How To
Do Your Nails Fast
When you are
in a rush, decisions have to be made. Prioritize. Do you shape
or polish? Do you quick-dry or go the long, slow route? New formulas
allow for snap decisions:
Speed-dry
enamels are worthy of their name (you can open mail, search for
keys, or put on your tightest long-sleeved shirt within seconds),
but there's a downside: "As fast as they dry, that's as fast
they chip," insists manicurist Elisa Ferri, so save them
for emergencies. Eke a few extra days out of a fast-dry manicure
by doing a daily touch-up with a quick-drying coat.
In the other
corner, there are strong, chip-resistant formulas - the torttoise
of the polish race. To pick up the pace of these tougher enamels,
like L'Oreal Shock Proof, carefully submerge freshly painted nails
in a bowl of ice-cold water for 30 seconds to harden still-groopy
polish.
Light or sheer
shades are best for hasty manicures, Ferri says. "You can
even get away with just a wide stripe down the center" rather
than painstakingly painting the entire nail.
If a manicure
is beyond the repair of a topcoat or two, face facts and call
in the remover. You can keep single-use packets of nail polish
remover (Cutex and Get Fresh make them) on hand so you can strip
away color on the run.
When there
is no time for polish, just clean underneath the nails, rub on
a buffing cream, and shine them with a chamois buffer.
For great tips, beauty samples, and fun stuff, subscribe
to our weekly newsletter below:
Back
To Nails
