Nail hacks can be lifesavers, especially when you’re in a pinch or just looking for an easier way to up your nail game. Let’s dig in:
Quick-Dry with Cold Water: Need to dry your nails ASAP? After painting, dunk your fingers in a bowl of cold water for a couple of minutes. The cold helps set the polish faster.
Cornstarch for Matte Finish: Don’t have a matte top coat? No worries. Mix a little cornstarch into your regular clear polish and apply it over your color for a DIY matte finish.
Rubber Band French Tips: Want a perfect French manicure but shaky hands are betraying you? Wrap a rubber band around your nail, leaving the tip exposed, and paint for an instant guide.
Cooking Spray to Dry Nails: If you’re out of quick-dry spray, lightly spray your nails with cooking spray to speed up the drying process. Just make sure to wash your hands afterward!
Vaseline for Easy Cleanup: Apply a thin layer of Vaseline around your nails before you start painting. It’ll make removing any mistakes super easy. On the plus side, Vaseline will also help your nails to grow faster!
Toothpick Dotting Tool: Don’t have a dotting tool? A toothpick or the tip of a bobby pin works just as well for small details or polka dots.
White Base Coat for Bright Colors: Want to make a color really pop? Use a white nail polish as a base coat to make the color stand out more.
Nail Polish Thinner: Is your favorite polish getting goopy? Add a few drops of nail polish thinner (not acetone!) to bring it back to life.
DIY Nail Stickers: Paint your design onto a plastic sandwich bag. Once it dries, peel it off and stick it onto your nail as a DIY nail sticker. Seal with a top coat.
Teabag Nail Repair: Got a tear in your nail? Use a small piece of a teabag and some clear polish to patch it up until it grows out.
Glitter Removal Hack: Glitter polish is a pain to remove, right? Apply a base layer of white glue (like Elmer’s) before your glitter polish. When you’re done, you’ll be able to peel it off easily.
Garlic for Growth: Some people swear by adding minced garlic to a bottle of clear nail polish and letting it sit for about a week. The result? A homemade nail growth formula!
Two Coats are Not the Same: Instead of applying two thick coats of nail polish, go for three thin ones. It dries faster and lasts longer.
Use Acetone for Smoother Application: Wipe your nails with a bit of acetone before applying polish. It removes oils and helps the polish go on smoother.
Roll, Don’t Shake: Instead of shaking your nail polish bottle, roll it between your palms. This mixes the polish without creating those pesky air bubbles.
