Tips

How to properly prep your nails before applying polish

4 min to read

Whether you're on team classic polish or a fan of Gel Polish manicures, there’s one golden rule the pros never break: every great manicure starts with proper nail prep. Filing, pushing back cuticles, buffing the surface, cleaning the nail… This simple yet essential routine not only enhances the final result, it also extends your polish wear time and keeps your nails healthy. We’ve put together a complete guide to get your nails perfectly prepped and ready for your next manicure.

Why is nail prep so important before applying polish?

Think of your nail as a blank canvas: the cleaner and smoother it is, the better and longer-lasting the result. A proper nail prep routine helps to:

  • Even out the surface for a smoother polish application
  • Boost adhesion of your base coat and polish by gently opening the keratin scales
  • Remove dead skin around the nail
  • Prevent bubbles, smudges and chipping
  • Avoid splitting and breakage
  • Perfect your manicure with a neat, polished look

This step is non-negotiable, regardless of the type of polish you're applying, because the quality of your manicure depends heavily on how well you prep your nails!

The secret to a flawless manicure? It’s all in the prep.

The right moves for a flawless nail prep

Here’s the ultimate 4-step routine, tested, approved (and adored) by our community:

Step 1: Shape and file with care

First things first, define the nail shape that suits you best—square, oval, almond or round. Not sure which shape to go for? Take a look at our guide to find the perfect match for your hands. And if you need tips on how to master your nail file, we’ve got you covered in this article. Time for some hands-on work:

🔧 Tools you’ll need:

  • Natural Nail File: a classic with two grits (100/180) for shaping and shortening nails.
  • or the Premium Glass Nail File: its lightweight design and fine 180 grit make it ideal for normal to fragile nails. Easy to clean with soapy water or cleansing spray, and longer lasting than traditional files.
  • or the Fragile Nail File: with a gentle 180/240 grit and a soft core, it’s been specially designed for gently filing sensitive, soft or brittle nails.

👉 How-to: Hold your file perpendicular to the nail, and file from the outer edge toward the center in one direction only. Repeat on the other side. Finish by filing the top edge (nail tip) to even out the shape.

Precise moves for beautifully shaped nails from the first step.

💡 Tip: Always file in one direction to protect the keratin layers. If your nails are fragile, file underneath the tip to help prevent splitting.

Step 2: Soften and gently push back the cuticles

Cuticles are the tiny layers of skin that surround your nail and protect the nail matrix. Left as they are, they can cause unevenness that affects polish application and adhesion. Gently pushing them back helps to create a clean, tidy nail contour, while still preserving their role as a protective barrier against bacteria and external irritants. Here’s how to do it:

🔧 Tools you’ll need:

Caring for your cuticles ensures polish lasts longer and protects the nail matrix.

👉 How-to: Start by softening the cuticles with a drop of Effective Emollient at the base of each nail, leaving it to work for 2 minutes. Gently push them back with the rounded end of your tool, moving in the opposite direction of nail growth, and always in a single stroke to avoid damaging the nail plate. Remove any dead skin and, if needed, carefully trim with the cuticle nipper—only trimming what sticks out, not too close to the skin.

💡 Pro tip: Repeat this step weekly to maintain clean contours and keep pesky little skin flakes at bay.

With your nail contours looking sharp, it’s time to focus on the surface of the nails.

Step 3: Smooth and buff without weakening

Yes, nails deserve their own little exfoliation session too! This step helps to even out the surface, erase ridges and boost polish adhesion. Buffing gently opens the keratin scales, which helps the base coat to grip better and improves the longevity of your polish.

🔧 Tool you’ll need:

👉 How-to: Lightly buff the nail plate, always in the direction of growth (from the base to the tip), and no more than once every two weeks to avoid weakening the keratin. Use the fine grit (logo side) for fingernails and the coarser grit (opposite side) for toenails.

Smooth the surface, enhance adhesion, elevate the finish.

Step 4: Clean and degrease for long-lasting wear

The last step? Remove all impurities—traces of oil, dust, and residue from previous steps—that could interfere with your polish application. In other words, it’s time for a deep clean!

🔧 Tools you’ll need:

👉 How-to: Gently brush away any remaining dust with the Dusting Brush until your nails are completely clean. Then, depending on the polish you’ll be applying, use a cotton pad soaked in either the Green Nail Cleanser or the Gentle Green Flash™ Remover to thoroughly clean and degrease the nail—without drying it out.

Perfectly clean nails for a manicure that truly lasts.

You’ll find all the must-have tools in our Nail Prep Set—your ultimate go-to for a radiant manicure that lasts.

A complete set for pro-level prep, including the white file, emollient, priming emery board and cuticle pusher.

💡You can also customize your Nail Prep Set by adding a Dusting Brush or Cuticle Nipper depending on your needs.

Now your nails are fully prepped and ready for color. Whether you’re going for a Green™ polish or Green Flash™ Gel Polish, this simple routine makes all the difference. It’s a must!