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Post by Delta Dawn on May 30, 2016 15:15:28 GMT
Do you just get better with lots of practice? I am not very good at getting coats on very smoothly. My nails don't look terrible but they aren't perfect either. Practice makes perfect? I thought i would hate having polish on my fingernails but it's not that bad. I have lots of pretty new colours! Ok I did 3 coats on my fingers tonight. I have to admit they look great! My nails are cut short, slightly shaped and are polished. I used this red on my toes and it's called I'm Not Really a Waitress and it is too dark for me. My friend recommended the colour as a "good red". I think maybe not. I ordered the orange wood sticks from Amazon and they will be here around July 2. I will buy some in the mean time.
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Post by amandad74 on May 30, 2016 18:31:39 GMT
Yes! It does get easier. I also pour a little bit of nail polish remover in the cap, take an orange stick, and dip the orange stick in the remover. I then use that to go along the edges of my nails to make sure the polish looks nice. That is my secret to a nice looking manicure at home.
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Post by Zee on May 30, 2016 18:35:21 GMT
Yes, practice makes perfect. I used to use a small angled eyeliner brush dipped in acetone to clean up the edges, but I really almost never need to do that anymore.
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Post by kernriver on May 30, 2016 19:26:24 GMT
I've gotten better with time but I look at nail polich ads and wonder how in the hell they do the absolutely perfect manucure. My left hand looks OK but my right hand looks like I just got finished repairing a blown artery. It takes a lot of clean up with polish remover, brushes, q-tips, orangewood sticks.
I'm resigned to less than perfect home manicures and just keep my hands moving so no one else can tell.
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Post by darkchami on May 30, 2016 20:11:24 GMT
I've gotten better with time but I look at nail polich ads and wonder how in the hell they do the absolutely perfect manucure. My left hand looks OK but my right hand looks like I just got finished repairing a blown artery. It takes a lot of clean up with polish remover, brushes, q-tips, orangewood sticks. I'm resigned to less than perfect home manicures and just keep my hands moving so no one else can tell. I'm right there with you. After a year, I haven't gotten any better on my right hand.
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 30, 2016 20:19:17 GMT
What is an orange stick? Like a coffee stirrer from Starbucks?
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 30, 2016 20:21:21 GMT
Also, I quickly learned you need to do your toes before your fingers. I do have some gloves I can wear to take the polish off my toes...but some people are just a little slower on the uptake sometimes...
Now does anyone have a great selection of polish? I have a decent collection started. I think I am somewhere around 40 with another 7 on the way. I also have an OPI wishlist started. I was told the salon that carries the best selection is waiting for the order to come in.
It's fun and makes me feel girly!
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Post by SabrinaM on May 30, 2016 20:25:49 GMT
I've gotten much better in the 5 years that I have regularly polished my nails.
The pointed QTips also help. I use the tip of a plastic cuticle pusher for the edges but it's rare I need to do that.
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Post by kernriver on May 30, 2016 20:49:16 GMT
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Post by chaosisapony on May 30, 2016 20:54:56 GMT
I've been doing my own nails about once a week for around 2 years now. It definitely gets easier with practice! When I started it was embarrassing, it looked like a kindergartner did my nails. Now I rarely need to do any touch ups at all, even on my right hand.
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Post by lisae on May 30, 2016 21:30:12 GMT
This is a very encouraging thread. I just started doing my fingernails again after 15 years. They look OK but I know they can be better. Will keep practicing.
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 31, 2016 8:08:56 GMT
Slight update. Pros who want to chime in with experience please do so.
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Post by gar on May 31, 2016 8:13:24 GMT
Slight update. Pros who want to chime in with experience please do so. My top tip for painting nails is, when you first touch the brush onto the nail don't put it too close to the cuticle. Make contact a few millimetres back and then sort of slightly push the polish towards the cuticle. You are far less likely to flood the cuticle that way. Ideally you should be able to cover the nail in 3 brush strokes...centre and then either side. Often, more than that will end in streaky colour.
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 31, 2016 8:21:39 GMT
Slight update. Pros who want to chime in with experience please do so. My top tip for painting nails is, when you first touch the brush onto the nail don't put it too close to the cuticle. Make contact a few millimetres back and then sort of slightly push the polish towards the cuticle. You are far less likely to flood the cuticle that way. Ideally you should be able to cover the nail in 3 brush strokes...centre and then either side. Often, more than that will end in streaky colour. That is great advice. Thank you. I try to do it in 3 strokes. The last colour I flooded the cuticle. tonight I got lucky! I should do my toes now. It's late but I am not going to sleep yet.
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,092
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on May 31, 2016 12:14:04 GMT
Anchor at least your painting hand. My hairdresser told me that trick. Painting nails with both hands in the air unanchored is much harder. Rest your painting hand on something like a folded towel or small box and bring your other hand to it to paint its nails.
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Post by chrispeas on May 31, 2016 14:54:03 GMT
Yes! It does get easier. I also pour a little bit of nail polish remover in the cap, take an orange stick, and dip the orange stick in the remover. I then use that to go along the edges of my nails to make sure the polish looks nice. That is my secret to a nice looking manicure at home. That's a great idea!
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Post by STBC on May 31, 2016 15:11:49 GMT
I used this red on my toes and it's called I'm Not Really a Waitress and it is too dark for me. My friend recommended the colour as a "good red". I think maybe not. That's one of my all-time favorite colors, but I like darker color polishes. I have found practice has helped me improve my polish technique. The three-stroke method already mentioned is what I try to do. A good topcoat makes a difference as well.
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Post by gar on May 31, 2016 15:28:42 GMT
good topcoat makes a difference as well. A lot of top coats leave me cold but Essie's Gel Setter is pretty impressive.
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Post by STBC on May 31, 2016 15:35:05 GMT
A lot of top coats leave me cold but Essie's Gel Setter is pretty impressive. I really like that one too!
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 31, 2016 16:06:03 GMT
Does anyone have a gel setting thing? Are they dangerous? Are they safe? Do I want one? I have seen some very pretty colours of gel polish I would like.
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Post by chaosisapony on May 31, 2016 16:14:53 GMT
Does anyone have a gel setting thing? Are they dangerous? Are they safe? Do I want one? I have seen some very pretty colours of gel polish I would like. I only do gel polish. I have an LED light from Melody Susie and the Gelish foundation and top coat. I use various brands of colors. I won't ever go back to regular polish.
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Post by gar on May 31, 2016 16:20:48 GMT
Does anyone have a gel setting thing? Are they dangerous? Are they safe? Do I want one? I have seen some very pretty colours of gel polish I would like. OPI's version Infinite Shine doesn't need UV light to set it. It's special base, colours and top coat and I do like it.
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Post by mimi3566 on Jun 6, 2016 14:56:37 GMT
good topcoat makes a difference as well. A lot of top coats leave me cold but Essie's Gel Setter is pretty impressive. Because of your comment, I tried this top coat yesterday and I have to say Thank you!!! It is fabulous! Dried quickly and my nails look great...so much cheaper than a professional mani and to me, my nails look just as good.
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Post by STBC on Jun 6, 2016 15:10:30 GMT
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Post by gar on Jun 6, 2016 17:19:04 GMT
A lot of top coats leave me cold but Essie's Gel Setter is pretty impressive. Because of your comment, I tried this top coat yesterday and I have to say Thank you!!! It is fabulous! Dried quickly and my nails look great...so much cheaper than a professional mani and to me, my nails look just as good. I agree they seem to dry quickly. And I get even better results when I tip the ends with the top coat. Glad you like it:smile:
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