So I have a confession to make: I suck at painting my own nails. You heard me–I'm horrible! I might be obsessed with all things beauty and have a drawer filled with every nail polish shade imaginable, but that doesn't mean I actually know what I'm doing. In fact, I haven't had polish on my nails in god knows how long because between my super busy schedule and my tight budget, getting my nails done at the salon every other week isn't really an option for me right now. And you already know I can't paint them myself. That is, unless I want to look like a toddler gave me a manicure. So what's a girl to do?
Read more ¿Qué más?: 7 Nail polish colors perfect for spring!
Well considering it's spring time and I'm dying to sport pretty pastel pinks and soft mint polishes on my fingernails, I figured it was about time I learn. Finally, right? So I did a little browsing and was amazed at all the cool tips and tricks there are out there for nailing (pun intended) your own DIY mani. I'm telling you these tips are foolproof. Your daughter could probably do her own nails after trying out a few of these life-changing hacks. Check them out and be done with crappy at-home manis!
Image via Pinterest
Line your nails with petroleum jelly
Every single time I paint my nails I get polish all over the sides, even on my skin. It's pretty embarrassing actually. But did you know that if you lined petroleum jelly all around your nail before painting that it helps avoid a mess? All you have to do is dip a cotton swab or makeup brush in the petroleum jelly and apply it all around the edges of your nails. Genius!
Make your own dotting tip
I always wondered how some girls are able to create perfect polka-dots for their nail art designs. Some just stick a straight pin into the eraser of a pencil and then dip it into the polish. How clever is that?
Remove your nail polish ASAP
Unravel a cotton ball into a strip. Then split it right down the middle into 2 separate strips and then tear them into tiny pieces about the size of your nails. Add some nail polish remover into a cup or small container and dib the cotton pieces into the remover. Now press each cotton strip onto your nail gently and leave them on for just two to three minutes. Press down with a little force and then remove each. Your polish should come off immediately without you having to rub or fuss like you normally would. Now why didn't I ever think of that?
Fix a broken nail
Don't you hate it when your have your nails nice and long and one of them decides to split on you? Ugh! Well there's a super simple trick to fix that problem. If the nail hasn't actually broken and it's just a little tear, you can apply a little nail glue in the area. Then stick a small piece of stretchy fabric over the glue. Let the glue dry, buff the fabric piece until it's so smooth it becomes almost part of your nail. Apply a layer of base coat to seal it and you're done!
Fix a smudge
Got a smudge? Just lick it! Wait … what? Yes, just lick it. A little saliva actually helps soften and blend the surface. Make sure you're not eating the polish though.
Dry polish quickly
Apparently nail polish dries quickly when it's in contact with cool temperatures. Just painted your nails? Dip your freshly painted mani in a bowl of cold, icy water. Keep them in there for three to five minutes. How cool is that?
Do a half moon reverse mani
Just stick some cheap circular stationary stickers at the base of your nail before painting. You can even use those circular reinforcement for hole punched pages.
