Basic Nail Polish Application Tutorial

11:54 AM

Ahhh, it's such a beautiful Saturday! Sometimes I wish the weather would always stay this for the Fall: 74 with a high of 80, sunshine, blue skies, and mild enough for lightweight cardigans and flip flops. It really seems like it went from BLAZING HOT summer to Fall in a matter of one week where I live! But hey, that's midwest weather for you. ;)

I'm not complaining, but I do want to soak it up while it lasts. As soon as October hits, I'll be grasping my legwarmers and wool jackets for dear life! I much prefer the heat to the cold because I'm a weenster like that.

So getting back on topic, I've had an interesting time with my nails lately. This last 2 months I've gone polish-less (GASP!) for more than I have in the last whole year. Really bizarre, but I just haven't always found the time on my weekends to reapply something fun. Hopefully that will change as the weather cools since I'll want to be inside and warm up all day. ^.^

For those of you who are used to having naked nails and wanted a tutorial for a good polish application technique -- base, polish, and topcoat included -- here is how I apply nail polish.


Products mentioned in this video:

* Seche Natural - this is a nail treatment but it works well as a basecoat. I also have and love Seche Clear. (similar here and here)
* OPI Who Needs A Prince? - sheer-ish cute, red-flash pearly pale pink. needs 3 or 4 coats to be opaque, but is SO PRETTY when opaque. (other pale pinks I love here and here)
Seche Vite - my HG top coat. Basically, this is the magic product that keeps polish on way longer, dries faster, and makes it super shiny. LOVE!

Here is a pic of the final look I did right after the basic polish application. The tutorial for this purple gradient nail art will be coming up very shortly.


Hope you are all having a wonderful, relaxing weekend in these short weeks before the weather changes once again (unless you live in Cali or FL, or a mild-weather country in which case, I shake my fist at you!)

Don't forget to join the giveaway for a free TLBC bra & panty set and I'll talk to you guys soon. ^_^

Disclaimer: All items mention in this video were purchased by me and were not sponsored in any way. Some affiliate links are included in this post.

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43 comments

  1. Thanks Jen! I didn't know about the "wrapping" thing - I will try that next time :)

    Do you have a tutorial on nail care? My cuticles are so dry no matter how much I moisturize. There must be a technique to follow!

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  2. Pretty! You apply it so smoothly! I always have to redo my nails >.<

    http://xmaterialgirlsx.blogspot.com/

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  3. Simple and helpful! I've been polish-less for 2 months now..yikes. Want to get that Revlon peach polish you have.

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  4. I SOOO have to try this !



    http://luxelovenyc.blogspot.com

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  5. aw jen! i love how the nail changes from one to the other! tutorial on how to do that pleseeee! :( and yes, i love opi's brushes. i love the thickness of it because my nails are sort of big. haha. great tutorial! thanks! :)

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  6. pretty gradient nails! love the colors

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  7. your nails look sooo perfect! you have such pretty hands ^0^

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  8. I can't wait to see the gradient look you created...I've been seeing it a lot lately and wanted to learn how to do it myself..thanks for sharing!

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  9. You have such steady hands, haha. I was in Sephora the other day playing with the testers and made a mess!

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  10. The nails are so pretty! Thanks for the tutorial =)

    XOXO

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  11. Love the nails, can't wait for the tutorial for gradient nails!

    xo, Diana

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  12. I love your rings on your other hand....the one that looks like a rose and the squarish one...First time I watched the video I just looked at that Lol Any idea where you got them? They're really great...The nail polish is really great too, I've been looking for a really pretty pale pink.

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  13. i loved yours rings!! the metalic ones are so stylist. where did you buy it?

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  14. Hey Jen! i've been following your blog unofficially for a while now but have never commented... I just couldn't resist commenting this time, I bought the seche vite top coat because a lot of gurus said it was their favorite and my nails chip like crazy so i thought I'd give it a try. I do love it but it happens to peel fairly quickly and was wondering if you had any advice on how to make it not peel? haha thanks for all that you do!! :D

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  15. Oh fun!! I can't wait to try this out~ And I also can't wait for the gradient tut! That looks so cool! :D

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  16. Oh that's lovely~ I love the gradient look!

    I've been following you since soompi and never commented but I just bought a Seche Vite topcoat today and then I came home and watched your vid...:) a co-in-ki-dink :D

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  17. It's so pretty!! I can't wait to see the tutorial for the gradient nails. Very pretty! :)

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  18. Thanks for the tutorial! Made me want to get the top coat so badly!

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  19. ooh I did my nails like this with purple not too long ago as well! it is indeed pretty :)

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  20. Very helpful. Thanks for the tutorial Jen! :)

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  21. Love the nails! What lashes are you wearing here?

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  22. Cute purple layers, can't wait to see the tutorial for that!

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  23. thank you for the tutorial!

    aaa i want the seche vite Natural base coat thing you have. I tried looking in Sally Beauty near my house but they don't sell it. Where did you get yours?

    I can't wait for the gradient tutorial you have next :)

    you're looking gorgeous as always

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  24. Oh btw, do you have trouble with your Seche Vite top coat being too too goopy?

    I've had my old one for about a year now and then it got too goopy and stringy--I had to throw it away. I tried thinning it out with nail polish remover which turned out to be a disaster lol. I just went and bought a new bottle.

    How do you keep your Seche Vite from turning super thick and stringy? xD

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  25. thanks!

    i love your tutorials

    btw, i was wondering if you could make an inspired tutorial for parkbom's look on ''can't nobody'', the part where she's meditating~ :)

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  26. Hi, Jen.
    I was wondering if you can help me with something. It seems like when I layer my nail polish, I always get bubbles. I always thought it was because I didn't let the first layer dry completely, but I tested this by applying one layer, then waited until the next day to re-apply another layer. I still got bubbles. And it happens with every brand of polish I have. I see in your video that you applied three coats within a time frame of five minutes without getting any bubbles. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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  27. curls and pearls: I don't have a nail care tutorial per se but I do try to keep my hands and nails moisturized. If you wash dishes, wear gloves. :)

    PetiteAsianGirl: That revlon polish is notoriously nasty to work with but it's such a pretty color!

    The Indecisive One & Nika: My rings are mostly from ebay since you can search for small sizes.

    Steph: Make sure you wash your hands right before you polish so your natural oils aren't making the polish peel off.

    Kylie: I am wearing Shisem XOG teuk lashes.

    Ichigobunny: I got Seche Natural from the company (I think I won a twitter contest randomly) but I like Seche Clear just as much which is easier to find. Try nail polish thinner for the goopy Seche Vite problem! Never add remover to your polishes because this will KILL them!!!

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  28. Tina: To keep polish from bubbling, make sure to not shake your polish. Twist it like in my video. Also, avoid polishing in direct sunlight and in an environment that is too warm. Try using really thin layers as well. Hopefully that will help. :)

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  29. I love the gradient :) I've tried to do some blue gradient once and it was plain messy. Looking forward to the tutorial :P And polishless for 2 months? I've been polishless for way longer than that now, laziness is horrifying D:

    http://herumbrella.blogspot.com

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  30. Thanks for this video. My nails always get chipped off at the front, but now I know how to prevent it by "wrapping". =)

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  31. Thanks for a basic post. I definitely do not have your skills with a brush, so a lot of the more complicated things you do are beyond me. :)

    Also, I know what you mean about the weather. I'm in the Midwest as well, and it has been a crazy seesaw these last few days.

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  32. wow!
    i thought i knew everything about applying nail polish but i guess i don't! :D thank you so much for this Jen! :) applying the topcoat at the tips is totally a must-do for me from now on. my polish tends to 'chip' (is that how you call it?) & by doing your tip, that should solve the problem!

    can't wait for the gradient nail tutorial!
    i've been trying it for so long but have always fail!
    - Coco

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  33. Another goody from you!

    Love your tutes

    x

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  34. hi jen!
    I actually just came across your videos on youtube today and I totally fell in love with you haha XD! you're my girl crush xD!! I think you are very very pretty and adorable, I really like the way you talk in the videos. even tho I dont know you in real but I am sure that you are a very lovely person ^-^ I really liked your bra fitting video! very sweet, funny and educational, now I will go look for the right bra HA!
    I wish you all the best!! I now shall check your older posts and vids XD

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  35. Thanks for this tutorial... I've searched Youtube for something like this before but never found anything really helpful. I just suck at using my left (non-dominant) hand to paint, and I guess no tutorial can really help that! I love Seche Vite top coat too but like Steph said, sometimes it peels on me. And btw I love the shape of your nails! Mine are so wide and mannish looking :\

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  36. :) So excited for the purple gradient nail tutorial. They look so adorable!

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  37. Thanks Jen. I have been looking for a tutorial about nail care for a long time.

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  38. WOW. I love that nail polish holy goodness! AMAZING!

    heart: miss furnellie

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  39. Awesome tutorial Jen!

    When buying nail polish, do you prefer certain brand or simply choose the color you like?

    The top coat is amazing!! Hopefully can find it at where I live.

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  40. i'd love to read about your nail care? how did you get your nail bed so long?

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  41. How did you get a long nail bed??...Mine r short and big TT.TT...

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