What the site covers
The guides follow a home manicure from start to finish:
- Nail prep and nail shapes.
- Applying polish and fixing mistakes.
- Simple designs and French tips and half moons.
- Removing polish gently and nail hygiene.
About the drawings
The nails on this site are drawn from a few simple numbers for each shape: how much the sides taper, where the tip starts, and how the tip curves or squares off. Each design is a list of steps, and every step adds paint layers to the nail before it. That is why the strips show streaky first coats, small spills and the cleanup that follows. The drawings are simplified on purpose. Real nails vary, and yours do not need to match them exactly.
How the guides are written
Everything here is general how-to information. We describe kinds of tools and polish, such as a base coat, a dotting tool or an acetone remover, and how to use them. We do not name brands, rate or rank products, list prices or link to stores, and nobody pays to appear on the site.
Where advice varies, such as how long polish takes to dry, we give rough, conservative guidance and say "about". The label on your product comes first.
Health and safety
Nail Makeup is not a medical site and does not give medical advice. The guides assume healthy nails. If a nail or the skin around it is painful, swollen, infected, lifting, or changing color or shape, see a doctor before you paint it. The nail hygiene page lists signs worth showing a doctor. Polish and remover are flammable and give off fumes, so use them in a room with fresh air and away from heat.
Who it is for
The site is for anyone painting their own nails at home, from a first plain coat to simple nail art. If you are new to it, read the guides in order: prep, shape, a plain coat of color, and then one design at a time. If you already paint your own nails, the design strips and the troubleshooting page are the quickest places to pick up something new. Either way, practice on one nail before doing all ten. It is not a salon, a brand or a store, and it does not represent any business or person with a similar name.
Corrections and contact
If you spot a mistake or something unclear, please write to contact@nailmakeup.com. We read every message and fix confirmed errors. See the privacy policy for how we handle email.