So I don't know if I've ever told you, but about mid-way through college I decided I'd love to be a nail tech. Seriously, that's my dream job. Sadly, my dad seemed to think I needed to go ahead and finish college, seeing as how I was more than halfway through and had a full scholarship. But I still dream....
I've recently decided it's time to start painting my nails again! Now, you and I both know that I don't have a lot of free time. But I've found that if I follow this routine, I can paint them at 8 pm, go to sleep at 10, and not have any sheet marks at all. Plus, my mani will last 4-5 days with no chips- I usually just have to repaint because of new growth.
So without further ado, my nail routine:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfszceoRo1YDLO5-arX3S0A0elFO5noJ3EeShv-gn4xwe4yrBXOesi3FMOVDbfWvok921ww7P97KHC5BFg8cYntPxNVcDrdznjnrU4hirrSjdTBA5VhlrYmxPSsElDde9gujTLSFfXeE/s200/cuticle.jpg)
1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remove. I apply this all around my nails, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. Works awesome.
2. Wash your hands and dry them well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rg7c1YH8LQW6nzXOlq9ndG-Mfd-9lJhYRTF65VP29MI210HYxpDvDUgRBK0ZD4v7axpoIzJ3xFIeokY943KAA3UXmPoAHPZyBdWql1zQDS5WRK2-AXCMXflKUEphQQACUDxIa60B2C8/s200/orly.jpg)
3. Orly Bonder. This is fab- takes any oily residue off your nails and gives your polish something to stick to.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTnKfHJhmcJwPDxDyN8Rhl1XcZ9BQsaYK3YG9gRo2jvq9xMW6p0bvIg0QqIpKhTypHUpRkLuvChOYQm9Ff_wGIz022s8DB0XtwnUFdOyMTVd7BnpJykND7yAP0GCDGSOrpetw96iaCw8/s200/sally.jpg)
4. Sally Hanson Nailgrowth Miracle in the gold bottle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzCd-kO_RdPdmft_noe29JQCbmryCPvksPjoMYRb7zqv2NKDQQKoMa3b1x8B3-OuzBx6PqlMM4m5WC4j2q63W0v1BWwWwL5sdBEaN3Mw5ZOBSYS3Y-sZN-6Oq-rUCM1q0-4lqh9PbxtY/s200/waitress.jpg)
5. OPI polish (2 coats). In my non-professional opinion, the best polish there is. One of my faves is I'm Not Really a Waitress.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KRa9oWEwyL3b9TwZSIw8LmMs02PXRz3fildxpZU8Mbays_NwbOcRXmOqpluVrHzvtD_pC3RMtB-Fb4ssOp7kqxNUeEym9pwsZkVmvS3JsLro-6oAtYQi7wU6tFdmwPwmYzVECIvIcVM/s200/chile.jpg)
Or my all time fave, Chile O Caliente (discontinued, of course!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_5BKj8KN3dqIJ0OFhRqZ7iBshU1Z52XZj-KpVo76o_ojxmkfbmiaDjDhmYMqMXJuvyRLjVItD8M50ahOmJufuwg8u1jrqTHpHq3ZzMNOm5Yfq4YfuOiX-r93KSUbnc-8q3k6juZ9e30/s200/seche.jpg)
6. Seche Vite top coat. I won't use any other top coat.
11 comments:
How cool is that? I do the exact same nail routine! Ha! I found out about it from a blog I read though, so I can't take credit for it! It truly does last at least 5 days if you use the orly bonder and the Seche Vite top coat!
I love that cuticle remover, and OPI nail polish is great! I need to try the bonder!
I can't afford manicures anymore (plus, I get super anxious because I just KNOW they're talking about me and my fat fingers). I had no idea what to do on my own. Thanks for the recommendations!
I LOVE Opi too!
If you happen to come across Bubble Bath, grab me a bottle and I'll happily get that money to ya ASAP!
I never do my nails, but LOVE to get pedicures, and never have undone toes. Weird, huh, since fingers are much more exposed (usually) than toes. I think it's because I have to wash my hands so much at work, I think they'd get messed up too easily, so don't bother. Maybe I need to try the bonder/topcoat routine...
P.S. That "I'm not really a waitress" is one of my faves too (for toes).
Okay, this is awesome. One of the two things I ALWAYS have issues with (one of them being liquid liner - I can do it on other people, but not myself!) is manicures - they always end up smudging and looking retarded!
So... thanks :)
Ooohh! I love doing my nails! I'll definitely be trying your routine. Isn't it funny when sometimes our "dream jobs" are such polar opposites to what we are actually doing for a living?! :)
Thanks for the tips. My polish always chips in a day so I'm definitely going to try these!
will you come to the casa de chaos and do me? i mean mine?
Quick question...do you wait in between coats of things or slap all of it on at once?
And, I'm not really a waitress is my toe polish of choice.
I need to go pick up that cuticle remover - mine are so ragged right now. Thanks for the tip!
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