Do you make these manicure mistakes?

The beauty about beauty is that it’s all about trial and error – and I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Now that I’m older, wiser and working in an office of knowledgeable babes, I thought it might be time for others to learn from them. So, here are the DIY mani mistakes I’ve made in the past – may you find them useful, or at the very least, entertaining!

#1 Drinking a cup of tea while you paint

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? But while you’re sitting there enjoying your cuppa and painting away, your bladder is getting fuller. And fuller. Until you’re dying for the loo before your nails have even had the chance to start drying. Unless someone is around to pull your pants down and then back up again (trust me, not many people are willing – I’ve tried), smudging is bound to happen.

Solution:Bio Sculpture Gel Quick Dry, or don’t wear pants.

#2 Doing your mani before your pedi

If you’ve done this before, you’ll understand the complete “my parents raised me to be so much smarter than this” moment when you go to remove your toenail polish only to take away half your mani with it. You need your fingers to do your toes, so always leave them until last.

#3 Washing the dishes

What do I do if I don’t feel like washing up? Paint my nails. Dipping a freshly painted mani into hot water is only going to weaken the polish faster, making it more prone to chipping. I guess my boyfriend will have to do all the dishes from now on… #sorrynotsorry

#4 Applying thick coats

The thicker I apply the polish, the quicker my mani will be done, right? WRONG. Applying polish thickly only increases the chances of bubbling, and it prolongs the drying time in a big way. The clever thing to do is to paint thin, even coats and let them dry in between.

#5 Applying more than two coats

If you have to apply more than two coats to get your desired colour, purchase a more opaque shade next time. By applying coat after coat, you’re making it harder and harder to remove the polish later. Plus, of course, fixing a chipped nail becomes more hassle than it’s worth.

#6 Filing back and forth

The tip of your nail is the most fragile, and sawing it back and forth weakens it further. Always file in the one direction, from the edge towards the tip on both sides.

bh recommends: GlazeMe™ Emery Board File

#7 Not using a cuticle oil

Hangnails are evil little pieces of skin. They stick out the side of your nail, coaxing you to pick at them and then RIP! As soon as you try to get rid of them, they take a whole strip of skin. The only way to prevent them from popping up? Apply a cuticle oil every couple of days, massaging it into the skin to keep it hydrated.