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As much as I adore getting my nails done, I’m way more of a DIY girl myself. Not only is it cheaper (yay!), but I just find it therapeutic after a long day in the office or running errands. The one problem painting your own nails if you don’t have the proper training? The dreaded “well, how do I do my other hand?”
Unless you’ve got super steady hands, painting your nails with a non-dominant hand is definitely a challenge. Seeing as I’m not ambidextrous (and I can’t keep my hands still to save my life), I asked celebrity manicurist Skyy Hadley–the guru behind Janelle Monae and Mariska Hargitay’s flawless manis, plus is the owner of As “U” Wish Nail Spa–for tips and tricks to a create flawless manicure, on both hands. Here are her tips:
Practice makes perfect. Hadley recommends “finding a comfortable position to hold the brush and practice painting your nails in this form.” With enough practice, it’ll become easier to hold the brush in the hand you are least comfortable with using. Spending time on getting the pressure and steadiness is key, too.
Use an “easier” polish. If you’re looking for a more forgiving formula, opt for a textured polish or a glitter formula. Don’t forget that base, either!
Good form is key. For a good grip, Hadley recommends holding the brush between your thumb and the side of your index finger, while the pinky is straight and the ring finger is tucked slightly under the rest of your fingers.
Go slow at first. Apply less polish than you normally would because it’ll be less to clean up later. Hadley’s strategy is to paint one strip down the middle of the nail then one on each side of the strip. The strokes should be thin to leave less room for error.
Have a clean-up crew. Use an orange stick or toothpick dipped in remover to clean up any mistakes.
Looking for more tips? Check out the best and worst ways to get rid of facial hair and how to store nail polish the right way.
