This article was co-authored by Mia Rubie and by wikiHow staff writer, Annabelle Reyes. Mia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 2,056,164 times.
Perfectly painted nails can express your mood, match your outfit, and show off your unique personality, but achieving a professional-looking manicure at home can be a bit tricky at first. Luckily, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on how to do just this, complete with expert insights from professional nail artists. Read on to find out the best way to achieve beautifully polished nails at home, and you may be so in love with the results that you never have to get a professional manicure again!
How do you paint your nails?
- Set aside about 30 minutes to 1 hour to do the job well.
- Trim and file your nails to your desired length and shape.
- Apply a base coat.
- Paint your first coat of the polish in a very thin layer.
- Let the first coat dry completely, then apply a second coat.
- Repeat with a third coat if needed.
- Apply a top coat and allow your nails to dry.
Steps
How to Paint Your Fingernails
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Pick out the nail polish color you want to use. The first step to any at-home manicure is choosing the perfect color. There’s a wide array of nail polish colors available, so you can pick practically any color under the sun. Opt for cheerful yellow, bold red, cool blue, mysterious purple, flirty pink, earthy green—whatever your heart desires!
- If you’d like, you can take your skin undertones into account when choosing a color. For example, if your skin has cool undertones, colors like blue, lavender, and light baby pink will suit you super well.
- If you have warm undertones, on the other hand, shades with a hint of peach, gold, or honey in them look especially nice.[1]
- If you’re not sure what kind of undertones you have, look at the veins on your wrist. In general, blue veins mean you have cool undertones, green veins mean you have warm undertones, and a combination means you have neutral undertones.[2]
- Set aside about 30 minutes to 1 hour to paint your nails. This may seem like a lot of time, but to truly do the job well and get professional-looking results, you don’t want to be rushed!
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Remove any old nail polish, then trim and file your nails. Soak a cotton ball in some nail polish remover and use it to take off any leftover nail polish from your previous manicure. Even if you don’t have any polish on your nails, it's a good idea to do this to remove any natural oils from your nails—it will help the polish last longer and go on more smoothly.[3] Next, cut and file your nails until they’re your desired length and shape.[4]
- “If you use nail clippers, don’t cut the entire nail in one go,” says nail artist Marta Nagorska. “This will unnecessarily bend and weaken your nail at the sides. Instead, clip the nail a few times starting at one side and going across the nail to the other side, then use a nail file to create a smooth shape.”[5]
- Nail artist Mia Rubie explains that the type of nail file you use matters, too. “You want to use a nail file that’s not super rough—something around 180 grit,” she says.[6] This prevents the ends of your nails from looking scraggly.
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Push back your cuticles. Your cuticles are the little pieces of skin at the bottom of each nail. They can make your nail polish application look messy if they are not pushed back before you paint. It’s easier to push back your cuticles when they’ve been softened, so try soaking your nails in a small bowl of warm water for a minute or two first. Dry your hands and nails thoroughly, then use a cuticle pusher to push the soft skin of each cuticle back to the edge of the nail.[7]
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Apply a base coat and allow it to dry completely. Make sure to wipe the brush against the neck of the bottle to remove any excess product, then paint a very thin layer of the base coat onto each nail. A good base coat will give your chosen nail polish a smooth surface to stick to, which helps your manicure last longer and prevents your nails from getting stained by the polish.[8] Here are some popular options to check out:
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Butter London Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat
- Pros: Helps to repair damage around your nail and promote stronger, healthier nails, dries very quickly.
- Cons: A bit pricier than the other products on this list.
- Customer Ratings: 4.3 star average on Amazon.com
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Essie Strong Start Base Coat
- Pros: Reinforces weak nails with biotin, vegan formula, reasonably priced.
- Cons: Some reviewers mention that it takes a bit longer to dry, as the formula is on the thicker side.
- Customer Ratings: 4.5 star average on Amazon.com.
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Sally Hansen Ultimate Shield Base Coat & Top Coat
- Pros: Doubles as a top coat so you don’t need to buy two separate products, least expensive option.
- Cons: The formula can thicken and become gloopy over time if you don’t close bottle cap tightly enough.
- Customer Ratings: 5.0 star average on Amazon.com[9]
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Butter London Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat
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Apply your first coat of polish in a very thin layer. Start by wiping the brush against the rim of the bottle to get rid of excess polish.[10] Next, apply one stripe of polish down the center of your nail, then swipe up either side of that middle stripe (without dipping your brush back in the polish).[11] This is called the 3-stripe method, and it makes for a super neat and mess-free application.
- Salon owner and nail specialist Kristin Pulaski explains that one of the biggest mistakes people make is applying too much polish for their first coat.
- “Sometimes people apply [a layer of polish] that’s way too thick because they want to see the pigment right away, but it’s like painting a wall—you do the first coat for coverage, then you wait two minutes and do the second coat to get the true color of what’s in the bottle,” she explains.[12]
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Allow the first coat of polish to dry before applying a second coat. Nearly all nail polishes will require at least two layers to achieve the look you’re going for, and some will need three. It’s essential to let each coat dry completely before applying the next, which should take about 5-10 minutes per coat depending on the brand of polish.[13]
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Apply your next coat using the same method. Try to be just as careful and methodical as you were with your first layer. If you become impatient and try to finish the job quickly, you might ruin your good work! Allow the second layer of polish to dry completely, then decide if you need to apply a third.
- If you do need a third coat, apply it using the same method as the first two. Don’t exceed 3 coats—this can cause your polish to peel off and smudge more easily.[14]
- As you can see, painting your nails is time consuming, and you will need to allow yourself 30 minutes to an hour to do the job well. For this reason, it is a good idea to prepare a snack, go to the bathroom, and turn on the TV before you begin painting your nails so you won't be bored while waiting for your nails to dry.
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Apply a clear top coat. Once your second (or third) coat of polish is dry, apply a final top coat of clear polish. This will help to prevent the color from chipping and add extra shine.[15] Apply the top coat all the way to the tips, then go around the top of each nail and apply a little clear polish to the underside. This helps to prevent the color from wearing at the top, while providing extra strength and support for long nails. Here are some top coats to check out:
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OPI Top Coat
- Pros: Has a super glossy finish, provides a protective top layer to help your manicure last for a whole week.
- Cons: Not the best choice for people who have nail ridges.
- Customer Ratings: 4.6 star average on Amazon.com
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Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti-Chip Top Coat
- Pros: Dries super quickly, easy to use, very affordable.
- Cons: Some reviewers mention that the formula can become thick and stringy over time.
- Customer Ratings: 4.7 star average on Amazon.com
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Butter London Hardwear Shine UV Top Coat
- Pros: Cruelty-free & vegan formula, UV protection, chip resistant.
- Cons: Takes a bit longer to dry, pricier than other options.
- Customer Ratings: 4.3 star average on Amazon.com[16]
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OPI Top Coat
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Clean up around the edges with a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover. Once your nails are painted and fully dry, you can start cleaning up any accidents that might have occurred along the way. To do this, simply dip a Q-tip (preferably one with a pointed end) in some nail polish remover, then use it to go around the edges of each nail, removing any unwanted polish.[17]
- Rubie recommends purchasing a manicure kit if you want to go all-in on doing your nails at home. These kits come with super useful tools, including one Rubie calls a “clean-up brush.”
- “It’s a fine-tipped, flat-headed brush that you can dip in polish remover and just clean up around your cuticles and wipe away the mess,” she explains.[18]
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Let your nails dry completely. There’s nothing worse than giving yourself a perfect manicure only for it to smudge because you tried to do something before your nails were fully dried. To avoid any mishaps, try to wait at least a full 30 minutes before moving onto any other tasks. If you used a thicker polish or applied a lot of coats, you may need to let it dry for up to an hour to be safe.[19]
- And that’s it—you have beautifully painted nails!
- If you’re interested in nail art or more complicated nail designs, we’ll go over some ideas to inspire you below.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it bad to paint your nails?Mia RubieMia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
Nail ArtistI can't imagine it's particularly dangerous, although it does help to let your nails air out without anything on them every once in a while. -
QuestionWhat do I need to do a manicure at home?Mia RubieMia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
Nail ArtistSo, it helps to own a set of manicuring tools, which you can buy online just in a kit. This should include clippers, nippers, a nail pusher, a cuticle pusher, a file, nail polish remover, cotton, and then a good selection of polishes. -
QuestionHow can I clean the polish up if I get it on the cuticle?Mia RubieMia Rubie is a Nail Artist and the Owner of Sparkle San Francisco, a nail studio based in San Francisco, California. She has over eight years of nail artist and management experience and is known for her push-the-envelope designs and artistic eye for colors. Her clients include Sephora, Target, and Vogue. Her work has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and StyleCaster. She holds a BBA focusing on Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from San Francisco State University. You can find her work on her Instagram account @superflynails.
Nail ArtistThere is this product out there that I call a cleanup brush that's perfect for this. It's a fine-tipped, flat-headed brush that you can dip in polish remover and clean up around your cuticles. Then, you just wipe away the mess.
Video
Reader Videos
Tips
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Practice makes perfect. It takes a long time to perfect your manicure technique, so be patient with yourself!Thanks
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If you put some petroleum jelly on your skin around your nails, the nail polish will not stick to your skin if you paint outside the nail.Thanks
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If you can find someone who will let you, practice painting someone else's nails until you feel comfortable enough to try it on yourself.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- To get straight, geometric designs, make sure your nails are completely dry, stick on some sellotape to create the shape you want, and paint over that. Take off the sellotape when the nail varnish is completely dry.
- Use liquid glue to protect your skin. Paint around your nail with the glue, and when you're done painting, just peel the glue off your skin.
- If you don't have bobby pins, you can use a toothpick or the end of a makeup brush as dotting tools.
- Apply Vaseline, lip balm, or tape around your nails so the nail polish won't get on your skin.
- Keep your pinky on the table when painting to steady the hand that you're painting with.
Warnings
- Keep the room well-ventilated, because nail polish or nail polish remover fumes may be toxic if inhaled.Thanks
- Remember to always replace the lids on your nail polishes tightly so the polish doesn't dry out.Thanks
- If you forget to use a base coat under your nail polish and your nails become stained, one way to get the yellow away is to stick your (unpainted) nails into some fresh lemon juice. Make sure you don't have any fingernail cuts though. It will sting!Thanks
- Always keep nail polish and other chemicals out of reach of young children.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Base coat
- Top coat
- Colored nail polish
- Nail polish remover
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Flat surface to paint your nails
- Tape (striping tape works best)
- Nail file
- Cuticle pusher
- Paper towel
References
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/best-nail-polish-color-for-skin-tone-7369318
- ↑ https://www.makeup.com/product-and-reviews/foundation/identifying-your-skins-undertone
- ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/best-base-coats-and-top-coats-what-makes-a-manicure-go-the-extra-mile?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw0aS3BhA3EiwAKaD2ZcwJAADRkmXnB9GMEnM_pCr4iszb4O5NkZhLwlidd6jneyYAkbzU4xoC-DAQAvD_BwE
- ↑ https://www.nailsmag.com/391614/perfect-nails-begin-with-proper-prep
- ↑ Marta Nagorska. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.
- ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
- ↑ https://stylecaster.com/beauty/nail-care4-nail-polish-prep-tips-that-perfect-home-manicure/
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/how-to-paint-your-nails-8663618
- ↑ https://www.rankandstyle.com/
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/how-to-paint-your-nails-8663618
- ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-looks/how-to-paint-nails-at-home-manicure
- ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-paint-your-nails-manicurist-advice
- ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-looks/how-to-paint-nails-at-home-manicure
- ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-looks/how-to-paint-nails-at-home-manicure
- ↑ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/nails/g44680805/best-top-coat-nail-polish-colors/
- ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-looks/how-to-paint-nails-at-home-manicure
- ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/how-to-paint-your-nails-8663618
- ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
- ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.lorealparisusa.com/beauty-magazine/beauty-tips/beauty-trends/how-to-apply-nail-stickers
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Marta Nagorska. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.
- ↑ Marta Nagorska. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Marta Nagorska. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 26 May 2021.
- ↑ Kristin Pulaski. Salon Owner & Nail Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Lindsay Yoshitomi. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 12 July 2019.
- ↑ Mia Rubie. Nail Artist. Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.
About This Article
To paint your nails, first open the nail polish you're using and wipe the excess polish on the brush off on the rim of the bottle. Then, firmly press one of your hands down on a flat surface so it's stable. Starting at your cuticles, gently brush the polish onto your nails using 3 strokes per nail until they're all covered. Repeat with your other hand. Then, let the polish dry for 5-10 minutes. Once it's dry, apply a second coat of polish just like you applied the first one. If you get any nail polish on your skin, you can wipe it off using a cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. Keep reading the article if you want to learn how to add designs to your nails!
Reader Success Stories
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"Using nail stickers (step 1 of method three) was very helpful, and other techniques also helped me a lot."