How To Keep Sheer Polish From Streaking
Photo of milky sheer white nail polish swatch (OPI Funny Bunny) without streaks
Updated 2024.06.30. This page contains affiliate links and this site earns from qualifying purchases made through these sponsored links.
How do you use sheer nail polish without streaks? Why does my nail polish have streaks?
Below, learn a step-by-step process for perfectly painting sheer nail polish plus the answers to these questions.
Nail polish can streak for a variety of reasons - ranging from ridges in the nail, to uneven distribution of pigment at the time of application to not having enough polish on the brush to provide even coverage to each coat as it dries.
Thankfully, all of these situations have solutions. You can apply sheer nail polishes, even the famous essie ballet slippers, without streaks.
There is a process to prepare the nail for color that promotes the even coverage for any sheer nail polish. There is also a process for applying the color to each that can promote even pigment distribution.
Below is our 6-steps method for how to paint sheer nail polish:
Photo of sheer pink nail polish swatch (essie hi maintenance) streak-free
Step 1
Using a ridge filling base coat, even if you don’t have visible nail ridges does help create a smooth final look for sheers.
Step 2
After your base coat sets, warm up the nail polish color bottle by rolling it in your hands or on your thigh.
This gets the pigment evenly distributed and warm polish is more fluid, less viscous when it is time to apply it, making the application easier.
Step 3
Apply each coat with an abundant amount of polish on the side of the brush you are using to paint on the polish.
Make sure the side of your brush looks like it is almost completely opaque, covered in polish and that almost no bristles are visible before you start each nail.
Step 4
Using the float technique, start applying the polish-side of the brush down to the center base of the nail near the cuticle, dotting the brush here to get a bead of polish on the nail.
Pull the brush to the nail tip, repeating on the right and left sides of your nail bed, adding more polish to the brush if needed between swipes.
Longer nails will require more polish and more dipping your brush into the bottle, so keep this in mind. Just move quickly if you need to recoat your brush with polish mid-nail.
Once you have your first nail completely covered, move to the next nail.
If you notice any gaps in coverage, just fill them in with the next coat.
You want to avoid overworking a polish that’s drying as it will create chunky marks in what could have been a smooth finished product.
Step 5
Wait for the first coat of each nail to dry, and repeat steps 2-5 above, applying up to three coats to complete your finished look, filling in any unevenness in color on the next round, as you go.
Step 6
A transfer resistant top coat (our favorite is linked in the previous sentence) is any top coat that you can apply while the nails are still somewhat tacky, and the color will not transfer to your top coat brush.
Seeing color on your top coat brush a sign the color is dragging/being pulled off as you apply your top coat, creating streaks as that happens.
Photo of sheer peach nail polish swatch without streaks (Streak-free OPI Bubble Bath)
Okay, so that’s a process that works for preventing streaks in your favorite sheer shade. We have tested this method on sheer nail polishes from a variety of brands and is pretty reliable so far.
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How To Keep Sheer Polish From Streaking text overlay Photo of sheer pink nail polish swatch (essie hi maintenance) streak-free
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