Tips for Smudge-Free Nail Polish Application

Step 1

Grab an empty, thoroughly cleaned and dried nail polish bottle, then pour in some hand cream or body lotion. Using a nail polish bottle is convenient because you can reuse its original brush—if you don’t have one on hand, applying hand cream directly works too. Smooth a thin layer of cream around your nails. This not only eases the cleanup of any polish smudges later but also softens the cuticles and dead skin around the nail bed.

Step 2

When you twist open the nail polish bottle and dip the brush in, scrape off the excess polish from the brush handle against the bottle neck first. Then wipe off the polish on the back of the brush, leaving only a small amount on the front side. The perfect amount? When you look at the brush from the side, you should see just a tiny bit of polish on the front—all other parts should be clean. This ensures your polish goes on neither too thick nor too thin.

Step 3

Start applying the polish—either down the center of the nail or along the edges first—then seal the nail tips (this step prevents chipping). Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the nail surface and glide it from one side to the other. Remember to use a light hand! Gently rotate your finger as you apply, and sweep the brush from the base of the nail toward the tip, staying close to the cuticle line. This technique guarantees an even, streak-free coat.

Step 4

Wait a few minutes until the polish around your nails starts to form a film, and the polish on your nails is mostly dry and won’t smudge easily. Then pick a starting point on the skin where the polish has spilled over, and simply peel the dried polish residue off gently.

Pro Beauty Hacks

If you accidentally get polish on your skin while applying, wrap a small piece of cotton around a wooden cuticle stick, dip it in nail polish remover, and clean up the smudges carefully.At the end of the day, practice makes perfect for mess-free application!Before painting your nails, wipe them with a cotton pad soaked in vinegar. Let the vinegar dry completely before applying polish—this trick helps the polish last longer without chipping.Here’s an extra tip for flawless-looking nails: Apply polish only to the center of the nail, leaving about 1/4 of the nail edge bare on both sides. This creates a sleek, professional finish!