Guides
Nail polish
Choosing, wearing and understanding nail polish: finishes, coats, wear time, dry time and what luxury pays for.
Complete guide
The complete guide to nail polish
Nail polish is a coloured liquid that dries into a hard, glossy film on the nail plate. A classic lacquer is nitrocellulose dissolved in fast-evaporating solvents with resins, plasticisers and pigment. It is touch-dry in…
Bubbles in nail polish: why they appear and how to stop them
Nail polish bubbles when air is trapped in the film: a shaken bottle, thick coats, heat, humidity, oily nails or old polish. The cause and the fix for each.
The six classic nail polish shades every wardrobe needs
Six classic nail polish colours cover every occasion: sheer nude, milky white, true red, oxblood, black and deep violet. What each does and how to wear it.
Crème, shimmer or jelly: the three base finishes compared
Crème is opaque and flat, shimmer has fine light-catching particles, jelly is sheer and glossy. Look, coats, dry time, wear and removal for each finish.
How long nail polish lasts, finish by finish
Regular nail polish lasts 3 to 7 days on fingernails, longer on toes. Wear times per finish and activity, what shortens them, and a 5-day routine.
How many coats of nail polish you need, and why thin beats thick
Most nail polish needs a base coat, two thin colour coats and a top coat. Thick coats stay soft and chip. Sheers, foils and magnetic polish differ.
How to choose a red nail polish for your undertone
Cool undertones suit blue-based reds, warm undertones suit orange-based reds, neutral can wear a true red. Test your undertone with veins and jewellery.
How to fix a smudged nail without starting over
Fix a fresh smudge by smoothing it with a remover-dampened fingertip, then a thin coat of colour and top coat. Which fix suits which smudge, when to redo.
How to make nail polish dry faster
Thin coats, a quick-dry top coat, drying drops and cool moving air make nail polish dry faster. Cold water and hot hairdryers only make it feel dry.
Does nail polish expire, and how to store it
Nail polish lasts about 2 years unopened and about as long opened if the cap seals well. Signs it has gone off, storage rules and reviving thick polish.
How to travel with nail polish
Yes, nail polish can fly: bottles of 100 ml or less in the 1 litre liquids bag for the cabin, toiletry limits for the hold. Leak-proofing and heat tips.
Luxury versus drugstore nail polish: what you pay for
Expensive nail polish costs three to six times more per millilitre than drugstore polish. What the price buys (pigment, brush, bottle) and what it doesn't.
Nail polish colours that flatter pale, olive and deep skin
Which nail polish colours flatter dark, olive and pale skin: the jewel tones, reds, nudes and metallics for each group, and the undertone rule behind them.
Nail polish for short nails: the colours, finishes and shapes that add length
Sheer nudes, milky whites and glossy mid-tones make short nails look longer. An oval shape, a micro French and thin coats help. Mistakes that shorten them.
How to paint toenails at home
How to paint toenails: trim straight across, push cuticles, degrease, base coat, two thin coats and top coat. Polish lasts 2 to 3 weeks on toes.
Nail polish or gel polish: which is right for you
Gel polish cures under a lamp and lasts 2 to 3 weeks; regular polish air-dries and lasts 3 to 7 days. Wear, removal, nail health, cost and the EU TPO ban.
How to match nude nail polish to your skin tone
The right nude nail polish for fair, light, medium, olive, tan and deep skin, how to find your undertone in two tests, and how to avoid the mannequin hand.
Quick-dry drops, explained
Quick-dry drops are a solvent and oil blend that sets the surface of wet polish within minutes and stops smudges. How they work, how to use them, limits.
Sheer or opaque nail polish: which coverage to choose
Sheer polish lets the nail show through and builds in thin coats. Opaque polish covers it in two. When to pick each, how to layer sheers, the glass look.
Which top coat is best? Glossy, matte, quick-dry, gel-effect and glass compared
The best top coat for most manicures is a glossy quick-dry one, refreshed every 2 to 3 days. Matte, gel-effect and glass top coats compared, with dry times.
What a base coat does, and why almost no manicure should skip it
A base coat is a clear, tacky film that helps polish grip the nail, stops dark pigments staining it and can fill ridges. The types, and when to skip it.
Why nail polish chips, and how to stop it
Nail polish chips when the film lifts at the free edge, cracks and flakes. The causes are oil, water and thick coats. How to cap the edge and stop it.
Édition No. 02
Be the first to know when spring 2027 opens.
One email when the new edition is available. Nothing else.