Want a manicure that shines and lasts without going to a salon? Good news: semi-permanent polish comes home. Thanks to next-generation formulas and DIY manicure kits, polish application becomes a full part of beauty routines. We’ve put together a complete guide to help you apply your polish like a pro. Sit back, we’ll tell you everything!
To remember :
- Some semi-permanent polish formulas allow a shiny and long-lasting manicure without going to a salon.
- DIY kits make application accessible to everyone.
- Requires careful nail preparation for a durable and even result.
Why preparation is essential for a perfect manicure
It can’t be said enough: good nail preparation is the secret to a flawless manicure no matter the type of polish chosen: classic polish, semi-permanent polish, or fake nails. Like well-cleansed and hydrated skin before makeup, well-prepared nails guarantee a uniform result and optimal tenue. Here are the main steps:
Step 1: file and shape your nails
Start your nail prep by filing your nails to shorten and even them out using a nail file for natural nails. Choose the nail shape that suits you best: square, oval, or almond, the choice is yours. File the edge of the nail following a curve to shorten the nail, then shape it as desired. What matters is to get a clean and even base.
Step 2: take care of your cuticles
Continue your nail prep by taking a few minutes to pamper your cuticles. A few drops of emollient to soften the small skin, a cuticle pusher or a boxwood stick to gently push them back, and voilà, your nails regain a clean and sharp outline. A good step done that simplifies the application and helps prevent your polish from chipping after a few days.
Step 3: clean and degrease your nails
Finally, perform a light buffing of the nails by running a preparatory file over the nail surface. This action creates micro-scratches and opens the keratin scales, which will promote polish adhesion. Then, degrease with a cotton pad soaked in gentle remover or nail degreaser. The nail must be clean, dry, and free of greasy residues or dust.
Prepare your nails perfectly with our nail preparation set.
The semi-permanent polish application in 4 layers
1. One layer of base coat
The base coat serves as the foundation for your manicure. Applied before the polish, it protects the natural nail and creates a uniform surface that facilitates the application of gel polish and optimizes its long tenue. It is applied in a thin layer to be cured under a UV/LED lamp according to the recommended time.
With the Green Flash™ Vitaminated Base Coat, you benefit from the KeraHCE+ technology which combines hexanal with vitamins C and E. Thanks to this Manucurist innovation, the Vitaminated Base Coat strengthens nails with each application and creates an antioxidant and anti-dehydration shield. The result: the nail is continuously reinforced under the color and the adhesion of Green Flash™ polish is increased, with a shine and intense color that lasts longer. To combine the base, color, top coat, and LED lamp, you can start with a Green Flash™ semi-permanent polish kit, designed for a complete application at home.
2. Two coats of color
Pastel polish or bright red, no matter the shade, the color should be applied in 2 thin coats. Here’s how to properly apply each coat of Green Flash™ polish:
-
Take a small amount of polish at the tip of the brush.
-
Remove the nail polish in 3 brush strokes: one stroke down the center of the nail, followed by one stroke on each side. This is the secret to a uniform manicure, without air bubbles or thickness, for perfect nails.
-
Don’t forget to cure each layer of polish under a UV/LED lamp. Make sure the first layer is completely dry before applying the next to avoid your beautiful polish wrinkling.
3. A layer of top coat
The top coat is the final touch and the life insurance of your manicure! It has many advantages:
-
It acts as a finishing layer with a choice of effect: intense shine or matte effect, natural or domed finish depending on the type of gel polish chosen.
-
It fixes the color and nail art decorations.
-
It improves the resistance of your manicure and protects it against scratches and other daily mishaps.
-
It extends the tenue of your manicure.
As with the previous layers, apply it in a thin layer and cure under a UV/LED lamp for the required time.
Top Coat Green Flash™ or Top Coat Xtrem Flash™: which one to choose?
With Green Flash™, you now have the choice between two top coats, to adapt your manicure to your lifestyle and desires. Same base coat, same Green Flash™ palette with all its iconic colors, but two different finishes and two different durations. We help you see clearly:
👉 Top Coat Green Flash™
It is applied in a thin layer and cures in a few minutes under an LED lamp. With the Top Coat Green Flash™, you get a clean and shiny manicure, a natural finish that stays flawless up to 12 days. An ideal choice if you like to change colors often or if you are looking for an easy-to-apply and easy-to-remove manicure solution.
👉 Top Coat Xtrem Flash™
The Top Coat Xtrem Flash™ is also applied in a thin layer but its texture, denser than the classic top coat, requires some precautions:
-
When applying, be sure to wipe your brush on the edge of the bottle to avoid picking up too much product that could overflow onto the cuticles. In case of overflow, remove the excess product with a wooden stick before curing under an LED lamp.
-
Dry each hand except the thumb flat for 1 minute under the LED lamp. Cure the thumb separately for 1 minute under the LED lamp, placing it flat to prevent polish from spilling over the sides.
Follow the Xtrem Flash™ routine in video with @nenapleasenails.
With the Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat, you get the intense shine and domed effect of a gel polish manicure and an extra long tenue, up to 21 days. Removal is done without acetone or filing, by peel-off with a bit of gentle remover. In short, the best option when you want a long-lasting, glowy manicure without sacrificing your nails at removal.
Maintain and protect your nails after the manicure
A beautiful manicure requires maintenance! Once finished, it's time for care to make it last.
-
As soon as the application is finished and the top coat is fully dry, apply a cuticle oil such as Green Oil to nourish nails and cuticles. Repeat this care every day as long as your semi-permanent manicure lasts.
-
Massage your nails daily with a moisturizing care such as the Complete Serum to maintain their flexibility. Its exclusive water-based formula enriched with plant glycerin, panthenol, and chestnut extracts deeply hydrates and regenerates the nail.
Hydrated and nourished nails are the secret to a long-lasting manicure.
To summarize :
- Prepare the nails : file, push back cuticles, buff and degrease.
- Base coat + 2 layers of color + top coat: apply in thin layers and cure under LED/UV lamp.
- Cure each layer for the necessary time to avoid bubbles or wrinkling.
- Maintain after application: cuticle oil and moisturizing care to extend tenue.
How to gently remove your semi-permanent polish?
Today, the removal of semi-permanent polish no longer necessarily means aggressive filing and damaged nails. The new bio-sourced polishes are formulated to be removed gently and without harm to your nails. Here's how it works with Green Flash™:
Step 1: prepare the materials
Prepare about ten cotton pads made of cellulose or makeup remover pads suited to the size of your nails. Avoid loose or ball-shaped cotton that tends to fray and catch on the polish. Generously soak each makeup remover pad with the Green Flash™ gentle acetone-free remover, designed to allow quick and effective removal of Green Flash™ polish without drying out the nail thanks to its castor oil-enriched formula.
Step 2: soften the polish with a gentle method
Place a makeup remover cotton pad directly on each nail and secure it with a special removal clip to keep the remover in contact with the polish. If you don’t have removal clips, wrap aluminum foil around each nail.
⚠️Important: respect the recommended application time according to the chosen routine. With a Green Flash™ polish, this time depends on the top coat you selected:
- with the Green Flash™ Top Coat, the polish layer lifts off in just 1 to 2 minutes.
- with the Xtrem Flash™ Top Coat, allow about 10 minutes of application for the polish to lift.
It only takes a few minutes to remove your Green Flash™ polish with peel-off.
Step 3: gently remove the polish
Remove clips or aluminum foils, and cotton pads to reveal the result. The unbeatable advantage of the Green Flash™ routine is the peel-off removal: under the action of the remover, the polish layer lifts off in no time without leaving any residue.
If the polish resists in some areas (insufficient remover or not applied properly), lift the residue using a wooden stick., effortlessly. If needed, reapply a cotton pad soaked in remover on the nail for a few moments.
With the right semi-permanent products, accessible manicure techniques, and a bit of practice, you can achieve results worthy of a professional manicure. In Green Flash™ or Xtrem Flash™ versions, the Manucurist routine lets you enjoy a 100% pleasurable beauty break, with the reward of a shiny and long-lasting manicure and a gentle removal that doesn’t weaken your nails. We love it!
