How-To: Nail Prep and Polish Clean Up

Recently I have been told my polish cleanup looks awesome (thank you very much, I sincerely appreciate it!) and asked how I do it.  I do remember a time when I would look at girls’ nail pictures and think to myself, wow, how in the hell does she not get the polish everywhere?!  Well…..in reality, you still get polish on your skin, but never fear!  There are simple ways to get it off and make your nails look perfect and clean!  And I’m gonna tell you my secrets, step by step!  Spread the knowledge, spread the love!  :)

Two coats Sinful Colors Easy Going

Supplies: 

Some sort of Cuticle Moisturizer/Oil/Balm/Remover (or even plain lotion)

Cuticle Pusher*

Nail Scrubber Brush (optional, but recommended)

Polish Remover

Polish Remover Lid (or some other small bowl type thing to put a little bit of remover in)

Orange Stick*

Nail Art Brush/Paint Brush – the smaller the better

Washcloth/Paper Towel (or whatever you want to wipe the polish off on)

*Yes, I know orange sticks ARE cuticle pushers, but I use plastic cuticle pushers instead of the wooden orange sticks.  That’s just my personal preference.

Clean up supplies

Close up of the nail art brushes I use
Purchased from Amazon click here to see on their website.

Prep:

The prep is almost as important as the cleanup! Take your cuticle cream/oil/lotion, whatever you prefer to moisturize your tips with and apply per directions.  I use the Sally Hansen one I picked up at Target or Wal-Mart a while ago. 

Cuticle prep

With your cuticle pusher, push back your cuticles.  This will automatically make your nails look “cleaner” – even before you start cleanup. 

Push back cuticles

After you push them all back, wash your hands with soap and warm water to get off all the excess lotion; use the nail scrubber!  It helps get the lotion out of the sides of your nails and out from under them. 

Scrub a dub dub

I recommend washing your hands thoroughly, then going over each nail again with some polish remover on a cotton ball.  If you leave any lotion or oil on your nails, it will make the polish peel off in sheets or chip much faster (at least that’s my theory).

Paint and Cleanup:

Paint one nail.  Begin cleanup immediately.  It is easiest to remove the polish from your fingers and cuticles while the polish is still wet.  This is probably the most important tip I will give in this post.  Also, clean up after each coat of polish you apply.  Yes, even base and top coats!  Who wants pretty polish on their nails, but then clear coat all over their fingers?  Nobody! ;)  Try to be as neat as possible.  Let’s not paint our whole entire finger here.

Paint ONE NAIL AT A TIME

Dip the wide end of the orange stick in polish remover.  Lightly dab off excess remover on your towel.  Remove excess polish from the sides of your nail.

Begin cleanup with orange stick

After orange stick clean up

Ready for the hardest part of all?  Cuticle clean up at the top.  I have seen tips and directions that say to wait until the polish is dry.  No.  Then how the heck are you supposed to get it off?!  Do this while your polish is still wet!

Dip the brush in your remover.  Again, dab off excess, you don’t want a big drop of remover landing on your wet polish.  Very carefully trace the contour of your cuticle.  You may need to do it sections at a time.  It took me a while to perfect it in one swoop, and sometimes I still can’t do it like that.  If you take too much off, don’t freak out, you still have another coat of polish to apply. 

Slowly and carefully trace your cuticle

Viola!

After you paint and tidy all five fingers, obviously go to the next hand while you wait for the first coat to dry.  Do a second coat and clean up as before.  Let dry and apply a topcoat.  Clean as necessary.

I really hope this helps!  Please be patient!  It took me a lot of practice to get the technique down, and sometimes I still suck!  Just take your time, relax, and have fun.  It’s ONLY nail polish :)  And ladies, why do you think this is Tipsy Tips * Nails AND COCKTAILS?!  Have a drink while you do it, I always do! ;)

This is Malibu Sunshine Rum and cranberry!
Very refreshing and tasty! :)

How do you do cleanup?  Was this helpful?  Should I do more how-to’s?  Want to know anything else?  TELL ME! :D