Could spray-on nail polish be a saviour for manicure addicts?
MANICURES are expensive and can be a total pain. Could a spray-on polish that you apply at home be the key to a flawless mani?
WHEN it comes to manicures, I’m on a regular rotation of glitter-tipped pastels that I leave to the professionals at my local salon.
But when I heard about the spray-can nail polish craze — which promises salon-ready manis from spraying your digits with reckless abandon in the comfort of your own home (excess spray on your hands is simply washed away) — I wasn’t convinced it would revolutionise my approach to nail art.
But as soon as those little Nails Inc. Paint Can spray bottles arrived, I was excited about trying them out.
Would this invention be a godsend to manicure addicts? I decided to put them to the test. Here’s how it works:
STEP 1
I started with the brand’s fast-drying two-in-one clear base coat (which you have to buy separately).
Next up was the spraying, which turned out to need more prepping than I anticipated.
What would I spray against so I didn’t make a mess? I found a large piece of cardboard, rolled up my sleeves (warning — don’t wear white) and went to town, applying four layers of the hot pink hue on all of my nails.
Spray flew everywhere: Beyond my nails and fingers, it saturated the cardboard and even landed on the floor. It was superfun to apply, but I realised a mini-mess was brewing — along with some intense fumes.
STEP 2
Back again to the two-in-one clear base coat to seal in the spray.
I often paint my own nails, so it was easy for me to apply, but all my fingers were covered in spray paint at this point — so I was getting hot pink paint all over the bottle.
I waited about 10 minutes for the top layer to dry and hopped over to the sink.
STEP 3
I vigorously rinsed my hands with warm water and soap. As promised, the spray magically disappeared from my fingers, though it took a good eight minutes of washing before it did.
But as soon as I dried my hands, voilà! My nails were freshly manicured in a bright hot pink with a seriously matte effect — in 30 minutes.
Would I recommend this to someone who wants a quick-but-professional-looking manicure? Definitely not — it’s too messy. But if you’re looking to experience the pure novelty of this fun concept, by all means, spray away.
The spray is only available to Australians via some online beauty stores.
This article originally appeared on The New York Post.