Before you apply your polish, you need to remove any excess moisture and oil from your nails. Use a cotton pad with nail polish remover on your nails again even if you got all of the polish off earlier; this is to make sure your nails aren't oily so that the polish sticks to them.
It really helps to separate your toes to avoid any scuffing of polish when your toes very inconveniently tuck under each other. Use a toe spreader (like the one from Titania) or wrap a long thin piece of cotton wool above and below the toes on each foot.
First apply your basecoat. Toenails tend to have more ridges than your fingernails so this step is crucial to ensure you don’t end up with bumpy nails.
If you have really distinct ridges, instead of a base coat use Mavala Nail Ridge Filler which evens out the ridges of the nail plate and gives a uniform and smooth nail surface, allowing the polish to last longer (you may need two coats if the ridges are deep).
After choosing your colour, apply to each nail in three strokes, one in the middle and one on either side, which will distribute just the right amount of product. If you need a little colour inspo for your toes, check out the
latest summer shades which are best suited to your skin tone.
Because your feet take such a knocking you should apply a minimum of two layers but can also go up to three. Wait a few minutes between each layer (this is your chance to lie back and relax some more). And then finish off with a top coat.
Avoid wearing socks and shoes for at least an hour afterwards, just to be on the safe side because no one likes a smudged job. Even showering a couple of hours later can get moisture under the nails and lead to dents. Rather invest in a quick dry product like Revlon's 60 Second Quick Dry Spray to speed things up. Then, just sit still for a bit. There’s always Netflix.
Our product picks:
Base Coat: Morgan Taylor React No-Light Extended Wear Base Coat, Essie Base Coat First Base, Essence Mega Last Base Coat.
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Miraclegel Top Coat, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Top Coat, Sinful Colors Sinful Shine Top Coat.
Related: The Hottest Summer Nail Trends You Need to Know Now