Nothing like a perfect mani to make a girl feel good! We’ve put together a few hot tips that’ll keep you’re your polish looking good. Now, you can give yourself a mani and save those bucks to go out for ice cream or even pay for dance lessons.

Your first step is to remove old polish and oils from your nails but use a lanolin-free soap and an acetone free nail polish remover with fiber-free cotton. It’s super important to get the polish, oils, and residue off your nails. This is where the hand soak for many of you comes in but don’t do it! Wait, what?!! Yep… it may feel good but nails are extremely porous and will absorb the water. Then, in a day or two your nails will wind up with chips. For a lasting polish, skip the soak. Just give it a try this time around and see if it helps.

Next, shape your nails to your preference. You could do the classic round-tip, square or even get a little creative. Be sure to use a soft emery board like the super cute bubble buff in the Nov/Dec #SUGARHAUL. Avoid tearing up your nails by using a metal or coarse file.

Once your happy with the shape, go ahead and apply a base coat. Let it get on your skin around your nails a bit. This gives a little barrier for easy clean up when you apply your polish. Give it a few minutes to dry and then apply your first coat of color.

You love the color you picked out but in this case more is not better!  Apply a thin layer from the cuticle to the tip and sealing the edges. Give these beauties a few minutes of drying time and then apply your second coat. Here’s where the clean-up comes in if you need it. Wait a few more minutes and finish up with a quick drying top coat.

A very important final step is let them dry! And dry some more! This just drags on….you can’t play on your phone or text your friends but it’s worth waiting. Now you can feel like a diva and go to the movies! In a couple days, put on another top coat to freshen up the shine and help the polish to last even longer.

We’d love to hear your mani tips too!