Nail Tools: Creating My Manicures

It’s funny how up to a year ago, I disliked having my nails painted. I did. I’m exceedingly clumsy, and Murphy’s Law springs into action every time I have my nails painted, whether it’s by a nail technician or myself. Fifteen minutes within leaving the salon, and what do you know, my first chip! I’m pedantic about having chip-free nails, so once I see that chip, I won’t be able to rest until I either fix it up, or remove nail polish from all of my nails altogether.

Now, well, I think it’s pretty evident on the blog that I highly enjoy painting my nails now. In fact, I look forward to Friday evenings when I can sit back, relax and paint my nails for the weekend. So, what changed?

I’ve come to learn that the products you use to take care of your nails and create manicures are oh-so-important. I didn’t used to think it was necessary to have a good base coat and top coat. Gah, anything would do, right? It says right there on the bottle, BASE COAT. TOP COAT. Isn’t that good enough? Not really, and after trying bottles and bottles of base coats and top coats, I’ve finally discovered the ones that make my manicures work.

It’s imperative that the nails are properly buffed, cuticles tidied (erm, okay I admit, I’m quite lazy with this one) and nails filed before slapping the paint on. Here’s what I use for my nail-painting pleasure:

Nail Tools: Creating My Manicures

  • Cuticle scissors
  • Metal cuticle stick thingy
  • You’ve Got Nail glass nail file
  • Base Coat: Orly Bonder Rubberized Basecoat or OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
  • Top Coat: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
  • Cuticle oil and hand cream
  • Sally Hansen acetone nail polish remover
  • Face mask

Base and Top Coats

I love the Seche Vite. It’s because of this gem that I now enjoy painting my nails. LeGeeque treated me to a manicure at OPI David Jones last year, and true enough, 10 minutes after we left David Jones, bam! Chipped my nail. In fact, one of her nails was chipped too. She was incredibly nonchalant about it, telling me not to worry, it will fix itself back. To my utter disbelief, 30 minutes later, the chip was almost gone. There was still a very fine crack, but 90% of the chip had disappeared. Say WHAT?!

Nail Files

As for the glass nail file, it’s such a pity that the YGN shop has closed down, because it’s really good to use. Emery boards are like fingernails on chalkboard now compared to glass files. I highly recommend using glass files if you like filing your nails as they are kinder to your nails and they last a very long time. Manicare does good glass files too, if you would like to check them out.

I decanted my nail polish remover into a pump bottle I purchased from Daiso. It’s a lot more convenient to place a facial cotton pad over the pump and press the right amount of remover you need rather than pour it out of the bottle. If you’ve not tried this before, do give it a go. Most if not all nail salons use pump bottles like this to dispense polish remover.

Decanted Nail Polish Remover

Okay, so what’s that face mask about? I don’t normally use that when I’m just painting my nails for the weekend. However, when I’m swatching a few bottles of nail polish at one time for the blog, then it’s absolutely essential that I use a face mask to protect myself from the fumes. It can get very overwhelming at times, breathing in the nail polish and nail polish remover, so I always use a face mask for this.

There you go, some of the nail tools I use to create my manicures. I’m still learning how to do them properly, especially when the brush goes near the cuticles (at the moment, I’m still doing a sloppy job). I’m still trying to get painting my right hand correctly, as my non-dominant hand gets pretty shaky at times.

It goes to show that with the right tools (and practice!), you really can enjoy a good, long-lasting manicure.

What about you? What’s in your nail arsenal? πŸ˜‰

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12 comments… add one
  1. LeGeeque

    I’m an unbelievable slacker when it comes to my cuticles. I don’t trim them because I don’t trust myself to be able to do it without cutting my fingers off. I usually file my nails on the go. I’ve got a mini YGN file you gave me and it’s the best I’ve ever used! So, my usual stash is: base coat, colour, top coat – Seche Vite of course πŸ™‚ I apply hand cream like a maniac through out the day as you know and cuticle oil is applied nightly when I’m vegetating on the couch πŸ™‚
    LeGeeque recently posted..A Peek into my BagMy Profile

    1. Tine

      LeGeeque: I have a frequent case of hangnails so have to trim them often πŸ™ Get a good pair of cuticle scissors (I like the Priceline one, from Beauty Essentials), it should be all right. Won’t cut your fingers off πŸ˜‰

  2. xin

    i don’t trim my cuticles too for the fear of cutting myself! but i don’t like it done at the salon either. so my stash is just nail polishes, top & base and cuticle oil. that’s all! i don’t even file my nails ^_^v
    xin recently posted..Monday’s Tip: Bedside Wall Organizer for Foot CreamMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Xin: Before my glass file, I don’t EVER file my nails unless they’re done at the salon. I don’t like using the emery board on myself (don’t like it when some nail techs cut too deep either). With the glass file, I don’t even clip my nails now, just file πŸ˜›

  3. Nikki

    Great minds think alike! I was just thinking about the face mask as I’m going dizzy at times after finishing up my nail art!!!! πŸ™‚

    1. Tine

      Nikki: I didn’t think about a face mask until I almost passed out from swatching 8 bottles of nail polish at one go. Too much inhalation of nail polish and acetone made me wanna hurl πŸ™ So now, if I swatch more than one bottle, I have to have the mask on. Better for the health too πŸ™‚

  4. beetrice

    said it before, and I’ll say it again – Seche Vite is the bomb! πŸ˜€ I love that YGN glass file despite it making my hair stand every time I use it (dunno why, it gives me the same feeling like nails on a chalkboard even though the results are fab!)

    add Sally Hansen Double Duty as a basecoat and OPI Avoplex to the list, and I’m a mucho happy camper!
    beetrice recently posted..Finally, a free (well not quite, but very enjoyable) weekend…My Profile

    1. Tine

      Beetrice: I know, right? Seche Vite FTW! Yeah, despite how fantastic the glass file is, although I don’t feel like my hair’s standing all the time when I file my nails, I do notice that there’s a very distinct smell whenever I do the filing. I don’t know how to describe it. Keratin smell? If there’s such a thing? It can get pretty strong.

  5. Helen Nguyen

    I just started getting into nail polishing too, still isnt very good at it. At the moment I havent found a good base coat yet, but I do use Seche Vite as a top coat – a real life savor but for my likings, it doesnt give me that glossy finish, as I would like too.

    1. Tine

      Helen: Aww really? Drats πŸ™
      Yeah a good base coat’s important. Didn’t used to think it so, but after I’ve tried the Orly and OPI ones, it makes my old Cover Girl one weep πŸ˜›

  6. rinnah

    I want that pump bottle thingy! Been looking for it but never saw it in my local SG Daisos. Must go hunt for it again. πŸ˜€
    rinnah recently posted..A-England Nail Polish in TristamMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Rinnah: Get them on eBay. Tai pah πŸ˜›

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