I don't know about you, but I cannot get enough glitter on my nails! I wear gel polish everyday and I have not found one that has enough glitter to satisfy my glitter appetite. So, I have resorted to putting straight up craft glitter on my nails! It's fabulous, if I do say so myself.
So here's how I do it. Gather your tools and supplies for doing gel polish. Pour a small amount of tiny glitter on a paper towel and put to the side
1. Prep you nails for gel polish. Cuticle work, file (DO NOT file the top of your nails) and use CND Scrub Fresh to prep your nail surface.
2. Apply your gel base coat and cure per the manufactures instructions.
3. Roll your nail onto the glitter you have set aside. Tap the back of finger to remove excess. Don't worry about any stuck to your finger, it will wash of later.
4. Use a cuticle stick or orange wood stick to clear any from cuticle and sidewalls.
5. Apply gel top coat and just before you cure, hold your hand palm side up for about 5 seconds. This allows gel topcoat to center on your nail, prevents pooling on sides.
6. Cure per manufactures instructions
7. Wipe uncured (sticky) product of with gauze and hand sanitizer*.
* I get the most shiny finished nails when I wipe off uncured (sticky) gel with hand sanitizer instead of just rubbing alcohol.
My favorite nail art tool is the "dotter".
You can make simple dots, double dots, hearts, shamrocks, leaves...it's endless when you use your imagination.
I like to use simple craft paint for my art, it's easier to gently wipe off and start over if you make a mistake.
Don't forget to top coat your design after you let air dry for about 5 minutes.
I've decided to share some of my favorite tips for applying polish (btw, you paint a house and you polish your nails :). First and foremost...clean and dry nails and hands. Don't polish your nails right after a shower or bath. Your nails are absorbent and hold water. Once they start to dehydrate, they will shrink slightly allowing your nail polish to lift right off! I'm sure it has happened to you...it has to me!! Your polish comes off in one piece. So start with a clean and dry nail. Take something lint free, ie; surgical gauze squares and rubbing alcohol or my personal favorite CND Scrub Fresh. Rub each nail thoroughly. Then apply your 1st coat of polish making sure to keep it thin. Put your brush just below the cuticle then use your brush to push the color up towards the cuticle, but make sure you leave a small gap. Keeping the polish off of any skin, including cuticle will keep your polish on for many days. Then apply your 2nd coat. Resist the urge to put it on thick. Then finish with a good quality, fast drying top coat. I like CND Super Shiney. Then finish with one drop of OPI's Drip Dry. The same evening I like to apply a 2nd coat of CND Super Shiney. With these tips you should be able to enjoy your manicure for days longer than you did previous.
