Nailene DuraColour Nail Strips Tutorial

Hi guys! If you read yesterdays post, you know I tried both the Sally Hansen and the Dollar Tree version, DuraColour by Nailene. For this tutorial I actually used the cheaper version, but you can use any brand you want because the steps are virtually the same! Have fun! You can subscribe to this blog via email to receive every post directly into your inbox as soon as I post something.


What you need:

• DuraColour Nail Strip Kit: (or whatever brand you want) In this kit, you get 36 nail strips, 2 wet towelettes and a two sided nail buffer.
• Clear top coat nail polish
• for lack of  a better name- Wooden cuticle pusher (this worked best for me but you can use anything you want): This will tuck the edges of the strips into your cuticle area to give a longer wear time.
• Trim Ultimate Manicure System (completely optional): works like the tools used in the nail salon. I used this in place of the included, smaller nail file. I used the buffer tool. It gave a rough service without removing too much of the nail the way a file would.
• Nail clippers or nail scissors
• Marker (optional): explained in Step 4

How You Do It: DuraColour Nail Strips in Lavender Butterflies

Step One: Begin with clean, polish free nails. This kit works for both fingers and toes. If your kit came with the towelettes, wipe each nail to clean it up.
Step Two: Use the rough side of the enclosed nail file or the largest buffer tool with the Ultimate Manicure System (or whichever version you are using) and run it over your nail a few times to give a rough surface. The adhesive will stick better and last longer to a rough surface than it will a smooth one. I prefer to use the electric ones. It is much quicker and less work on my end.
Step Three: Beginning with your left pinkie, find a sticker the same width as your nail bed. The rounded side will lie against your cuticle, with the square side straight out. Each size will have about 2 same sized strips. Once you know what size strip fits your left pinkie nail and have lifted the strip from the paper, place a number 1 where the nail strip was. That way you know the next time you go to apply the strips which size fits which finger. Fingers will be numbered 1 for the pinkie and ending with 5 for the thumb. You don't have to do this...I did because it made it easier when I wanted to do this again.
Step Four: Lift the strip from the paper from the square side. Place the correct sized nail strip evenly on your nail, with the rounded part as close to your cuticle as possible.
Step Five: Firmly run the point of the wooden cuticle pusher around the rounded edge of the strip and up both side of the nail. This gives a really tight grip on the edges which is one of the most important steps to get a lasting application.
Step Six: Use the reverse side of the enclosed nail file (mine was white) to press the strip against your nail. Begin at the cuticle and firmly press the strip against your nail, working your way out to the end of your nail. This works out any bubbles and adheres the strip in place.
Step Seven: With nail scissors or clippers, clip off the excess strip. I use scissors to cut off the excess, leaving about 1/4 an inch extending past my nail. I save the part I cut off because it can be shaped and used as another nail strip in the future, unless you have really long nails. By saving the excess strip, you can double the amount of strips per kit. Then, I used a small nail clipper to trim down the remainder to the shape of my nail.
Step Eight: Use the reverse side of the enclosed nail file again to press the ends in place. Then, use the file to file the edges to your nail shape.
Step Nine: Apply a clear top coat to give it a shine and give the strip a little extra adherence. You don't have to do this if your prefer not too.

**Tip** If you can't find a strip the exact same size as your nail, use a smaller one closest to your nail size and follow the above steps. Before applying the clear top coat, use a same or similar colored polish and a small, eyeliner brush to add the polish to any part of your exposed nail that the strip did not cover. Allow it to dry and add a clear top coat. I promise nobody will be able to tell and this is a lot easier than trimming down a strip that is too large!!

Hope y'all enjoy. I have pics showing my nails at days 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, and 17. I felt they made the post a little to overpowering but if anyone wants to see the results throughout these days, just leave a comment or email me and I'll be glad to post the pics. Also, if any of you have a specific product or tutorial request, please email me at melissa4085@aol.com and I'll get it up right away.

The next few tutorials will be focused on celebrity inspired makeup. These are probably my favorite to do and I will be doing Kloe, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian in this month's Redbook, Paris Hilton's makeup for her reality show, "The World According to Paris", Allure promotion ad, Jennifer Lopez look in the Us Hot Bodies article, and the Kendra Wilkinson's Us Body After Baby photo. If you have a celebrity you wish me to write a tutorial about, email me and I will be glad to include them.

I love emails from my subscribers/readers and usually spend time every day trying to answer them all. Some days I have 500+ and some days I only have 20, but I answer each and every one of them. And even if I got a million a day, I would still dedicate any amount of time it took to answer them all. Without subscribers,  viewers or readers,  I would not be doing what I love and I appreciate every single one of you!  <3 Missie <3