Frequently Asked Questions
for nail art/polishes/manicures

*If you have been directed to this page it’s because you sent in a question which has already been answered, please dont be offended - im just saving myself time by not answering the same things 100x over.

**Will you follow or promote me?

• This is a tumblelog focused entirely on nail polish. It is not an original tumblr therefore I cannot follow anyone w/ ‘nailcrazy’. Also, i only follow people with my original tumblr in which i find interesting, and only if i want to follow them.
• I will only promote people or blogs when i feel like it. I will not do it just because you ask. It’s nothing personal, but if i promoted someone everytime they wanted me to my entire blog would consist of promotions.

**Why do you re-direct your ask box to a different page?

• My ask box is re-directed to asknailcrazy.tumblr.com in order to de-clutter my main blog and so I dont flood my followers dashboards with q&a posts. It’s still just as easy to ask a question. 

**How Do I Submit A Photo or Link?

• Go to the submission page. Click the drop down menu and select which type of post you would like to submit (photo, link, etc.).
• If you’re submitting a photo of your own, click “photo” from the drop down menu and upload your photo. Always leave credit on the photo -or- through a link on your post.
• If you’re submitting a photo for me to re-blog, click “link” from the drop down menu and paste the link to your post.
• If you’re submitting a text or link to another website w/ information on it. Click “link”  or “text” from the drop down menu, paste your link, and leave a description of the page that the link takes you too.
• Why don’t you accept other submission types? It takes too much time. Just send me the link to your tumblr so i can re-blog it, or upload the photo and submit it yourself (leaving credit). I do not accept links to a photo url (such as tinypic, imageshack, etc). I will not save your photos to my computer or copy & paste the link into new posts and do all the work for you. Its much easier one both of us if you can just submit the link or photo yourself. Thank you.

**What is the best way to remove nail polish/glitter?

•  Apply nail polish remover (can be Acetone or Non-Acetone) to a cotton ball/pad, press onto nail bed and allow to soak into polish for 30-60 seconds. Lift and gently swipe polish off in forward motions, starting at the base of the nail and extending to the tip. 
• *For glitter polishes, using Acetone or 100% Acetone polish removers may work better. The best method that I’ve found is to soak some cotton in pure acetone, place it on the whole nail, wrap the finger in aluminum foil, and leave it for a few minutes.  When you take it off, all the glitter and polish will stick to the cotton that stays in the foil wrap.  This also works for fimo nails, rhinestones, and acrylic(but it will take a lot longer for acrylic nails).

**Should i buff my nails before polishing?

• It’s always best to either buff (occasionally) or wipe nails with polish remover before doing a manicure/pedicure. This roughens up the nail and removes the oils from your nail bed to allow polishes to stick better.

**Is it necessary to always use a base coat or ridge filler?

• I dont always use a basecoat/ridge filler but when I do I find it very helpful. It smoothes the nail and fills in little imperfections so when you apply your polishes you have a nice surface to work with. This is totally up to you. I would recommend it, but the decision is yours. 

**What is the proper way to file nails?

• A glass file would be preferred, but any file can be used. Always file nails inward (starting from the edge and moving towards the center of your nail) in short strokes, then move to the next side and repeat the process, moving toward the center as you file. This prevents breakage of the nail and gives you more control over the shape. It is not recommended to file your nails in a back-and-forth motion.

**Do I have to clean-up my cuticles?

•  You should clean-up your cuticles at least once every 1-2 weeks if you’re a person who does regular manicures. My suggestion would be to use a liquid cuticle remover (like Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover). Apply the solution around cuticles and allow to sit for 15 seconds. Remove with a rosewood or orangewood stick, pushing the cuticles back gently and then removing and wiping away with the stick. Wash hands with warm soapy water afterwards, then apply a cuticle oil, hand cream, or cuticle balm.

**How important is a good topcoat?

•  Amazingly important. A good topcoat is EVERYTHING in a manicure. I would highly suggest INM Out The Door ($5.99), or Seche Vite ($9.99). Topcoats should be applied in 1-2 even coats over a finished manicure. I would also suggest if you’re doing nail art, to use a topcoat over your initial polish base to ensure a smooth and dry working surface for your nail art brush or pen, then finish the mani off with a final coat of topcoat.
  A good topcoat will extend the life of your manicure up to 7-10 days with minimal wear to your tips, and slows the rate of chipping. It’s very important to a lasting manicure/pedicure. 

**Which polish brand has the best formula, coverage, and brush?

• In my opinion, OPI by far has the best coverage, formula, and brush. This doesnt necessarily mean they have the greatest colors, because i believe China Glaze and Essie def. have the most unique shades. OPI does have some very unique shades also, but they are $8 a bottle, where China Glaze are $5 a bottle. So you have to consider if you’re looking for price or quality.

**What are basic manicure must haves?

• Polish remover
• cotton balls/pads
• angled eyeliner brush (for cleanup)
• a good basecoat/ridge filler
• a good topcoat
• hand cream/lotion
• cuticle remover
• orangewood or rosewood stick to remove cuticles

**What are basic nail art tools?

• First you would need the basic manicure must-haves (above). Then, If you don’t want to buy bottles of nail art in specific colors, it’s easier to just spend money on a few good nail art brushes - a dotter, a striping brush (they come in  short, medium, long), and a detailing brush for intricute/small designs. This saves you money because you won’t have to buy bottles of nail art brushes/pens in alot of different colors, you can use your own brushes multiple times in any polish you own, for any design.

*Last updated 11/03/11. Click to suggest questions to add to F.A.Q.’s or if you have questions about this page.