6 Genius, At-Home Manicure Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner

by Tiffany Walking Eagle | 3-minute read

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If you're lazy like me and have very little patience when it comes to doing your nails, you're always looking for ways to make your manicure last longer and tips for getting the nail polish to dry faster. I can't tell you how many times I've messed my nails up because I was to impatient to wait for my nails to dry (read: every time.) Plus, getting your nails done at a salon is expensive! So if you're a lazy girl on a budget who still likes to have beautiful nails, check out these manicure hacks and give them a try!

Chill your polish.

Simply place your nail polish in the fridge for about 15 minutes before using to make it go on smoothly.

Make nail polish last with vinegar.

I'm truly starting to think that vinegar, whether white or apple cider, is some kind of miracle liquid sent to us from heaven...seriously, what can't it do?! In this case you'll want to dip your fingertips in white vinegar before you paint them. Vinegar dries out the surface of the nail a bit and dissolves any oil or gunk stuck to it, creating a dry, clean surface for the polish to adhere to.

Spruce up your manicure with metallic markers.

I thought this hack was genius when I discovered it, since there's no way I have the patience or dexterity to create intricate little designs with those teeny nail polish brushes. Simply after applying polish but before putting on top coat use a metallic permanent marker (like these) to draw cute designs like hearts, chevron patterns, lines, or try giving yourself easy metallic french tips. If you mess up, simply wipe off your mistake with a bit of rubbing alcohol and start over. Once you're done, apply top coat and voila! A professional-looking manicure minus the hefty price of one.

Dry nails faster with iced water.

To help those nails dry quicker (so you don't ruin them like I usually do) dip your fingers in a bowl of iced water for a few seconds. This will speed up the drying process substantially and let you move on to more important activities. I also really like using nail drying sprays like this one, but do be aware that they have a fairly strong chemical scent, so use them in a ventilated area.

Use cornstarch for DIY matte nails.

Matte nails are a trendy, fun look, but if you don't have any matte polish on hand, simply mix a little bit of cornstarch and polish in a bowl (preferably a disposable one!) and your nails should dry matte. Cool huh? This one also can save you some cash, since you can turn any polish you already own matte instead of having to purchase new ones.

Minimize mess-ups with Vaseline.

I'm pretty clumsy and tend to always mess up when painting my nails (especially when using my non-dominant hand), so this one's a lifesaver. Simply smear a little bit of petroleum jelly or chapstick around your cuticles prior to polishing to keep the errant streaks of polish from adhering to the skin. Bonus: this also moisturizes your cuticles! Just try to keep Vaseline off the nail itself.

Did you try any of these manicure hacks? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Tiffany Walking EagleMarch 28, 2018