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.
LOL! But here is my first world problem – I usually shower at night and paint my nails after, thus delaying any shower peeling for a day. Yes, I could wash my hands under warm water and pick away but usually I am begging my nails to dry faster so I can go to bed. I really need to work on technique! Loved the shape of the WnW or whatever you call it brush and was super disappointed with OPI. My life is hard 🙂
I clean my nails in the shower, too! Great minds… 😉
I clean my nails in the shower, too! Great minds… 😉
Love it! I'm a type A too, especially about my nails. Which is why I usually go get them done because I can never make them look right. But, I've never heard of the greasy lotion on the cuticles thing. I'm definitely going to try that! Because while I'm getting pretty good at not getting as much polish around my nails, it ALWAYS ends up on my cuticles, and I feel like that's harder to fix.
Cleaning my nails after shower is what I do too. Its help keeps the cuticles soft, thus easier to remove. I use Olay hand creme after as well. This will leave you hands soft and smooth.
–http://lalilalisalon.com/