Olive & June founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle shares her secrets to a perfect DIY mani
Lots of us have been experimenting with home manicures since the pandemic (some with more success than others). But even as salons reopen, being able to do your own nails is a great way to save money and get a little creative. That’s why we asked an expert, Olive & June founder and CEO Sarah Gibson Tuttle, for tips to help with even the trickiest at-home mani/pedi questions. Having trouble removing your cuticles? Not sure when it’s time to throw that bottle of polish away? Sarah answers these q’s and more, so you can feel confident about doing your nails from the comfort of your couch.
KCM: I’ll do my nails and be positive they’re totally dry, then I’ll go to sleep and wake up with them all crinkled in the morning. How do I keep this from happening?
Sarah Gibson Tuttle: If you’re doing your nails at night, do every step of your manicure as you normally would, but hold off on applying the topcoat. Then when you wake up in the morning, apply your topcoat and it’ll smooth away any sheet creases. It’s like magic and a trick I use all the time!
How can I take off my cuticles without hacking my fingers to death?
This may come as a shock, but the trick to perfect cuticles is not to cut them. It will take a short period of time, but you can teach your cuticles to fall in line by gently pushing them back with your thumb and then buffing them slightly to erase any dry skin. Then hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Applying cuticle serum 2-3 times every day will keep them healthy and nourished. And it will help you avoid picking at them!
Why does nail polish sometimes get chunky and gross?
Repeated air exposure can cause polish to get goopy. Once that happens, it’s time to toss it and pick out your next polish shade!
How do you keep your nails from getting stained by dark polish?
To help prevent darker polish colors from staining your nails, apply a thin coat of a sheer nail polish shade first. This creates a barrier between your nail and your darker polish so that your nails don’t get stained. Stained nails are not an issue unless you dislike how they look when the polish is off.
How many coats of polish should you be putting on?
It really depends on the polish color. With most shades, two thin coats is great. With shades that have more white in them, like true pastels for example, you’ll probably need three thin coats to get the desired color payoff. When in doubt, going with three thin coats is always better than two super thick ones, because thick coats always chip or peel faster. And waiting 5-10 minutes in between will decrease the chance of bubbles and will make your polish dry faster, I promise!
Do you NEED to use a base coat and if so how do you pick the right one?
It depends on the formula. With some polishes, ours included, you do not need a base coat because the polish has a long-lasting formula which means it has the base coat already built in. We’re all about skipping unnecessary steps! If a separate base coat is needed, use one that’s formulated specifically to work with that particular polish.
How can I make a manicure and pedicure last as long as possible without chipping?
Having the proper tools and good prep is key to long-lasting manis and pedis that won’t chip! When it comes to prepping your nails, the best tip is no water! No handwashing, no soaking your feet, no water anywhere near your nails an hour before you go to paint them. Polish doesn’t stick to a wet nail plate and even if you think it’s dry, it’s probably still a little damp. Just before you paint, dip each nail in the polish remover pot to remove old polish as well as any excess oil that can interfere with your polish adhering to your nail bed. When doing your mani, be mindful not to touch your face or hair after your final dip. We don’t want natural oils getting onto your nail plate before you paint.
Once you’re ready to try a mani out on yourself, we suggest you try the Olive & June Complete System— it comes with all the tools you need (and easy-to-follow directions!) for a perfect manicure AND pedicure every time. Plus Olive & June has just released their new summer colors (we are absolutely in love with the hot strawberry), so there’s no better time to try it out for yourself! For more great tips and tutorials, check out Olive & June’s IGTV!
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
