April 26, 2003 3:13 AM BST
Jenny, I'm sorry, but I don't know how I missed this topic for so long!
I just let my own nails grow and polish them, but my answers are (same rules apply for toenail polish):
1. No clue.
2. I wait AT LEAST one hour before I use my hands for anything. I try to wait to apply the second coat several hours later, if not the next day.
3. Experience tells me that after one hour, I'm pretty safe. The longer you wait, the better, but after two hours, they won't really get any drier. Even after an hour, if you press down on the polish, it doesn't take much pressure leave a fingerprint impression, so I try to have a movie or two ready to watch when I'm doing my nails (which I'll be doing tonight). Also, being on-line helps the time pass, too. NEVER do your nails right before bed, because even if you think they're dry, you'll probably smudge them in your sleep. I have long hair, and sometimes I ignore my own rule and wake up with fine scratches in the polish where my hair made imprints. If you just painted your nails for one day/night, it doesn't matter, but if you plan to wear the polish for a while, take the time to do it right.
4. No, not really (not enough to matter). If you're in a big hurry, the best thing to do is fill a sink full of cold water and plunge your hands (at least your nails) into the water for a couple of minutes.
5. Cold temperatures are better for drying nail polish. Heat just keeps the polish all sticky. In addition to the sink method, you could also try sticking your hands in the refrigerator or freezer for a few seconds, but that's not very practical.
General Info:
I use two coats of color (on rare occasions, I'll use three, depending on the color), followed by two clear coats. I try to wait two or three hours (if not the next day) before applying the second coat of color, unless I'm in a big hurry, but then I have to be even more careful. I don't ever put the two clear coats on during the same day. If I still have the polish on a week later, I'll add another clear coat to keep it going. Sometimes, especially with toenail polish, you can keep the color looking good for two to four weeks, depending on how fast the cuticles grow out. With fingernail polish, a week or two is really all you can expect (two is very long), because we use our hands so much.
Never apply really thick coats. Use a thin coat to start, even if it looks a little translucent. The second coat will make up for any weakness in the depth of the color, so don't worry. Thin coats dry faster and smudge much less easily. Thick, gloppy coats take forever to dry, and are prone to showing marks/impressions.
Conventional wisdom recommends that you start with a brush stroke in the center of the nail at the base of the cuticle, and paint outward toward the tip of the nail, then repeat the strokes to the left and right sides. I do that, but just before, I'll run the side of the brush along the tip of the nail, to make sure I get the edge covered with polish. Then, the normal strokes smooth it out. I do the same thing with the clear coat, because that helps protect against chips at the tip of the nail (the most common problem area).
Try to plan ahead and do you nails when you know you aren't going anywhere on a given day. That way, you don't have to worry about painting inside the lines, and it's easier to get complete coverage. Later, when you shower/bathe/wash you hands, you can easily rub off the excess polish that got on your skin. If you paint your toenails one evening (not too close to bedtime), then wear socks and shoes all day the next day (especially thick socks), most, if not all, of the excess polish will be rubbed off. Then, wash off your feet, add the first clear coat, and you're looking great.
Of course, if you need a manicure or pedicure right away, you have to be perfect with applying the polish, but if you plan ahead, you'll get better results, and it will be much easier. Once you've got the polish on, act like it. Don't grab things with the tips of your fingers, don't push buttons with the ends of your fingers, don't use your nails to rub the shampoo into your hair (that damages your polish more than anything else), etc. Baby your nails as though your getting paid to keep the polish chipping.
Oh, another tip I almost forgot is to keep you nails moist. The best time to polish your nails is soon after taking a bath or shower, because your nails are nice and moist, and the polish will lock in some of that moisture. The drier your nails are, the more brittle they are. Ideally, your nails should be soft and flexible, so that if you hit them against something, they'll tend to bend a little instead of breaking, as do dry, hard nails. Also, when you aren't wearing polish, use a moisturizer on you nails (any lotion will do), especially when you go to bed.
April 26, 2003 3:21 AM BST
Initially, I didn't include this info because I thought it too basic, but just in case...
If you're right handed, paint your right hand first. You're left hand needs more help holding the brush, so it's better not to have nail polish on your off hand while trying to do the strong hand.
Start with the pinky and work toward the thumb.
Shake the bottle well before using the polish, and don't get too much polish on the brush. You can always go back for more, but when you get too much polish on your nail, it's difficult to correct it.
Do not operate flamethrowers around nail polish.
April 27, 2003 8:07 AM BST
I know. It's bad enough that I have to wear a padded bra. I'd rather keep everything else natural.
April 26, 2003 8:29 AM BST
Hi Stevie
Too basic! I only got two out of four right.
But I do disagree with one of your recommendations, or at least the wording of it.
"Shake the bottle well" - If you mean a vigorous shaking I found this introduces air bubbles into the polish which makes a mess of your nails. The polish does need mixing but I hold the bottle horizontally and gently rock it backwards and forwards for a minute or two.
Girl, you must have patience to follow your regimen. Have you ever had a professional manicure?
Hugs
Sarah
April 26, 2003 8:14 PM BST
No, I've never had a professional manicure or pedicure. I just like doing it myself. If you enjoy doing your nails, you don't really need much patience. I realize that many girls just want their nails finished, and they don't enjoy the actual process, but I think it's fun.
I know what you mean about bubbles, but I still shake mine like crazy, because you really should make sure the consistency is nice and smooth. Usually, good nail polish won't bubble up that much, but they all do a little, if you aren't careful. You've got a point about the way I worded it, though. You should always let the polish rest a little after you've shaken it, for that very reason.
I have a lot of different colors, and sometimes, while I'm getting ready, I'll take a minute and shake up all of my bottles, even though I'm not going to use them anytime soon. If you're like me, and you have more bottles of nail polish than most stores, they can set for a long time without use, so that's why I prefer to shake mine vigorously. With Chanel, I really haven't have a problem with air bubbles, except for the clear coat. That's where you have to be careful. You don't want to have two perfect coats of color ruined by a messy top coat.
Years ago, I always used a clear base coat (sometimes a completely different formula from the top coat) before applying color, but I never saw the benefit, so I stopped doing it. Do any of you use a base coat?
April 26, 2003 8:25 PM BST
Oh, getting back to the original topic, years ago (I'm using that phrase more than I care to hear it
), I tried false nails, just because it was socially impractical to keep my nails long enough to polish without being obvious. While they do make sense for a lot of trannies, I never really liked them. I preferred the ones that were already colored, because painting them was just too messy.
Fortunately, I can now keep my own nails long enough to paint without being blatantly obvious, but I can certainly understand why many trannies aren't in a position to keep their own nails well manicured (in a feminine way). If you have a choice, I think it's much more satisfying to shape and polish your own nails, though.
April 27, 2003 7:40 AM BST
Hi Stevie
I had a very brief flirtation with false nails but, as my hands are quite large, I couldn't find any that fitted, particularly on the thumb. Also, no matter how they looked, they always felt false.
Like you I always do my own nails. It's amazing how little extra growth you need to shape into a really feminine nail, especially when polished. Because I always plan my excursions well ahead I'm able to let them grow that little bit extra. Never more than 1/4" and often less. In male mode that just looks scruffy (a style I carry with panache
). But when shaped and polished they make the fingers, and the whole hand, look smaller. Brilliant. Now, if only I could stop painting the skin at the side of the nail
Hugs
Sarah
July 19, 2003 3:47 PM BST
Oh, one other thing, regarding shaking nail polish before applying it... I've never had the bubble problem with nail color, only with clear top and base coats. Of course, those don't need to be shaken anyway, so as long as you don't shake the clear stuff and don't brush too fast on any of the coats, I think you'll avoid the bubbles.
April 4, 2017 4:53 AM BST
So many great tips here personally I love nothing more than the experience of getting dressed going to the salon and getting my nails done nothing compares to real professionally done acrylics! On a side note tho they are hard to hide if and when you are not in a position to present female. That's where glue on kiss brand nails come in to play inexpensive great looking and easy to remove definitely a preop mtf musr have!! I've found when I plan to only have them on for a short time only use three drops of nail glue. 1 on the tip of the nail and 1 on each side of the base this will provide you with a sturdy hold but also surprisingly easy to remove with no damage to the nail