Hi
Smile line guides are a DEFINATE no-no in my book. Just practice as much as possible (on your toes, your mother, your friends, your boyfriend... :lol: they just av to put up with it). Definitely go with a smooth, quick, confident stroke - otherwise it'll come out all wrong! And getting white tip polish on th clients' nail walls is the very LAST thing you should worry about... it really is no biggie... we've all done it :o !!
Anyhoo, here's a run-down of my French manicure on natural nails:
1) Make sure have wiped nails over with N.V.R. really REALLY well
2) Application of "Chip Skip" from OPI -
fantastic stuff, increases time of wear by DAYS and keeps clients coming back!
2) One coat OPI Natural Nail Base Coat
3) One coat of white tip polish, applied across-ways (quickly and confidently
)
4) Wait a teeny bit of time longer than usual before applying pink coat (this is where I lose my patience most frequently and smudge it :cry: !)
5) One coat of pink polish (I use OPI's Hopelessly in Love)
6) One coat of a blinkin good top coat (OPI top coat is great, or Orly "Sunscreen For Nails" top coat for those going on holiday)
Just for reference tho, I hardly do any French Manicures these days - all my French Manicure clients (bar one of them) LOVE American Manicure as it's much more natural-looking and (biggest plus-point EVER...) it's so easy to apply I can even apply it in my sleep (should know, have done it on many a hungover Saturday and Sunday morning!). :lol:
I get my American Manicure kits from Supernail, but you normally have to be Backscratchers qualified to buy from them, I think
. However, their number is 0208 752 1924.
HTHs
G. x