*How do I avoid getting polish on my cuticles?
Instead of painting right from the cuticle, place the brush on the nail bed about 1/8" away from the cuticle and push backwards toward it, stopping just before the skin.
*That's too much work...how do remove polish from my cuticles?
Plan ahead. Paint your nails about an hour before bedtime, leaving the messy polish on. When taking a shower the next morning, the polish will soften and peel off. Any stubborn polish still left on the skin can easily be removed by rubbing it with a soft towel. Polish not dry yet? In a rush? Use a cotton swab and nail polish remover to do a quick removal.
*How do I keep my polish from peeling near the skin?
Lightly buff the top of your nail near your cuticle with a fine-grained file. This will take away the top oily enamel and allow better adhesion.
*My polish doesn't peel near the skin, it peels at the tips, what am I doing wrong?
It's usually one of these two things...
•You've used two or more coats of ridge-filler and followed with a couple coats of polish. To avoid peeling, stick to only one coat of ridge-filler, and wait until it's completely dry to apply the regular polish.
•You've painted a couple thick coats instead of a few thin ones. Always use thin coats, it gives better coverage, dries faster and lasts longer.
*I can't apply thin coats, my nail polish is just thick to begin with. What should I do?
If you really want your nail polish to keep well in the bottle, keep it in the refrigerator, this will extend its shelf-life.
*I keep getting those darn bubbles!
Two things can cut down significantly on bubbles: ROLL the bottle between your palms, instead of shaking it. Shaking just whips bubbles into the polish. Also, use only thin coats.
*Why does my polish keep cracking?
Try applying a thin clear coat of polish every other night to avoid this.
*My nails keep splitting in layers at the top, will eating gelatin and drinking milk help strengthen them?
No and no. These are just myths. Your fingernails are made of keratin, the same protein as hair. Have you ever seen conditioner brag that it has calcium in it? Probably not. What WILL help strengthen your nails is to avoid filing them as much as possible, and when you have to, file in one direction only. You know what happens if you keep bending a wire back and forth? The same thing happens to nails, just on a different level. Other tips... use gloves when washing dishes and doing other household chores. Keep exposure to harsh chemicals at a minimum, especially bleach.
*People say that you need different moisturizers for your nails than for your hands...why?
Well, back to the protein thing again. Would you use hand cream on your hair? Unlikely. The fact is that your fingernails absorb water 100 times faster than your skin does...and they lose the moisture just as fast as they absorb it. So considering how much hand cream you need in the wintertime, think how thirsty your nails are, and recognize that they need just as must tenderness (if not more) than your hands do.
*I work with food, so my hands are constantly in water. What can I do to keep my manicure nice?
I only see two choices really.
•Keep nails well-trimmed, and don't wear polish to work (not even clear, it'll just crack and peel).
•Get thee to a nail salon! In my opinion, acrylic is to fingernails what Godiva is to chocolate. Only nail enhancements will stand up to the beating your hands will take.