Doing your nails at home can be a great help: besides spending time, it also helps to save some money! However, in addition to requiring a particular practice, doing your nails at home must be accompanied by some precautions to avoid spoiling the work or damaging your nails’ health. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes that amateur manicurists make and that should be avoided:
1) Do Not Skip the Base
Many people feel that they don’t need a base or that they can use the same product as a top layer or base. What a mistake! The base acts as a primer for your nails and seals the natural oils, preventing the nail polish from damaging the nails. Using a topcoat does not work because the product is not only thicker and takes longer to dry, but also does not prevent it from coming into contact with the oils.
2) Using Dirty Tools
Even if you only use your pliers, your nail clippers and your files, the accumulation of dirt in the instruments is an invitation for bacteria to settle. If they are kept in a closed environment, it is even worse! Always wash with antibacterial soap and alcohol to prevent infections.
3) Shaking the Nail Polish
Never shake the bottle, as this will cause bubbles, which will damage the texture of the nail varnish. If you need to mix the nail paint, roll the jar between your hands as if you are playing with modelling clay.
4) Removing Cuticles
One of the most common practices among women when doing their nails, removing cuticles is a problem because you are, in fact, deliberately cutting yourself and making way for microorganisms. Moreover, the cuticles serve to protect the nail.
5) Painting Nails in a Warm and Humid Environment
Never do your nails on rainy and hot days, as this makes drying the polish difficult and makes room for bubbles and stains. Instead, choose a cool, dry environment that speeds up the process.
6) Using Back and Forth Strokes
The back and forth movement cause splinters and small cracks in the nail, which can evolve and crack the nail. Instead, paint in one direction. It can be more time consuming and tiring, but the result is more uniform and polished.
7) Excess Cleaning With Cotton
The problem with using cotton is that the fibres often get stuck in the wet nail polish. To avoid this risk, choose a straight bristle brush dipped in remover and brush around the nail. Or, be patient and remove the excess during a hot bath.
8) Use of Quick-Drying Products
Quick-drying products do their job so well that they eventually dry out your nails as well. In general, these products have acetone in their formula, an ingredient that weakens the nails according to use. One suggestion is using cuticle oil or drying oil, which acts as a protective barrier while the nail varnish is still fresh and helps maintain hydration.
9) Washing Your Hair Shortly After Doing Your Nails
Hot water is the enemy of nail polish because it causes the nail varnish to come off the nails and chip. To make the manicure last longer, it is ideal to lower the temperature and wait at least six hours after having applied nail polish to bathe or wash the dishes (always with gloves, of course).
If you want to avoid these issues but still achieve gorgeous nails, visit Soho Nails in Oakleigh, VIC. Their nail technicians offer the highest levels of sanitation and professionalism and will always make sure you’re satisfied with your manicure and pedicure! Contact them for more information!
