Why Nail Polish Markers Are Dominating Beauty Trends and Replacing Salon Visits
By Alexander Ross
Q1: Can I draw on bare nails, or do I need a base polish?
A1: Always apply a protective base coat first. Bare natural nails contain natural lipid oils that prevent marker pigments from adhering. Drawing directly on unsealed natural nails can also cause dark pigments to stain your keratin beds.
Q2: Why did my marker design smudge when I applied my clear top coat?
A2: Smudging happens when the marker design has not finished setting, or when the top coat is dragged across the nail with too much pressure. Wait at least two minutes after drawing, and float a thick bead of clear coat over the nail without letting the brush hairs scrape the pigment layer.
Q3: How do you revive a dried-out nail art pen tip?
A3: If the pen uses water-based acrylic paint, dip the tip into warm water for ten seconds and depress the nib on a paper towel. For solvent-based lacquer pens, moisten the tip with a single drop of acetone or lacquer thinner to dissolve stubborn dried buildup.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
