Step by step to perfectly painted fingernails

Over the years, I've perfected my fingernail painting routine so that my nail polish really lasts for over a week, even though I generally only use cheap drugstore products. If you are interested, I will gladly show you how to do it step by step.

Step by step instructions:

Step 1 - Preparation:

Craft your materials that you need to paint. These are: nail polish of your choice, base coat, top coat, rosewood sticks, nail polish remover (of course without acetone) and cotton pads. Ideally you have kept the nail polish in the fridge. The nails are already filed in shape.

Optional, so if you have and want: dry drops (dry drops), nail polish correction pen and thin hard brush. And nail oil for the care of cuticles.


All paints are best applied when they are refrigerator-cooled. It also extends the life of nail polish.

Do not shake the vials! That only gives bubbles, which you have to annoy then. It is better to roll the bottles back and forth between your hands, then all ingredients are well distributed.

Step 2 - Cleaning:

Your nails should be dry and not in contact with water for long. You can push back the cuticle for a short time, please do not use cuticle remover anymore. Rub the fingernails briefly with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover or vinegar so that they are completely clean and free of grease.


Step 3 - Primer:

Apply the base coat, a thin layer is enough. Make sure that the nail plate is completely covered, without the varnish making contact with the cuticle. The undercoat keeps the paint better and the nail is protected against discoloration.

Step 4 - Painting:

Immerse the brush deep enough and rub off once or twice on the edge. Apply a drop in the back third of the nail plate and carefully push it from there to the cuticle, lightly fanning the brush. Make sure that the varnish has no contact with the cuticle. Pull slowly and straight forward to the fingertip. Repeat left and right accordingly. Leave a fine, straight strip to the cuticle on the side. Apply lacquer thinly. Smaller mistakes can be corrected either with the correction pen or a toothpick. Or with a fine brush, which has been carefully dipped in nail polish remover.

Step 5 - let it dry well.

How long nail polish takes to dry depends on many factors. From the humidity, the temperature, how old the nail polish is, etc. To check that the paint is really dry, I hold the nail plates of the two ring fingers together for a very short time. If nothing sticks, the paint is dry. Tricks such as cold water or blow-drying do not accelerate the process, let it stay better.


Then paint the second coat as step 4. If you like, you can use quick drip drops immediately afterwards. Drain, wait 2 minutes, massage remaining oil into the cuticle, wash hands with clean water and pat dry. On the nails themselves must not remain residues of oil.

Step 6 - Sealing.

Strip the brush of the clear overcoat very well and first paint the nail tips of one hand in front (!!) and thus seal. Then quickly, before the overcoat on the tips dries, apply the top coat in generous amount on the nails of this hand. Other hand as well. Very, very dry well. Instead of the long dry season, I recommend the use of nail polish drier drops again. With them, the nail polish is fully dried within a few minutes.

Step 7: admire the perfectly painted nails, done!

So the nail polish really keeps very good, as long as you take care not to overstrain your nails. Mechanical abrasion through heavy brushing with emery or pot scratching will not leave nail polish out.

As applied, my nail polish usually lasts six days. Have fun copying - if you paint nails you enjoy it, me!

DOs & DON'Ts: Painting your nails | how to paint your nails perfectly | March 2024