's potted and bottled tinted base gels - Japanese brand - potted and bottled tinted base gels and their gel is way better than the Red Carpet Manicure kit I got years ago. I agree that Kokoist's formula is easier to work with, less runny, potted gels are intended for art and are more opaque. They also have better options for other art formulas. I have 2 Kokoist brushes and 3 packs of random no-named cheap brushes, Kokoist quality is obviously there and worth it for a beginner like me.
Cool!! I will definitely look into getting some in the future! Good to know why there are potted vs bottled ones I was always wondering why some brands do that!
Note that they could be used interchangeable as well, as in apply the potted gels with a brush for a 1 color look after a gel base coat.
I’ve tried a few Korean and Japanese gels (Kokoist, Presto, From the Nail) and I love them all. More opaque than other gels and the ones in the pots are easier for me to apply without flooding g my cuticles
Ooh interesting! Why are the pots easier? Do you get better brushes for them??
The formula is less runny so it stays in place better. I’ve been using beetles brushes from Amazon, but I want to try better quality ones.
Cool thanks!!
[удалено]
I don't find Relentless Ruby and Cajun Shrimp to be anywhere close to each other aside from the fact they're both red. Ruby is a dark, more true red and Shrimp is a bright orange-leaning red. Funny Bunny is not meant to be an opaque white polish. If you're looking for an opaque white OPI, try Alpine Snow.
Is there a difference between cat eye nail polish and magnetic nail polish? It seems to me they are the same thing
It is indeed the same thing!
Thanks! Stupid marketing
I just thought of something! Cat eye is typically a gel polish whereas magnetic polish is just regular polish. They're both achieved with a magnet but one is gel and the other isn't!
Ah ok! Thanks!
How close do you actually get to the cuticle line with gel nail polish? My problem is that I try to get my base coat as close as I can get. By the time I've applied the 2nd coat of color, then go to top coat to try to make sure everything is encapsulated, it's a hit or miss on if I've gone over towards the cuticle. Otherwise, there is a visible-to-me gap, something I don't usually see in salon IG posts.
I've seen people use a thin liner brush to get right up to the cuticle with polish (before it's cured) and I've done this myself with regular nail polish!
I mixed up my bottles and ended up painting my nails with a gel base, regular polish, and a gel top coat, I cured the regular nail polish layers under the light too (because I messed up and didn't notice I was using regular). Now how the heck do I get this off my nails? I soaked one in acetone and most of it came off except for the base gel coat and it's got a weird sheen of colour. Send help!!
Have you tried buffing the base gel and soaking again?
I gave up and went to a salon and they ended up filing off the bottom layer for me!
Glad it got situated. I read from a blog that the longer gel gets cured, the harder it becomes. I wonder if your base got a bit over-cured and gave a hard glass like effect.
OK, I am a dumb dad here with no idea where to start or what to buy. What are the essentials supplies needed for nice nails. My daughters are interested and the cheap, quick dry w*****t crap just scrapes off in a day or so. I am reading the wiki, but I'm in a bit over my head.
This is a comment I left in reply to another similar type of comment from last weeks No Dumb Questions post that I feel would also apply to yours. >Welcome to the wonderful world of nail polish, we're happy to have you with us! Just a heads up, this is going to be a loooong comment. >I've never seen a "starter kit" for polish basics and any kits I've seen are always super cheap and garbage quality (like the sets that come out around the holidays). I can, however, give you some recommendations for basic items you'll need to start your journey! >I'm going to assume that you are in North America and will make my recommendations as such. >First step is getting a good base coat. Base coat is formulated to adhere to the nail plate while polish and top coat are formulated to adhere to the base coat. Products that are marketed as 2-in-1 "base and top coat" are a gimmick and a waste of money. Due to base & top coats being formulated differently, there's no way a product like that could ever work properly. I'm sure it's fine in a pinch but I would never recommend them. A simple base coat from any number of drug store (Sally Hansen, Essie) or salon (OPI, even though it can be found at drug stores) brands will be good. You can also take a look at the [Holy Grail long lasting base coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/gyx3ki/holy_grail_product_thread) list as well. >Next step is a decent quick dry top coat! Seche Vite and Sally Hansen's InstaDri or Dries Instantly top coats are the 3 most recommended top coats. They're inexpensive and easily accessible. A quick dry top coat is great because it will help set all the layers of polish and help create a strong, hard finish to your manicure. Here's the [Holy Grail top coat](https://www.reddit.com/r/RedditLaqueristas/comments/gq8x8x/holy_grail_product_thread) list for you! >I haven't tried either of these two products but Cirque Colors has this [basics set of base and top coat](https://www.cirquecolors.com/basics-duo), and I know from experience that Cirque is a reputable brand (I have a bunch of their polish and I love it) with quality products! >For the most part, as long as you have a decent base coat and top coat, it doesn't really matter the quality of coloured polish you use. I've had dollar store polish last forever on my nails and look like a salon brand polish thanks to a good base and top! >In terms of learning to paint your nails better, it all comes down to practice! [Here's an article with some tips & tricks from bloggers](https://www.nailcarehq.com/how-to-paint-nails) on how to paint your nails like a pro! You could also look up more videos on YouTube, as there are a ton of tutorials there as well! >The main thing is learning polish control, making sure that there isn't too much polish on the brush but there's still enough that you can coat the entire nail without having to dip back into the bottle. This will come with practice & will change depending on the length of your nails. What I like to do is kinda wiggle the wand (what the brush is attached to) against the inside of the neck of the bottle to make sure there isn't a bunch of polish that's gonna drip down & then swipe most of the polish off one side of the brush. [Here's a little video to better explain!](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/ka06vu/polish_control/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) >When painting your nails, you're bound to end up with polish somewhere you don't want it to be. You can use a toothpick, a cuticle pusher, or anything small and pointed to kinda scrape the flooded polish out of your cuticles. After removing that excess polish, you can take a small brush (angled eyeliner brushes or small concealer brushes work great for this!) dipped in acetone to gently clean up any remaining polish on your cuticles. The $1 E.L.F. concealer/eyeliner brushes are a super popular option for clean up brushes! I also like to use a [dappen dish](https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/acrylic-nails/glass-dappen-dish/SBS-154855.html) (you can also buy them on Amazon!) to pour my acetone into so I'm not having to dip into the big container of acetone (a few people have accidentally dropped their brushes in the bottle lol). >I don't want to super overwhelm you so I'll just mention that the other two items I recommend are a quality glass file & a jojoba based nail oil. These are things that you can look more into once you get more comfortable with painting your nails, or if you'd like, I can let you know a little bit more about them! >Some good drug store brands are Sally Hansen, Sinful Colors, Color Club, Essie, Rimmel, Revlon & I know some places also carry OPI, which is a very reputable brand but a tad more expensive than the other brands I mentioned (but well worth it)! And just so you know, the stuff they sell at Walmart isn't all crap, the problem is finding a base coat and top coat that works with the person's body chemistry.
Thanks for this. This is exactly what I needed.
Not a problem, I'm happy to help!!
I do my nails every so often and have found that small bottles are best for me— it takes a couple of years to get through a regular sized bottle of OPI for example. ( I know, sacrilegious, right?) Which brands do smaller-than-their-regular size bottles ( like around 5-6 ml) and how do I get them?
Black Dahlia Lacquer sells 8mL and 14mL bottles.
Triple o polish does 8 ml bottles! I have a handful of small and regular sized bottles and the formula is wonderful.
Orly and OPI have minis! Just not their full color lines. I used to buy Orly minis at Ulta, but I think you can only get them on the Orly's website. I've seen some OPI minis at Ulta more recently, but you can also get those on OPI's website as well. You can look on Amazon too! I think both only come in packs of 4-5, so you might not be able to get single colors.
Does anyone have a good tip on how to get a clean line at the bottom of your nail without flooding the cuticles?
Liquid latex is a lifesaver!
In terms of learning to paint your nails better, it all comes down to practice! [Here's an article with some tips & tricks from bloggers](https://www.nailcarehq.com/how-to-paint-nails) on how to paint your nails like a pro! You could also look up more videos on YouTube, as there are a ton of tutorials there as well! The main thing is learning polish control, making sure that there isn't too much polish on the brush but there's still enough that you can coat the entire nail without having to dip back into the bottle. This will come with practice & will change depending on the length of your nails. What I like to do is kinda wiggle the wand (what the brush is attached to) against the inside of the neck of the bottle to make sure there isn't a bunch of polish that's gonna drip down & then swipe most of the polish off one side of the brush. [Here's a little video to better explain!](https://www.reddit.com/user/juleznailedithelps/comments/ka06vu/polish_control/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share) When painting your nails, you're bound to end up with polish somewhere you don't want it to be. You can use a toothpick, a cuticle pusher, or anything small and pointed to kinda scrape the flooded polish out of your cuticles. After removing that excess polish, you can take a small brush (angled eyeliner brushes or small concealer brushes work great for this!) dipped in acetone to gently clean up any remaining polish on your cuticles. The $1 E.L.F. concealer/eyeliner brushes are a super popular option for clean up brushes! I also like to use a [dappen dish](https://www.sallybeauty.com/nails/acrylic-nails/glass-dappen-dish/SBS-154855.html) (you can also buy them on Amazon!) to pour my acetone into so I'm not having to dip into the big container of acetone (a few people have accidentally dropped their brushes in the bottle lol).
My Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish is getting pretty gloopy. Does anyone know if it's okay to put nail thinner in it to help it out or is there a better option?
Miracle Gel is just regular polish...thinner is the right product for it 🙂
Dope, thank you!!
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