French manicure - any good tips

[blue2]

Hi

Does anyone have any good tips for a nice french manicure? I usually use a clear base, leave to dry, then a very light pink, do white tips then a clear coat to finish.

Does anyone have any tips on making sure the tips are all the same length and shape? and which brands are the best to use (budget prices preferably!)

Thanks in advance

[Macsilk]

Hi blue, i am a wizz at French polish! i always use a very very clearish pink as a base, so clear that you can't even see the colour, then for the white, natural collection at boots do a great one. its bright white and only around �1.99, don't shake the bottle tho, turn it upside down and roll between your hands to warm, apply it across the nail tip from left to right, do both hands then give a very thin second coat. finish immediately with a coat of quick dry top coat in clear, i also use a quick dry spray from boots too. make sure you allow about ten mins before doing anything tho! sorry answer was so long! let me know how you get on! Macsilk.

[SRH]

In addition to Macsilk's great advice, I'd recommend Collection 2000 polishes - a great range of French manicure colours and they dry really quickly (and ridiculously cheap!).

To get a good white tip just follow the natural line of your fingertip that you can see through your nail, load the brush with more polish than you'd usually use and try to do the tip in just one stroke to keep the colour even and the line smooth. Don't worry about getting polish on your skin - focus on getting the look of the tip right - white tip polish is usually quite thick and will easily peel off your skin afterwards, unlike normal polish.

Finally, if you are right handed do your right hand first and vice versa - you're less likely to smudge when using your 'good' hand for the second lot of nails.

[muppeteer]

i used to use guide stickers- you can get a pack of about 50 for a few quid (got them off the nail stand in asda)
its just a curved stickeryou put on leaving a gap at the end of your nail that you paint with white polish (you have to do this first & then go over with pink & topcoat or the other coats wil peel off). it is a bit fidly, but you get perfect tips all he same length

[blue2]

Thanks for all your great tips x