Giving yourself a manicure can be a great way to pamper yourself, while also helping your hands look more polished, put-together, and professional. However, you may be making some common mistakes without realizing it. It happens to the best of us, but a minor mistake can not only lead to less-than-ideal results but also compromise the quality and longevity of your work. Here are some common manicure mistakes that you should avoid!
Over-Buffing Your Nails
Buffing your nails is a great way to prepare the surface of your nails for nail polish application. It ensures that your nail is smooth and slightly roughened enough for the color polish to properly adhere. However, over-buffing your nails, whether too frequently or aggressively, will ruin their overall health and appearance over time. When your nails are over-buffed, they can gradually start to thin out, making them much weaker and more prone to breakage.
To avoid this, make sure to buff your nails carefully and sparingly, only doing this when you need to smooth out any texture or remove any stains. It can also help to invest in a high-quality buffer and to follow the natural grain of your nails.
Not Applying a Base Coat
While you may not completely oppose the application of a base coat when you’re having your nails done in a professional salon, most people tend to skip out on the base coat when doing their nails. There’s this wrongful belief that the base coat doesn’t really do anything, especially since it’s mostly colorless. However, the base coat actually plays a huge role in how long you can maintain the finish of your manicure.
The base coat acts as a thin layer that actually prepares your nails for color application, and provides a better surface for adhesion. Basically, it helps the color last longer, while also protecting your nails from staining, so make sure that you never skip out on this important step. There are even base coat products that can smoothen and perfect uneven nails, or simply supply the natural nail with more nutrients for strengthening.
Applying Thick Layers of Nail Polish
If you don’t have a lot of time or patience to spare, it can seem much quicker to simply apply one thick layer of color polish over several thinner layers. You might think that this is a much quicker and less time-consuming way to enhance the appearance of your nails, but all it does is increase the chances of your manicure smudging or chipping. Contrary to what you might think, one thick layer of polish will take much longer to dry as well.
Instead, apply around two to three thin coats of nail polish, allowing each layer to dry in between. This will speed up the drying process, as well as ensure that your nails have a smooth, even, and glossy finish.
Skipping the Top Coat
Just like the base coat, the top coat is another crucial but often overlooked part of every DIY manicure. Most people believe that the top coat’s only purpose is to add some extra shine to your nails, but it actually does more than that. The top coat also seals in the color of your nail polish and protects it from environmental damage that could potentially wear it out. You can think of the top coat as an extra layer of protection for the color of your nails.
Another mistake that many people make is not reapplying their top coats a few days after giving themselves a manicure. This is very important because the top coat can actually sustain significant damage that leads to it wearing out. If not reapplied, then the color of your nails is at greater risk of chipping and peeling. Aside from finishing off every manicure session with a top coat, make sure that you also reapply it every few days to keep your manicure for longer.
Not Moisturizing Your Nails
The work doesn’t stop once you’ve finished your manicure, especially if you want to keep your nails healthy and looking their best. A great way to do this is by moisturizing your nails every night by massaging a cuticle oil or hand lotion into your nails, ensuring that they have all the hydration and nutrients needed to stay healthy and beautiful. In case you didn’t know, dry nails and cuticles are more prone to brittleness, peeling, splitting, and breaking.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to treat yourself to a little self-care with a DIY manicure, but there are some common mistakes that you should steer clear of if you want great results. A great way to avoid these mistakes altogether is by letting a professional handle your manicure for you, and the best part is that you won’t even have to leave your home. You can easily book an at-home manicure appointment at www.luce.sg/services/home-manicure-pedicure.
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