Have you ever perused the many blogs and listicles of failed attempts at Pinterest-worthy crafts? We've all been there — you see a gorgeous DIY online, your eyes get big, and your dreams get bigger. Then you try it, and the result is, in a word, pathetic.
We've found the same is true with a good manicure. Especially when your wallet is in a bind, getting your DIY on seems like an obvious choice, but sometimes the final product is just missing that shiny, smudge-free, no-streak crispness that comes with a salon job. While we can't bless you with a steadier hand, we can provide you with tips from one of NYC's most beloved nail artists, Madeline Poole.
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Poole has her own special technique that she pioneered because "nail polish is a tricky substance, it dries quickly, so it tends to become goopy if messed around with too long. The method I use is a quick way to evenly cover the surface and avoid drying out the brush."
She gave us the full low-down on her special techniques, and we turned it into a handy, shareable infographic. Nothing fancy, totally foolproof — just the very basics on how to paint your nails at home, and not feel like a failure after the fact.
Illustrated by Elena Giavaldi.