Nail Tip – The Slimline Technique
A few weeks ago, I unofficially polled you all about my nail length. Whether I should keep the slightly longer shape I showed in my Zoya Sparkle review or go back to my usual short tips. Ultimately I decided that a filing was in order for two reasons:
1. Being an accident prone klutz, I’m certain to break a nail as soon as it gets more than a few millimeters past my fingertip. 2. I just prefer the look of my nails when they are short. My ring fingernail tends to get a little wonky as it gets longer. The problem with keeping my nails “active length” is that I’m saddled with short, wide nail beds that look more stubby than chic. So what’s a girl to do when she doesn’t want the hassle of long nails but desires a slim, elongated look? That’s the exact I asked CND’s Roxanne Valinoti backstage during Fashion Week. Roxanne shared a great application tip she dubbed “The Slimline Technique.” It’s very simple and really does thin the shape of the nail. Check out my example above using OPI Funkey Dunkey and then find out more about it after the jump! |
Simply put, The Slimline Technique is the equivalent of “The Gap” that a lot of us create at the base of the nail between the cuticle and nail bed. Instead of filling in the nail all the way to the sides, you leave a space to create the illusion of a slimmer nail. An additional benefit of this application technique is that it keeps your skin free from polish and remover.
Now I’m sure you’re thinking that people will be able to tell that you didn’t polish the entire nail. Well, I overly exaggerated my gap in the pics above and as you can see below, from the top (which is how most people see your nails) it looks great. The flesh tone of your nail bed blends in with your skin, making it seamless.
Tip: To create a clean line, use my favorite polish cleanup technique. Dip a natural hair eyeliner brush in remover and swipe it around the nail.
l: CND Dark Ruby applied with The Slimline Technique r: CND Dark Ruby applied traditionally
What do you think Fanatics? Do you agree that my nails look thinner and more elongated using The Slimline Technique? Do any of you already practice this style of application? What are your tips for slenderizing short nails?
Nice tip! I think your nails are lovely at either length, Michelle. Actually, really really long nail beds kinda gross me out.
I’ve got fat short stubby fingers so I decided to give it a shot last night when I was doing my nails. I think because my nails are so wide (they’re almost flat) that the gap is really obvious on my nails (even if it is small) so I guess its back to embracing my man hands once again!!
I have done this with the darker polishes. It really does help the nail look thinner.
I remember the first time I learned of this! I was 13 and a friend from Korea always had the most lovely nails while I thought mine were too wide. And then she showed me the slimline technique! What a difference that little gap makes.
ohh i’ve been doing it for some time now! once, i accidently left gaps on both sides, but i realised that it made my nails look slimmer & longer. i personallly dont like my nails too long (cos they’ll break).
i do it on my toenails too, cos a few of them arent exactly shaped the way i want them to be.. haha.
I like this technique! your shorter nails look fine though
i particularly dont like keeping my nails very long, it looks good but i seem to always get them dirty or break them too XD
I see the difference, but I don’t think people even pay near that much attention to nails to tell that they’re “too wide”. I always leave the gap at the bottom and a small one at the sides.
I’ve been doing this when I have shorties for ages. I agree, it looks nicer
I always do this! Nail places in Korea do this even without asking. I totally agree with you that it makes fingers look slimmer. I actually kind of like the gap, it gives the impression of precise lines drawn on, which is an ‘elegant’ look…
Interesting. I didn’t know this was common practice in other countries
I have been putting this technique to good use for a while and I think it does a good job of making my nails look less stubby. But I have to thank you for the tip about the eyeliner brush/nail polish remover. I can’t wait to try this tonight!
To be fair, the whole ‘nailbed blends with ‘flesh’ tone’ thing doesn’t apply to people that are tan, olive, or any bit darker than peach. ‘flesh’ isn’t really an accurate name for color.
I didn’t mean to say that flesh was a color. What shows through your nail plate is the skin underneath and that should be the same color as your skin/flesh. So the part of the nail that shows should blend with the skin surrounding it. That’s what I meant.
How did you get Funky Dunkey? I didn’t think it was out yet.
I was sent the collection for review by the brand which I disclose at the bottom of all my posts.
cool tip but being a perfectionist myself i probally wont do that since i get annoyed when i see the little gaps of nail polish
Funkey Dunkey? Sooo that means you got the Shrek collection eh? When are you going to swatch them?
Very soon! Stay tuned
Thanks for the tip! Since i’m a novice i have done this on accident a few times …LOL
This also helps with less touch up. When i go close to the skin i always get polish on the skin…
How did you get your hands on Funkey Dunkey?? and will you be doing a review of the Shrek collection?
I’ll be posting a review very soon. The brand sent me samples for review.
I am glad to learn that I am not the only one who does this! I have the same short and wide issue, compounded with a “toe thumb”! needless to say, the gap one the sides of my thumb are very noticeable up close, but I don’t let anyone see it that close…
My manicurist always does this and gets upset when I want her to polish my whole nail. I have hobbit hands, which are long skinny fingers and thin nail beds when I grow my nails out long in a square cut.
I am Italian and always put my polish like that… If you paint already leaving naked sides – just 1-2 millimeters – then you could just pass a q-tip with remover on sides to make polish line “straight”). Actually I started painting the whole nail after I saw pictures of US girls here on the web
(mine then seemed strange, as I forgot to paint everything).
So glad to see this is official! I’ve been doing this for years since I have the same issues, I posted a photo years ago on MUA and was told by 2 “regulars” on the nail board that I’d MISSED spaces on the sides of my nails! I thanks them for their reply
super late reply here too, been out of the nail loop
As a licensed professional manicurist this is a common practice, the problem is most clients don’t want a gap even if it looks better they mostly complain and tell you to ” you missed a spot”. So slap on the polish, it doesn’t matter that you’ve been a manicurist for 14 years.
Great day ladies, your educated manicurist will never steer you wrong.
I don’t do it on my fingers but I do on my thumbs because I too have ‘toe thumbs’ as someone called them. They’re twice the width of my index fingers. Ick. I do have long nailbeds though and I’m surprised to hear Sky say they ‘gross’ her out. It’s usually something other nail fanatics complement me on. They certainly help elongate my baby hands.
Kelley your so right….I too, am a manicurist of about 10 yrs now, and I mostly use this technique on dark and reds, I find myself educating clients and find myself using words like “cool, let me work my magic, slimming affect, skinny nails, and doing magic” on them. Its funny but it is like doing a magic trick on stubby nails, all i care about is that the nails come out beautiful…my masterworks…
omg! i love your tip!!!
(“To create a clean line, use my favorite polish cleanup technique. Dip a natural hair eyeliner brush in remover and swipe it around the nail.”)
i totally didnt know this!! im so excited to try this b/c everytime i try to do my fingernails with dark polish, it always looks slight wobbly around the edges =P hehehe
I have short, slightly thick fingers with wide, short nailbeds. I just tried this technique, and my nails look so much thinner and daintier! Even my thumbnail, which is about 5/8″ wide, looks delicate. Great tip!!
[...] here’s something crazy – I didn’t use the slimline technique, but – does this polish make my nails look fat? Ugh, it just feels weird. I’m probably [...]