What are the best products/way to do french manicure?

[elliebabes33]

Hi I am fairly new to nails and did a French Manicure today - I hardly do them and it took me quite a while longer to do than an ordinary polish manicure - can you recommend any good tips for doing them and techniques? I struggle to get the smile line straight - it looks like its been done by a really unsteady hand!

 

[beautygurl]

hi there, the best advice i was given is to not worry about getting the white on the skin, as you can go back and remove it off the skin with nail varnish remover at the end, obviously carefully. also just try to pratise them as much as you can and eventually your timing will get quicker. xx

 

[Zo Zo]

I think it helps if you buff the nails because if there are any ridges it makes it a bit more tricky to apply the white smoothly.

I also find it doesn't help to do it too slowly... if that makes sense!

 

[deanosnana]

You need a really good white polish, too. I like Essie's Marshmallow as it is forgiving when doing the tip. HTH!

 

[sibel]

It can take a bit of time but partice makes perfect make sure your polish is never thick because its always best when you can apply two coats of white, take your time it helps to move your client finger round when you apply the white with your brush. then paint over your pink then top coat. if it gets on the skin get a wooden stick dip it in nail polish remover and remove from skin..its alway difficult when they have small nails and it can always be tricky when they are to long its a pain but you will pick it up all the best..x

 

[Seraphine]

I make a "sandwich" around my white layers, using Orly Bonder. So like this:

- thin layer of Orly bonder
- 2 thin layers of white
- another thin layer of Orly (this will smooth out any patchy bits - the white will look smooth as glass once this is on)
- layer of pink
- layer of topcoat

I also advise my clients to add another thin layer of topcoat every 2 days to help protect the white from abuse over time. I've seen this method keep a french polish nice for up to 2 weeks.

 

[Natalieabdn]

Hi, the more you do the better you will get also.

Try and do thin coats of polish so it dries quicker, and I find tilting the nail from left to right (if that makes any sense lol) while applying the white, then I use my own nails to tidy up any while that has gone onto the skin then tidy the rest up later if needed.

I also prefer the look without a pink polish over the top, but that's just me

xx

 

[Nickie]

I am gonna suggest something naughty. I have only used this on myself at home, as tbh dont do many natural french, its normaly L+P that I do. I used to dip a cotton bud in varnish remover and gentle tidy up my smile line and skin with this. Not sure it is pro enough for client use, but just an idea. As long as the bud is wet enough u dont get fluffy bits. Guess its simular as an orange stick in varnish too. I know some ppl have used guides or sticker type things but I found they 'leaked' a bit. The more you do the more you learn and smile lines will be just fine

 

[Rockateer]

Hi there
french polish was never my favourite, used to get that dreaded feeling in my tummy when i saw it in the book
here is how i overcame the "fear" !!!

- I chose a lighter creamy white eg softest white in orly range, did perfect smile line with this
-then went over this thin layer with a bright WAG (as i call them ) tipp ex style white as i felt i had my smile line was perfect so could fly through this stage

second option was to paint the really white french on in a quick stroke (holding the finger quite firmly, twisting the finger left to right as you move the brush cross)
Then with a gel nail brush dip into nailvarnish remover and clean up any mistakes
NB clients may look wary when the smile line is just thrown on but whn they see how flawless it is after they dont care
Only thing with that method is that ye cannot use a base coat as the gel brush dipped in nailvarniush removes it
..pop the base on after then pink
This method is particularly fab with long claw nails, similair to gel applic method
hope this makes sense
xx

et voila

 

[elliebabes33]

thats great thanks everyone! I used these tips on one of the salon girls yesterday who kindly offered to be a 'guineapig' for me! and it worked! now I arent too nervous about doing French mani now!