Welcome to How to Be a Redhead 
Edited: October 11, 2021
We know many of you love ‘Redhead Friendly’ nail polish colors. But, how many of you feel like you can only get that perfect manicured look at a professional salon? We understand the feeling. We talked nails with Barbie Ritzman, blogger from Barbie’s Beauty Bits. She has a real passion for nails and wanted to share her steps on how redheads can live an anti-smudge life:
1. Clean nails are important:
“It seems simple, but you want to make sure that all the old nail polish is completely removed. This will enable the polish to adhere longer.”
2. Application is important too:
Ritzman also recommends patiently applying nail polish so it will dry correctly, preventing smudges.
“One reason your nails are smudging is because you are applying too much nail polish at once. Instead, apply multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat. If you do a thick coat it may appear to be dry, but really it isn’t and will smudge. Doing multiple thin coats will enable those coats to dry and not smudge.”
3. This is how experts apply nail polish:
Step One: Apply a base coat first, let it dry.
Step Two: Place a small drop of nail polish near your cuticle area, but not too close as you need to have some space.
Step Three: You want to start a line with the polish. Go to the dot and start to thin it out by pulling a tiny bit ever so slightly towards the cuticle.
Step Four: Go back to that dot and pull it forward with your brush towards the tip of your nail.
Step Five: Go back to where you placed the dot and pull it out towards the right in a swoop and pull it down in another line towards the tip. Repeat this on the left side.
Remember: Don’t use dried out nail polish. If the polish is old it will appear thick and more tacky. If this is the case it is time to get a new bottle.
4. Let them dry:
“Factors around you can affect how long it takes for your nails to dry. If it is humid in the room in which you are painting your nails, it will take longer for your nails to dry. Hence, you want to keep this in mind by giving yourself a few extra minutes.”
5. Use the petroleum jelly trick:
“A great way to keep nail polish from running onto your cuticles is to apply a small bit of petroleum jelly along the sides and the base of your nails before painting. If polish seeps-off the nail, who cares? All you will have to do is wipe off the petroleum jelly, and you now have perfectly painted nails!”
6. Still have a mistake?
“Dip a thin brush (a thin eyeliner brush is a great tool), in nail polish remover and remove your mistakes with that brush.”
Rock it like a Redhead!
