Nails FAQ
Author: Danielle Cauchi, Jasmine Cottan
A bad-looking manicure, a broken nail or crusty-looking nails? Don't worry we've all been there.
Just like our skin and hair, our hands and nails deserve some TLC, and rocking a killer mani follows some crucial steps. So you've got yellow-toned nails, how do you stop nail polish from staining? Wearing a chipped manicure, how do you extend it? How many top coats should you apply to make your nails extra glossy-looking?
We've got you covered. We've got all the answers to your nailcare concerns so that you can make the most out of your sexy manicure.
This depends on the type of nail polish. Typically, you would aim for 3-4 coats of polish – a clear base coat, 1-2 coats of your coloured polish and a clear top coat.
Nail polish chipping is an inevitability. The best way to extend the wear of your nail polish is by applying a clear top coat.
Some nail colours like red, green and yellow are more likely to stain your real nails than others. Applying a base coat will prevent staining from occurring, or at least reduce the degree of the stain.
If your nails do stain though, not to fear! The stains will fade on their own over time. You can help them along by buffing your nails and letting them air.
You can read a full guide on how to stop nail polish staining your real nails here.
A base coat protects your real nails from stains and in some cases will allow your nail polish to go on smoother. A top coat seals your colour in place to stop it from chipping and adds some shine to your nails.
According to Essie Weingarten (a.k.a the genius behind Essie nail polish), you should wait a full 2 minutes between nail coats for the best results.
The best way to ensure a quick dry is to apply thin coats of polish. However, if your nails seem like they need an extra push, dunk them in a bowl of cold water for 2-3 minutes. This life hack has helped me tremendously!
You can prevent air bubble in your nail polish by rolling your nail polish bottle between your hands rather than hitting it against your palm or shaking it. You should also stick to thin coats rather than thicker coats and allow your nails to dry adequately before going in with another coat.
If your nail polish has become gluggy, it has either expired or dried out for one reason or another (Perhaps you didn’t close the lid properly or the nail polish wasn’t the best quality to begin with). In any case, it’s time to replace it!
As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t keep a nail polish for longer than 18-24 months. If your nail polish is still performing well by this stage, it could still be okay to use as long as it hasn’t thickened, changed colour or developed a strange smell.
Ingredients you should try to avoid are DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate), Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin and Camphor.
