A Beginner's Guide to the Nail Polish Basics

New to nails? Here’s a beginner's guide to the basics. 

Step 1

Start with clean nails and clean hands. I know it may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people skip this step. Just like a coat of paint won’t fix a dirty house, the best nail polish in world won’t stick to grubby paws. So keep it hygienic, ladies. 

Step 2

Remove any leftover nail polish. This step goes hand in hand with the one above. In order to get the most out of your nail varnish, it’s important to start with a clean palette. Not only will old nail polish interfere with your new nail colour, but chipped nail polish creates an uneven surface. So do yourself a favour and grab some Zazie Nail Polish Remover. You’ll end up with much better results and you’ll also have some nail polish remover on hand to fix any inevitable polish fiascos the make along the way.

Note to the reader: Somewhere between step 1 and 2, you’d do all your filing, buffing, etc. But since this is a basic guide, we’re not going to get into all that. I know some of you nail polish addicts may be rolling your eyes, but I think we can all admit that the a basic manicure can be achieved in 3 easy steps— base, polish, and top coat. And with that said, here we go...

Step 3

Baby it’s all about the base. All the great things in life need a good foundation, from houses to Justin Timberlake's Nsync days, everyone and everything has to start somewhere. The ultimate nail polish base is Orly's Bonder Rubberized Base coat. Seriously, this stuff is a God amongst the nail polish bases. Not only does this magical elixir dry fast, but it works as a sort of adhesive for your polish, protecting your nail polish against chips and fading. Trust me, this base keeps hold of your nail polish better than a stage 5 clinger.

Step 4

Now to the good stuff, the reason why we’re all here—nail polish. Whether you call it nail varnish, or nail laquer, or simply polish, a touch of colour on your nail has cinderella qualities. Nail polish can transform your mood as well as your outfit and to put it bluntly, it’s PRETTY. Luxplus has all the best brands, such as Essie, OPI, Orly, Ciaté, Jessica Custom Nail Colour, Barry M. Nail Paint, Nails Inc., Sally Hansen...and ya, I can keep going, but it’s probably easier if you just checked out our selection of cheap nail polish yourself. Anyways, the #1 rule of nail polish is you can never have just one, so live a little and spice up your life with some nail polish colour. 

Tip: Let your nail polish brush drip before applying any colour. Ideally, each nail should only take 3 delicate strokes. It’s called painting your nails, not lathering your nails!

Step 5

And finally, a high quality top coat to top you off! But, make sure your nails are absolutely dry before applying any top coat or you’ll end up with a swirly, smudgy, mess. Sally Hansen is the Queen of nail polish top coats. In fact, the brand’s range of top coats even includes a dual top and base coat called Double Duty Base & Top Coat. If you’re a recovering nail biter like myself, I recommend using a growth promoting top coat such as Sally Hansen's Maximum Growth Clear top coat. After you’ve applied your top coat, you can now begin your nail drying ritual. I like to blow on my nails, wave my hands about, and do a drying dance of sorts. Whatever you do, just make sure your nails are completely dry. Nothing is worse that smudging your freshly applied polish and having to start the process all over again. 

Tip: If you're in a hurry, try Orly's Flash Dry Drops. These drops leave your nails glossy, streak-free, and most importantly, dry in just a few minutes!

So there you go, a beginners guide to the nail polish basics. So what are you waiting for? Whip out those base coats, nail polishes, and top coats and paint the town red... or blue or pink or all of the above!