by Tyler Dianne Platt.

The next time you think about going to the nail salon to spend too much money for a manicure that will only last a week or so, think again. Here are some tips for anyone who wants cute nails without emptying their wallet.

Newsprint Nails

                  For a cool print effect, paint nails white, silver or any other light color and wait for it to dry. Then take a cotton ball and apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Put the section of newsprint to transfer on your nails over the dry paint. Place the cotton ball with alcohol on top of the newspaper and hold it there for about a minute, but do not rub. Remove the cotton ball and paper slowly. Finish with a coat of clear polish.

Metallic Swirl

                  Drop one drop of two or three different colored nail polish at the base of the nail. Point nails downward and let the colors swirl together. If necessary, take a small brush or the tip of a toothpick and swirl the colors together even more.

Perfect Paint

                  Before painting, buff your nails with a 4-sided buffer starting with the side labeled 1 and finish with side 4. Use the buffer to sand down the ridges in the nail and smooth out any imperfections. This helps the paint adhere to the nail and prevents bumps.

Simple and Pretty

                  If you don’t have time to do a white tip for a French manicure, take the white paint and run the brush under the edge of the nail. Then take a light pink or nude and paint one coat on the actual nail. Finish with a coat of clear.