Worst Nail Polish Mistakes

Washing tools including clippers, files, buffers, and orange sticks regularly with soap and water is a must to prevent contamination. "Never put your tools in a sealed bag because it just allows the bacteria to fester," warns Miss Pop. "Every time you use your tools, just sanitize them with antibacterial soap or Barbicide.

It's all too easy for the cotton fuzzies on a Q-tip to get caught in your polish and disrupt your mani. "Q-tips are just a nightmare," says Miss Pop. Instead, she advises using an old makeup brush for more precise touch-ups. "If you get a little paint on the skin around your nail, it's no great tragedy," she says. "Just dip a flat makeup brush into nail polish remover and clean the smudge up immediately while the paint is still wet so it's easier to remove. I also like filbert-head brushes that you can get at an art supply store. Otherwise, you can always just push the polish right off when you're in the shower."

Generous painters, beware: globbing on polish is a surefire way to get smudges and nicks in your handiwork since it takes so much longer for the paint to dry. "It's always better to apply three or four thin coats of polish than two thick and gloppy coats," confirms Miss Pop. "Using thin coats is how the paint dries faster. Polish is just not formulated to dry well when the coat is too thick." On the other hand, that rule can bend a little when it comes to topcoats. "Topcoats are more forgivable when applied thick and usually don't take too long to dry, no matter what, but heavy layers still can make topcoats get very bubbly," she says. "It must have something to do with the pigment in the colored polishes that makes them take longer to dry."

Speaking of bubbles — that's what happens when you shake your bottle. "It traps the air inside, which creates those tiny pockets," Miss Pop explains. "Bubbles can also form when you shove the brush back in the bottle, so never pump the brush in and out of the neck. Always just roll a bottle in your hands like you're rolling out play dough."

"I always say, 'Never do your nails in a thunderstorm,'" says Miss Pop. "It has to be dry when you do your nails because too much heat or humidity also prevents the polish itself from drying." Instead, always apply polish in an arid and cool place.

"Just as the hairs on a violin's bow rip and get fuzzy over time as you move it back and forth, the same thing happens with your nails," says Miss Pop. "That motion causes tiny tears and splits in the nail that can turn into full-blown cracks and slits over time." Instead, she recommends just filing the nail in one direction. "I admit it's a slower process, but you just have to be more deliberate and purposeful with each stroke. I promise this will give your nail a smoother and more refined finish overall."

Just as UV lights can cause damage to the rest of your body, those purple bulbs can also age your hands as well! Instead, for drying, remember the cuticle oil trick? (See mistake No. 9.) "Otherwise, those UV dryers usually have a fan element attached, so just use that instead of the lights if you have time to sit around," Miss Pop offers.

Hot water is nail polish's natural-born enemy!" Miss Pop exclaims. "Hot water lifts the paint on your nails and causes it to chip, so wait at least six hours before submerging your hands in hot water." She suggests always wearing gloves when doing heavy-duty scrubbing work like washing the dishes, and washing your hair with medium-temperature water instead of a burning-hot stream. "As a general rule, if you're looking for a manicure that lasts, tone down the temp."