Hi Mary,

- Carmen

Dear Carmen,

Having great-looking nails doesn't need to take a lot of time, but it does require some patience. If you are new to the world of nail polish, take heart! The tips below were written just for you.

Removing Old Nail Polish
First, make sure that you have removed any residual nail polish from previous applications before applying new polish. Do not just apply more nail polish over an old coat, as this causes the polish to be uneven. Moreover, new nail polish will stay on longer if the old nail polish has been removed. The best way to remove old nail polish is with a commercial nail polish remover, and there are many brands to choose from. Some polish removers contain moisturizer, which can help protect your nails from becoming overly dry. I recommend Barielle Fortifying Nail Builder to all my friends as it uses calcium fluoride to fortify and protect your nails.

Applying New Fingernail Polish
After thoroughly removing the old nail polish, apply a thin base coat, if available. Otherwise, begin by applying a thin layer of nail polish. I like to apply my polish by starting with a fairly wide stroke down the middle, and then following that with a narrower stroke on the two sides. After the base coat or first layer of polish has dried, apply another thin coat the same way. Using two or more thin coats is more effective than using one thick coat because thin coats dry more quickly and the polish lasts longer and doe not chip as easily. For best results, add a clear top coat to give your nails a beautiful glossy finish and to help keep your polish from chipping for even longer. If desired, you can even use a clear coat designed to help strengthen your nails.

When applying the polish, if you make a mistake, it's okay! But do take the time to remove the polish from that nail and start over so that the finished nail looks good. Don't simply apply polish over a coat that has been smudged; it will never look right.

Moreover, if you accidentally get nail polish on your finger, it's no big deal. Just put some nail polish remover on a cotton swab or ball and carefully brush it over the misplaced polish to remove it. If in doing so you accidentally remove some polish from your nail, then remove the rest of the polish from that nail and do it over. This will undoubtedly seem laborious, but I promise the end result will look much better, and with all the practice, you'll get the hang of it in no time!

One last tip: Only remove and apply nail polish once or twice a week so that your nails do not become overly dry.

By following the tips above, you'll have great-looking, perfectly polished nails before you know it. So keep at it, try different colors and patterns (once you're up to it!), and most of all, have fun!