How to Apply French Polish
A French polish, or French manicure, refers to a style of nail design in which only the tips of the nails are painted white and the rest are given a sheer or pink glossy coating. Though it did not originate in France, it was given its name by Jeff Pink who found that the style he created and used on Hollywood actresses was beloved on the runways in Paris. French manicures require a few nail supplies and a steady hand, so that the finished look is neat and elegant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Nail clippers
- Nail file
- Nail buffer
- Base coat polish
- White nail polish
- Nail tip guides
- Masking tape
- Cotton swabs
- Nail polish remover
- Sheer pink nail polish
- Glossy top coat polish
Instructions
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Prep the nails by trimming them with a pair of nail clippers and shaping them with a nail file. Follow up by buffing each nail to smooth out the surface and make the polish application easier.
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Wash your hands before moving forward. You'll want to get rid of any oils or dirt that might linger, since they could keep nail polish from adhering properly.
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Apply a thin, even base coat to each nail and allow it to dry completely. This coat should dry with a matte finish, not a glossy one.
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Carefully paint the tip of each nail using white or off white nail polish. You can purchase nail tip guides to make sure that each tip is exactly the same. Or, you can lay a thin strip of masking tape over each nail in a straight line, so that just the tip is exposed. The tape will serve as a guiding line to keep your manicure neat.
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5
Remove nail guides or masking tape once the white polish is dry. Then clean up any polish that made it onto your fingers by dipping a small cotton swab into nail polish remover and rubbing it over the skin.
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Brush the entire nail bed with a coat of sheer pink polish to complete the French Manicure style.
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Seal the polish by applying a clear, glossy top coat over each nail. This serves as a barrier to keep your nails from fading or chipping.
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References
- Photo Credit manicure-nail shaping image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
