how to properly paint your nail, from a nail tech! https://twitter.com/polished_man/status/1305363157662171136

step one: remove any old nail polish first. if you have no nail polish to remove, then you can begin by pushing your cuticles! this is what i used in school, use the big rounded end to lightly push up any dead skin on your nail plate, from free edge to cuticle!

step two: this can be step two or three, as they're kind of interchangable. i like to buff my nails as step two, because it helps get any dead cuticle up, so that's what i'll teach you!

don't buff too hard or fast, you will burn yourself!! be gentle with everything!

step three: clip off any DEAD skin. DO NOT clip live skin! this causes hangnails and cuts which can result in infections! you know it's dead because it's much lighter in color and you dont feel anything when you remove it. be very careful and if you're not confident, dont do it!

step four: wipe off your nails with alcohol! if you're using gel polish, make sure you use lint free wipes! the alcohol dries out your nail which will help the nail polish stick to your nail longer, and gets any debris off frlm buffing/filing so the nail polish is smoother.

optional: use a dehydrator to make sure your nail polish stays longer! your nail is already pretty beat up from buffing and alcohol already, so this is pretty much only recommended if you're using gel polish or doing extensions.

this is what i used in school!

step five: base coat! this perfectly explains how to paint your nails! dont forget to swipe your brush over the ejd of your nail too, it makes it not chip longer

pro tip: dont. touch. your. cuticle! if the polish touches your cuticle, it will lift and chip faster because your nail grows from cuticle to free edge. there will be a gap between the polish and your nail, and the elements will push it off.

another pro tip: cap the free edge! if you swipe your brush over the free edge of your nail once to cover it, less water, debris, etc. will get under your polish and chip your nails!

do it BEFORE painting to keep your nails smooth with no bump at the end!

step 6 and 7: paint your color, then your top coat!

paint exactly as you did the base coat, make sure to wait until everything is dry before adding a new coat, or else you'll get smudges! this is because the bottom layer is wet when the top is dry.

if you're using gel polish, make sure you cure as the manufacturer says between each coat! and unless the top coat says "wipe free" make sure you wipe the top layer with alcohol when you're done, or else everything will stick to them...
and i mean everything....

another pro tip: while painting your nails, watch the edge of your brush, not your cuticle! it seems simple, but people dont notice theyre doing it.

if you watch your brush, you will have more control over the brush and polish!

end thread!!

if you use any of these tips, post your nails!! ask any questions too

this is a great cause and i'm so proud of ateez for getting this opportunity! our babies are going far

for real though, if you're not confident in clipping off the dead skin, gently buff it off! it will come off either way.

oh, and dont pick or pull your hangnails please. you just make them worse. just clip them off carefully or leave them alone.

i love you guys!

i forgot to mention, cut your nails and file them before anything in this thread! you always want to buff after clipping them to get rid of harsh edges