For flawless nail polish application, follow our 13 step process. Your nails will look like you visited a nail salon.

Step 1. Roll it

Always thoroughly toll the polish bottle between your palms a few minutes prior to each use. 

Step 2. Base Coat

Apply a base coat to all 10 nails. 

Begin by painting inward starting from your pinky and ending at your thumb for each hand.

A base coat will help anchor the nail colour to your nails making your manicure last longer. 

Step 3. Less is more

Roll your polish between your palms to mix the colour. 

As you draw out the brush from the nail polish, remove excess polish by wiping one side of the brush against the rim/neck of the bottle.

Working with less helps the polish go on more evenly and there will be less mess to clean up around the nail later.

Step 4. Light Even Strokes

With a semi-loaded brush, cap the very edge of your nail followed by apply a light stroke from the top to the tip in the centre of the nail. 

Without re-dipping your brush, apply a light stroke down the left side of the nail and then apply a light stroke down the right side of the nail. 

Then repaint lightly down the centre of the nail to smooth the painted surface.

Step 5. Paint for full coverage

Dip the brush back into the bottle and wipe the excess polish on the rim of the bottle then repeat the process for all nails with even full coverage.

Step 6. Re-Shake 

Close the bottle and give the polish another good shake and wait 5 minutes for polish to settle.

Step 7. First coat on second hand

Repeat the entire process for the other hand. Wait 5 minutes for the first coat to be touch dry.

Step 8. Second coat on second hand

Repeat the entire polish process for the second coat, applying to all 5 nails. Wait 5 minutes for colour to be touch dry.

Step 9. Apply Top Coat

To help protect the colour during every day wear we recommend applying a quick drying Top Coat in the same manner to all 10 nails. 

Don’t forget to cap the nail edges.

Step 10. Wait 20 minutes

For every coat applied to your nails you let them air dry for 5 minutes between coats. 

Wait a minimum of 20 minutes before you go about your day.

Step 11. Clean Up

Once your polish is dry, take a Dual Cosmetic Cotton Tip dipped in polish remover to clean up any excess nail polish that was left on your skin.

Step 12. Apply Cuticle Oil

Once your nails are completely dry, apply a drop of cuticle oil to each finger and gently massage in to your cuticles. 

Cuticle oil is a necessary step in nail care especially now that regular use of hand sanitiser is drying them out.

Step 13. Reapply Top Coat Weekly

To keep your polish looking salon perfect reapply a layer of Top Coat once a week. This will keep them looking shiny and prevent the colour from wearing.

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

As nail polish gets older it gets thicker. 

Old nail polish will not paint on smoothly nor will it dry evenly if its too thick.

A variety of reasons will cause your polish to thicken over time…

• Humidity: storing polishes in your bathroom is a no no. Store them in a cool, dry place away from heat or direct light.

• The neck of the bottle has some crusty dried polish around it not allowing the lid to seal properly. Regularly clean the neck of your polish bottles.

• Not storing your polishes in an upright position may cause the polish to get into the lid and cause clumps in the formula.

• 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.

To help stimulate nail growth

• 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.