How to Paint Your Toenails

Oh, how I love the summertime when my toes can come out of hiding and shine in vivid red, fuchsia, coral, & mango polishes! However, application of bright polishes can be tricky. Here’s how not to look like you’ve been finger-painting with your feet …

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Nail clippers
• Polish remover
• Cotton swabs
• L’Oreal Pro Manicure Base Coat
• L’Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish … be brave and pick a brilliant color
• L’Oreal Pro Manicure Top Coat ~ optional
• Open-toed shoes or sandals

1. Trim those talons girls. Clip your toenails short and straight across.

2. Wipe toenails with polish remover to clean the nails and strip away any oils.

3. Put on open-toed shoes or sandals. I’m assuming you’re all busy women like me … who has the time to sit around and wait on their toenails to dry??? You’re going to wear the shoes while painting your toenails and then you’re good to go.

4. Apply L’Oreal Pro Manicure clear base coat. I recommend this kind because the flat brush really does help apply the base and polish smoothly. The base coat works as a filler at the edge of the nail. Then when you apply the colored polish later, it won’t be running out of your nail beds and looking messy. Let base coat dry 5 minutes.

5. 

   Apply L’Oreal Pro Manicure colored polish … 2 coats. You should notice that application goes on easier over the base coat without streaking.

6. 

   Clean up any bobbles by dipping a cotton swab in polish remover and erasing the errant polish.

Tips & Warnings

• Apply a topcoat to make polish last longer. I don’t usually for the sake of time. Plus, my color usually stays on until I need to paint again to cover new nail growth.
• Paint nails right before leaving the house and hopping in the car. A ride somewhere will give your nails time to dry.
• If all else fails, try Avon’s new Instant Pedicure for toes! It’s dry strips of polish you peel off and adhere to the nail like a sticker.

Resources

• Avon Instant Pedicure

[Elizabethknows]

on 5/30/2008 great tips liked this article!

[Susancnw]

on 2/5/2008 When I have time (like a weekend), I would rather paint my nails, top coat, clean up and everything, THEN clip them. I can get them the proper length, straight across and no polish on my toesies!
I also like using a block nail file to get the little bits off the side skin. Otherwise I migth screw up the polish on the nail itself.

[alyssaink]

on 6/7/2007 "Toes out of hiding" is exactly right! I couldn't agree more. :)