How to: My Manicures
Every week I get this question: Do you just paint your nails very neatly or do you clean them up after?
And honestly, it’s a little of both.
1)Yes. I somehow over the years have managed to learn to practice extra care while painting my nails. BUT some brands are easier than others to master the neat manicure with. I have amazing luck with OPI and almost never need to clean up (right or left hand). When I use Essie, it looks like a toddler painted my nails. I also have huge luck with, surprise surprise, Wet & Wild Megalast polishes.
2) 9 times out of 10, I do have some clean up. It’s usually very minor (because I’m a crazy-type-A-control freak who can’t stand a mess). So minor, in fact, that I don’t usually take care of it right away. And this is where my embarrassing tip comes in.
So what do you do to clean up you might be wondering.
I pick at it in the shower. The steam from the shower loosens the paint on your skin and it lifts right up.
If I’m going somewhere right away–I’ll thoroughly wash my hands with warm/hot water until I’m able to pick off all the mess.
I’m telling you–it’s very scientific.
And extremely professional.
But it’s the truth.
I was so determined to have an answer for you all that was a little bit more, uhm, sophisticated. So I tried the put a greasy lotion around your cuticles so messes won’t stick method for you. It was an epic fail on my end.
yes, my desk is also peeling. Do not judge my life. 😉
I used vaseline. And I think the issue (aside from user error, I’m sure) is that I apply a generous amount of top coat (seche vite). I don’t think my top coat was all the way dry and had already “meshed” with all the other layers when I started to clean up. As you can see, my right hand is what peeled. My left hand rarely has anything to clean up. Obviously this cute mani didn’t survive. There is also a slight chance that some of the vaseline (which I applied with a q-tip) might have gotten onto my actual nail. And we all know what happens when your nails aren’t clean. Polish won’t stick.
So the moral of this story? I have no fancy way of cleaning up my nails. I pick it off in the shower.
The end.
