Like many women, part of my childhood was dedicated to figuring out how to be girly. I spent a lot of time getting dressed up, trying on makeup, and doing my nails.
Nail polish in particular proved to be one of the more difficult tasks, as it took me a while to complete the job correctly. Even now, I'm still trying to figure out how to make my nails look good, especially while using my left hand.
As a right-handed person, I'm not used to needing my left hand for a lot of tasks. Sure, I can type, hold a cup, and swipe the hair out of my face. But when it comes down to very precise movements, my left hand is completely useless. So, the nails on my right hand end up looking terrible, with the polish staining my fingers.
Recently, I found out that liquid latex can help people like me get virtually salon-style manicures without having to worry about staining. It seemed too good to be true, but I was definitely willing to try.
What Is Liquid Latex?
Liquid latex is a substance used mainly in special effects that consists of latex and water. It's often applied on naked skin, where it solidifies into a rubbery consistency that can easily be peeled off.
The fun part is that it comes in dozens of different colors, making it a very popular addition to Halloween costumes.
I chose to use Liquid Latex Fashions, in green.
A few words of caution: liquid latex does not come off clothes. I accidentally spilled some on my dress before trying it on my nails, and the stain won't wash off. I tried to remove it with everything from toothpaste to dishwashing soap without any results. I highly recommend that you wear clothes you don't care about ruining because you never know if the liquid latex will spill out of the jar.
Additionally, if you have a known latex allergy, steer clear of this product!
The Experiment
I started off with clean nails that I cut short. I like to keep them that way because it's just easier to deal with: I don't have to worry about broken nails, and it makes typing easier.
Step 1: Apply Liquid Latex Around Your Fingertips
Using a brush, I applied the green goo around my nails.
Some advice: use a brush you're willing to throw away because after this, you won't be using that brush again. It may also be smart to invest in disposable foam brushes for the project.
When applying the liquid latex, I had to be careful to not get any on the nail itself. It's not a huge deal if you do because you can always scrape it off when it dries, but it's cleaner when you get it right the first time.
I wasn't totally familiar with the consistency of liquid latex and I thought it was thicker than it was. As a result, I got the substance everywhere and all around my fingers. That's OK! It rubs off clean… eventually. It's actually easier to paint several thin coats around your nails than trying to apply one thick coat — then the goo just drips everywhere. If you don't have a thick enough layer, though, you risk staining your skin with the nail polish during the next step.
I was also sure to paint the latex under my nails so that the polish wouldn't seep under them.
Finally, before applying the nail polish, be sure to let the liquid latex dry. I made the initial mistake of not waiting a few minutes and ended up messing up the latex on one finger.
Step 2: Apply Nail Polish As You Normally Would
After all the liquid latex had dried, I applied the nail polish as I normally would have. I didn't need to be too careful doing this, knowing that the latex would protect my skin. I used the polish liberally, unafraid to really get it everywhere.
Then, I let it dry as I normally would, anxious to see the results.
The Results
Once dried, the liquid latex peeled off easily in little bits and pieces, almost like a second skin. It wasn't exactly mess-free, but it was definitely easier to clean up than nail polish stains are.
Because I made the mistake of not letting the latex dry first, I still had some remnants of the stuff stuck to my skin. However, those were also gone within a few minutes. You don't even need soap and water to clean it off!
The end result wasn't perfect: I still had red polish on the border between my nail and skin, and it didn't look as neat as it could have. But the result was undeniably better than if I had done my nails without the liquid latex! My unsteady hand got liquid latex on my nails and that was a little more difficult to remove without ruining my nail polish. Overall it was definitely worth the investment.
Verdict: Definitely try liquid latex when attempting to paint your own nails. You may not end up with a salon-style manicure, but you'll be pleasantly surprised by the result!
Please SHARE if you'll be trying liquid latex to do your nails, too!
