PassionForPolish: How To Clean Up Your Manicure

So you've painted your nails but unfortunately you still have unwanted polish on your nails. No Problem! Every time I paint my nails I have clean up, the only thing that varies is how long it's going to take me. I know there are many different ways that people clean up their nails but this is how I do mine.

When I first started I used corrector pens to clean up my manicure. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these pens and I personally loved using the Konad Corrector Pen since it has a smaller side for your cuticle line and then a large side to remove polish from the side of your nails. The only downside to these pens was that they usually come with only 3 spare tips and one already in the pen. Often I can only use it on 4 or 5 manicures until the tip fans out too much and begins making a mess of my manicure.

This became expensive over time so I decided to try a method I had read about on other peoples blogs. This involved using some type of brush instead of the pen to clean up your manicure and operates on the same basic principles. I use a make up brush with an application brush on one side and a straight angled brush on the other. I know that others use paint brushes or different make up brushes and these all work just as good. I will cover how I carried out each of these methods.

CORRECTOR PEN

Step 1: To begin with I dip the corrector pen into the lid of my bottle which I have filled with Nail Polish Remover. For clean up I usually use Revlon Nail Enamel Remover as it also moisturises my nails.

Step 2: Then I press either side of the corrector pen onto an old pad of paper to remove excess polish so it doesn't flood my nails.

Step 3: If your corrector pen has a smaller side, like the Konad Corrector Pen, use this side to pen across the gap between your cuticle and the nail polish. Continue to follow this curve until it is all separated an equal distance and you have a clean "line". Some corrector pens, such as the OPI Correct&CleanUp pen doesn't have a smaller side it is a straight thin line.

Step 4: Once the cuticle line is clean dip the pen into the nail polish remover again and carry out Step 2. This stops the removed nail polish for building up on the pen just to be put back onto your nail. It also makes the pen last longer and you won't be putting the colour from your current manicure onto your next one.

Step 5: Then if your pen has a larger side use this to clean the nail polish off the side of your nail following up from your clean cuticle line. Remember to continue cleaning your pen and repeating Step 2. If your pen doesn't have a larger side that's not a problem just do the same thing as you would for one with it. The larger side is easier to remove large sections of extra polish from the side of your nails quicker but the smaller side is easier to get a clean line up the side of your nail from the cuticle line. Once finished remember to again clean your pen.

Step 6: Doing the same as Step 5 clean the opposite side of your nail.

Repeat Steps 1-6 for all your other nails. When finished your manicure should be all cleaned up just like below!

Rimmel Green Grass

BRUSH

Step 1: To begin with dip the applicator brush into the lid of my bottle which I have filled with Nail Polish Remover. Again I use Revlon Nail Enamel Remover.

Step 2: Just like the pen I press either side of the brush onto an old pad of paper to remove excess polish so it doesn't flood my nails.

Step 3: I usually use the applicator brush first to clean my cuticle line if I have nail polish on there. Once it is mostly clean I use the angled brush, again dipped into the nail polish remover and the excess removed, to make a "straight" line along my cuticle line.

Step 4: Once the cuticle line is clean dip the brush into the nail polish remover again and carry out Step 2. Again this is to stop the polish building up on the brush just to be put back onto your nail.

Step 5: Place the brush against the side of your nail and run the brush upwards removing excess polish. continue doing this until the is a clean line running from your cuticle line up the side of your nail. Repeat this on the other side of your nail remembering to clean and wipe the brush in between and once finished.