Want to do a manicure at home and achieve a professional result? Neat and beautiful nail polish application is totally doable! We’ve gathered 6 simple and effective life hacks to help you get a perfect manicure by yourself. 

To apply polish neatly without touching the skin around the nails, use a small hair claw clip. Secure it under your fingertip—this will gently pull the skin back and allow you to apply polish precisely only on the nail plate. 

To prevent polish from spreading beyond the nails, apply vaseline around the nail edges before the manicure. After painting, the vaseline can be easily wiped off with a regular tissue without leaving any residue.
If you don’t have vaseline, you can use PVA glue — it forms a thin film on the skin that’s easy to peel off once dry, taking any excess polish with it. 

Before applying polish, place a drop of polish in the center of the nail. Then carefully spread it first toward the cuticle, and then toward the free edge of the nail. This method helps avoid polish spreading and ensures a cleaner, more even coat. 

Before applying nail polish, do not shake the bottle — this can cause bubbles and ruin the manicure. Instead, gently roll the bottle between your palms to warm up the polish and make it more uniform. This simple technique will help you achieve a smooth, even finish. Give it a try — you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the result! 

If your fingers get stained during the manicure, use a thin brush dipped in nail polish remover to carefully remove the excess. Unlike a cotton swab, the brush won’t damage the polish or leave behind fibers. 

Two thick layers of polish create a thick coating that will take forever to dry. Therefore, it’s better to apply several thin layers — this will save time and reduce the chance of ruining your manicure.
 
Read also: French manicure: 7 mistakes that make it look ugly and tasteless