After you’ve removed your old polish, tend to your cuticles by gently pushing them back with a cuticle pusher. Contrary to popular belief, you should not cut or trim your cuticle unless it has split. To soften the cuticle before pushing it back, try soaking your hand in warm water for five minutes.
“Buffing is so crucial,” says Pickett, who also says it’s okay to use inexpensive buffers from the beauty supply stores. “Those are the best ones!” says Pickett. “I like them on the coarser side because I find that it helps the base coat really stick to my nail and I can go almost 7 days without chipping.”
Before applying your polish, be sure to wipe your nails clean. “You always want to start with a clean buffed nail with no oils or other particles on it,” advises Johnson. “Often when you get a manicure on Monday and you have a sheet peeling off by Wednesday, 9 times out of 10, I know that they didn’t take the lotion off the nail bed properly.”