"How do your nails look so neat?" It's a question I get asked quite a bit, but I'm about to spill the beans...They aren't perfect! By dedicating 5 minutes to mani clean up, you can have great looking nails, too!
I think one of the most important aspects of my mani routine is my post nail painting clean up. Maybe I'm just anal about it, but I can't stand when I have polish on my cuticles. And I like a nice even, clean edge, so I end up "cleaning up" my manicure 95% of the time. There is that 5% where I truly impress myself, sit back, and think "you could be a pro"...but that is few and far between.
After I paint my nails, they typically look something like this.
After I paint my nails, they typically look something like this.
In order to get them looking neat and crisp around the cuticles, I use the Sonia Kashuk Brush No. 105 along with pure acetone, and very gently and slowly work around my cuticle to clear away the excess polish that has crept onto my skin. I like this brush because it is short and relatively stiff, making it very easy to maneuver around the nail and ensure a clean line. The brush is available at Target for $5.99, and is found alongside all of the other Sonia Kashuk make-up brushes. I believe this one is intended to be used as an eyeliner brush, but it works perfectly for mani clean up as well.
I first discovered this technique, and the Sonia Kashuk brush No. 105, through Lindsay Gentles, author of the blog Sparkly Tips. I'm so glad I did because this makes my clean up super quick and easy! Lindsay also has a YouTube channel called Lindsay Does Nails - check her out. I've learned so much from her, and her blog and Youtube channel are great resources!
Back to the clean-up...
1. Dip your brush into acetone, and blot the excess on the side of your container, or on a paper towel. You don't want too much acetone on the brush or it will puddle on your nail, and will make the clean up more difficult - or worse! - it could ruin your mani. NOOOOO!
Back to the clean-up...
1. Dip your brush into acetone, and blot the excess on the side of your container, or on a paper towel. You don't want too much acetone on the brush or it will puddle on your nail, and will make the clean up more difficult - or worse! - it could ruin your mani. NOOOOO!
2. Next, start at one end of your nail, and slowly slide the brush along your cuticle, working your way to the other side. You'll want to make sure that you do this slowly so that your hand doesn't accidentally slip, and being slow will also help keep the width of the gap between your cuticle and nail polish consistent so that you have a nice clean line. Angling the brush away from the nail as you do this also helps to keep the "gap" from becoming too wide between your cuticle and nail polish.
3. I tend to get polish on the tips of my fingers as well, so I always go in and use the brush to remove the unwanted polish. In fact, once I finish my cuticle line, I inspect my hands for any nail polish that might be hiding and remove it. I always seem to bump something mid mani and get the polish on a knuckle or something! Once you're done with clean-up, your nail will have a clean edge, like in the picture below. Ahh...isn't that better??
4. Follow up with a quick dry top coat, like Seche Vite, and a good cuticle oil, like Essie's Apricot Cuticle Oil. Acetone dries out your skin, so you'll probably notice that they look a little ashy and dry after clean up, but the cuticle oil will bring them back to life!
Once you've officially erased all evidence of your amateur mani skills, you'll be left with beautifully manicured nails that look something like this! Much better! :) By the way, the nail polish used for this manicure is "For Audrey" by China Glaze - Love!
Once you've officially erased all evidence of your amateur mani skills, you'll be left with beautifully manicured nails that look something like this! Much better! :) By the way, the nail polish used for this manicure is "For Audrey" by China Glaze - Love!
What is your clean-up routine? Do you have another brush that is your favorite? If you don't have a routine, do you think this is something you would try? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you stop by often!
Katey
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you stop by often!
Katey