Hi! bee happy emoji

(I’m not transfem. I’m a male exploring something I think feels like non-binarity maybe? Basically I long to convey more femininity in my appearance because it feels like shit keeping it bottled up, although I do feel in harmony with my body. I’d like some advice so much. If this is the wrong community please let me know I’ll remove this thread.)

I’ve been craving to try nail polish but the more I watch “beginner” tutorials about it the more I feel intimidated. I would really appreciate some info about what is the actual bare minimum to dip my toes into it (my fingers actually although toes sound like fun now that I think about).

  • Wiping excess oil from nails with alcohol. Is this a big deal?
  • Base coat sounds pretty useful. Is this something you do personally?
  • Nail polish. How much of a difference does it make to pick a reputable product? Can I drop at the local pharmacy and pick whichever color strikes my fancy, or will ordering from a good place online substantially improve my experience? Also do I put one or two layers?
  • Acetone, how different are different brands? Should I get a little brush for corrections? Which sort?
  • Top coat. How much of a difference does it make to the finish and durability? I’m not expecting a masterpiece at first try so is it fine to skip for now?
  • Is nail polish something you can wear pretty much all the time, or do you need to let your nails breathe once in a while?

(I have already decided I will not fuck with my cuticles.)

Thank you so much for reading, and for any of your precious insights ^_^’

  • Tywèle@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    6 days ago

    I always go with a base coat, 1 or 2 colour layers and a top coat to finish it off. The number of colour layers depends on how good the colour is covering the nail.

    I find that a good brand of nail polish is worth it as it usually smells better, the colours look better and it’s easier to remove afterwards. My favourite brand is Herzlack, they have a great selection of colours.

    As for how often you can wear nail polish: just look at your nails, if they look a bit unhealthy or brittle, take a break with nail polish. I think it’s mostly nail polish remover that can be damaging to the nails but I’m not 100% sure.