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DIY French Mani

Hey girls! So as  you know I am a fan of the DIY mani. 1. because I change my mind and polish often and 2. It is nice to my tan hobo wallet. 
I have been doing self french mani’s for years, and I am going to tell you my secrets! Get excited. Ha. 😉 
Here is what you need:
1. Nail file
2. cuticle clippers
3. 100% acetone (important*)
4. White polish (can be any shade of white you want, sometimes I do a creamier shade)
5. OPI clear top coat
6. thin paint brush
Once you have filed your nails to desired length/shape, and used the handy dandy cuticle clippers to make your nails all prettay, you will use the white polish and paint the area you want white. 
Don’t worry about making it messy, we are going to clean it up. Next take the paint brush and dip it in the acetone. Drag across the top of the white to create a crisp clean line. 
White polish should easily come right off (assuming you have acetone) making a perfect line. Repeat on other hand. Do a second coat of white, and clean up with brush and acetone again if necessary. Top with OPI top coat. Voila!
Perfect mani. OPI top coat is the bomb.com, makes all the difference- trust me. 
I also do my toes. And yes I know I have oddly long toes. Eww. 
Yayyy now you are a pro. 
xo
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  1. A Reel Lady says:

    I'm not sure I have steady enough hands to do this, but will have to give it a try! Don't feel bad about your toes, mine are uber long as well.

  2. Zara says:

    You make this look so easy! I'm going to tray and do french tomorrow. 🙂

  3. Beth says:

    love this! def going to try it soon…maybe this week. 🙂 thanks!

  4. Raquel says:

    I haven't done a french manicure by myself in a really long time cuz i usually suck at it lol. But i will definitely try this!

  5. Amanda says:

    My problem is that I can't hold my left hand steady enough to do this! BTW, your toes look EXACTLY like mine, glad I'm not the only one cause I get made fun of for my finger-toes all the time!

  6. Did you hold that paintbrush in your mouth to take that picture or do you have 3 hands? 😉

  7. Jamie says:

    Thanks for sharing! I'll have to try this 🙂

  8. Brittany says:

    Yeah! Thanks for sharing : ) I'm going to try it!!!

  9. Rissy says:

    you're adorable!

    I need to do this and class up my nails!

    love the empty wine glass ; )

    http://rissyblogs.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-confess-lucky-13.html

  10. My left hand would look great, but my right hand would look AWFUL! Using my left hand for tasks is useless. You do such a great job!

    I used OPI Top Coat for YEARS, but recently found one a lot better, if you can imagine that. It's called Seche Vite. When you run out of OPI, you should give it a try …just for giggles! You might get hooked 🙂 XO

  11. melissa says:

    Lou Lou, you need a column in a magazine. You have much knowledge sister! 🙂 Marie Claire should snatch you up and let you write a beauty tips & tricks column.

  12. Lauren says:

    Love! So cute! 🙂

  13. OMG! I have done this since high school! I typically treat myself to a mani and pedi monthly but do this in between 🙂 I upgraded to a small brush a few years ago after using a q-tip lol! I use remover but am gonna try the acetone instead now 🙂

  14. Lauren says:

    great tips! Thank you! 🙂

  15. Jamie says:

    I'm a fan of the diy mani as well! I usually love OPI polish, but as far as a clear coat goes I am not a fan. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Invisible" is the clear coat that keeps my polish on the longest. 🙂

  16. Lindsey says:

    Damn homes, guess I know what I'm doing this week. French mani, party of one.

  17. Caitlin C. says:

    I love to do my own nails! I've never been very good at doing my own french mani, but I'll have to try your method. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  18. I can't wait to try this! Looks so easy and pretty 🙂

  19. Mari says:

    you make it look so easy, i will be trying this out tomorrow.

  20. this looks awesome

    i actually saw in walmart yesterday a kit for 5$ on making a french mani..it came with a strip of tape you put on your nail to sort of "guide you" in making that white strip! But this looks so so easy

    i am currently sporting all pink painted nails except for one of my thumbs which has no paint on it. Why? I was shaving my legs the other day and knicked my fingernail a tid-bit and theres a slight crack. AGHHH…any suggestions!? I am afraid it will break!

    xoxox

  21. I showed off my DIY french yesterday too but mine was not so nice AND it took me an hour and a half! Will have to try again with your tips!

  22. Marjorie says:

    Wow you're really at painting nails! I don't know if I ever could do mine as well. Great tips!

  23. Rebecca says:

    I too love a french manicure in the summer. It looks great with a tan! I used the same method you do until….i discovered the greatest things ever to happen to french manicures! The sally hansen french manicure pan. J'Adore! It is SO easy to use and so awesome to keep for pesky chips that always seem to happen. I love love love it. http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sally-hansen-french-manicure-pen-pure-white/ID=prod3454778-product?V=G&ext=frgl_Google_Beauty

  24. Amanda says:

    I don't think I have the patience to do a french manicure myself. But if I ever do try, I will definitely be using your tutorial!

  25. Ruthie says:

    I do the same thing for my at home french manis, but I use a small eye shadow brush because it is round and about the width of your nails so it makes it much easier! I also use a really sheer pink before I do the top coat.

  26. I have recently learned how great OPI top coat is as well! But I do want to try that Seche Vite one…

  27. You make it look so easy! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  28. The Aly Way says:

    Hi PinkLouLou,

    I love your tutorial posts! Went to walgreens today and purchased acetone and paint brushes… now my nails look great! Thanks so much! Also… used your poof guidelines the other day… worked like a dream!

    Happy almost Friday!

  29. Kori Donahue says:

    I wish I could do my own nails 🙁 Kori xoxo

  30. K_stets says:

    I love doing this! I've also used a small angled brush (think eyeliner) that I find works just as well. I get the cheap E.L.F. brushes.

  31. Love it! Thanks so much!

  32. Nikki says:

    Tried your wonderful technique this weekend (with a new concealer brush-couldn't find any paint brushes in Target) turned out pretty good. I'm going to need lots of practice though.

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