You can choose your nail colour to express your mood, stand out in a crowd or match your outfit. 

Whether you go for a bright red, glitter or a nearly nude polish, different shades can pose different kinds of problems. 

Check out some of our professional secrets.

If Nude shades are your preference

• When applying nude nail colours always apply an opaque base coat in a neutral beige-pink that is close to your own natural nail colour.

• To make sheer nude polishes streak proof, wait until the first coat is totally dry before applying the second coat.

If your nails are turning yellow

• Keep dark colours from staining your own nails by always applying a base coat prior to polish application.

• Try alternating between a dark and light colour each time you repaint your nails – variety is the spice of life.

If your polish chips after a few days

• Always apply a top coat over your nail polish to help prevent colour chipping remember to cap the edge of each nail.

• If you’ve chipped your polish after it’s dry and don’t have time to repaint, try putting a little polish remover on your fingertip and run your fingertip around the chip. This will help soften the polish around the chipped edges. 

• Put a drop of polish directly on the chip; allow the drop to dry, then polish over the entire nail, then add one coat of top coat. Once dry, the chip should be less visible, if not invisible.

If your nail polish is too thick

• Never shake the bottle, this will cause air bubbles which can in turn thicken the formula before its time. Always roll your nail polish bottle between your palms to thoroughly mix the polish before you apply it.

• If its a favourite colour and used often as the polish get half empty containing more air so the polish thickens.

• To bring your favourite colour back to life, add 2-3 drops of polish thinner to the bottle (do not use polish remover as this will change the colour and consistency of the polish).

Shake well and then leave aside for 1 hours for the bubbles to settle. Roll bottle between your palms prior to polish application.

If glitter polishes are your favourite

• Always apply a base coat and at least 1 coat of another colour prior to glitter polish application as the glitter will stick to the first coat of polish and not your nails making it easier to remove when you need to.

If your nail polish is full of bubbles

• Stop air bubbles by starting with oil-free nails. Apply an oil-free cleanser and clean carefully around your cuticles with a nail brush or old toothbrush.

• Shaking your polish too vigorously will cause bubbles and that will cause your polish to chip so roll your polish bottles between your palms instead.

If you smudge your nail polish whilst its drying

• Smooth wet smudges down with a fingertip dobbed in polish remover and gently pat the smudge until smooth, then apply another coat of colour over the area which should paint on smoothly eliminating the smudge.

Always use Acetone-free polish remover

• Acetone-free nail polish remover isn’t just for acrylic nails. It is excellent for natural nails as it won’t dehydrate your nails causing peeling and breakage.

• Your naked nails can benefit from a weekly exfoliation with the same scrub you use on your hands, which will smooth the surface and encourage regeneration of new cell growth. 

Dead cells often accumulate around the base of the nail, so concentrate your efforts there, but obviously on unpolished nails.