7 Manicure Mistakes You Make

Experts share their nail don'ts so you can get a professional looking (and long-lasting) manicure at home.

1. Filing Your Nails Back and Forth
   When you file your nails back and forth, it weakens them, and can cause them to break later on. Instead, only file in one direction from the sides toward the center. This means picking up the file after each pass to go back to where you started to make another pass in the same direction.
   
   
2. Starting With Oily Nails
   Not cleansing your nail plate after lotion has been applied causes polish to not stick and also can make it bubble. Prep your nails by gently pushing back the skin around the cuticle, then wipe the nail clean with a cotton pad soaked with alcohol or acetone several times before applying the base coat.
   
   
3. Skipping the Base Coat
   Never skip the base coat. Not only does it protect your nails from staining, it also extends the wear and can help your mani last a few days longer. And be sure to choose your base coat wisely. Stay away from a base coat/top coat hybrid and instead opt for a ridge filling formula, as this will camouflage imperfections on the nail plate and create a great foundation for your colour.
   
   
4. Using Too Much Polish
   Wipe off one side of the brush on the inside of the neck of the bottle before pulling it out so that only one side has polish. This helps better control the flow so the colour doesn’t flood onto your cuticles.
   
   
5. Rushing the Layers
   Wait at least two minutes to allow polish to dry in between each coat. This will allow for a faster drying time in the end because the layers have had a head start on drying in between.
   
   
6. Bypassing the Top Coat
   A top coat is a great last step to lock in colour and give shine, but you should also continue applying it to extend your manicure. Apply a top coat every two or three days to help maintain shine, keep your colour looking bright, and prevent chipping.
   
   
7. Scrimping on Cuticle Oil
   Cuticle oil is a must. Apply it to your cuticles and all over your nail before bed so it can sink in over night. The oil will penetrate through the polish to keep your natural nail and the polish more flexible and less prone to chipping.