Q&A for How to Paint Your Nails

I can't imagine it's particularly dangerous, although it does help to let your nails air out without anything on them every once in a while.

So, it helps to own a set of manicuring tools, which you can buy online just in a kit. This should include clippers, nippers, a nail pusher, a cuticle pusher, a file, nail polish remover, cotton, and then a good selection of polishes.

There is this product out there that I call a cleanup brush that's perfect for this. It's a fine-tipped, flat-headed brush that you can dip in polish remover and clean up around your cuticles. Then, you just wipe away the mess.

Start with a black base coat, which will help the color pop. Then, working on one nail at a time, apply a layer of magnetic polish and hold the magnet as close to your nail as possible for 10 seconds. Once you finish one nail, move onto the next nail.

Keep your arm rested on a stable surface and try to keep your hand steady. This may mean that you'll be painting your nails a lot slower than with your dominant hand. Also, try tilting your nail (on your dominant hand) from side to side while you paint it. This will help your non-dominant hand reach certain angles.

Apply a top coat after painting, then do some touch ups when you get home if they chip. After painting, always apply a top coat to protect the nails.

Look for that shiny and damp appearance. Nails, especially toenails, will have this specific shimmer to them when they're still wet.

Rub organic coconut oil into your nails and cuticles. It is a solid at first but if you rub it between your fingers it liquefies. For best results, apply twice a day--once in the morning and once in the evening.

Paint your nails the base coat you want and let them dry. Next, place some tape on each nail, leaving the tip exposed. Paint the exposed tip white, then pull the tape off. To make the tips more rounded, use circular stickers instead of tape.

Allow yourself more time to get ready so you can paint your nails after you get dressed. Or you can try using fake stick-on nails.

If your nail polish is sticky, buy new nail polish. Otherwise, it will be hard to use and it will not look nice when dry.

Gray, brown, pink, purple, blue, teal, baby blue, aquamarine, green, and orange.

There are nail dryers and fast drying top coats you can purchase.

Paint your nails the base color you want first, then let them dry. After that, you can add some special nail-art stickers, or paint on designs using nail polish and special tools. Read How to Do Nail Art for more information and ideas.

That depends on the varnish you used. Some are quick drying, whilst others take longer.

Go for a light color, such as pale blue or pink, as darker colours will clash with your skin color.

You can either remove that finger's polish and start over or you can put another coat of color on top of the fingerprint (only if the fingerprint is on the color and not the clear coat).

Gently lick the smudged nail area with your tongue, and it will fix the smudged area instantly. It is a strange trick, but it seems to work for many women.

Of course! There is nothing wrong with boys painting their nails. It's just another way of expressing their personalities.

Unfortunately all you can do is try out different colors to see what looks good. Buy cheap nail polish to experiment with, and when you find a color or colors you like, buy a nicer brand.

You can't, unless you prevent the polish from actually going onto your nails. For instance, you can buy a liquid latex, and apply it to your nails or wherever you think you might mess up. Paint your nails like normal and once you are happy, gently peel off the latex with tweezers.

Yes, you can use it as a base coat.

See How to Care for Your Nails at Home .

Try to use brighter, bolder colours, and avoid nudes. Colourful pastels can look nice too, and blues, golds and oranges are popular for darker skin.

Pink, blue, green or yellow will look best.

It might be tempting, but avoid doing anything that requires your hand coming in contact with anything else. Set a ten minute timer and occupy yourself with something else, like daydreaming. Those ten minutes will fly by.

It takes a steady hand, and some practice. If you still happen to get some on the outside then just use some nail polish remover and a q tip to clean of the extra nail polish.

With enough layers, the nails could appear to "lift" up, like many fake nails do. For a glossy/shiny look, use a clear coat on top of the colored polish.

If you're wearing a cast, you most likely can't do your own nails. I suggest asking a trusted friend to help you, or just going to the nail salon.

Use an old plastic bowl and put drops of the nail polish that you want to marble into the water. Swirl it around with a cocktail stick, then paint liquid latex around your nails. Dip the front of your finger into the water to apply to your nail and then add a topcoat.