Painting and Styling Your Nails for Beginners: Crossdresser Tips

As crossdressers, we should be well-groomed and show our feminine side. One thing that is often neglected, especially by beginners, is painting your nails.

Everyone knows how to do it: you just have to apply a few layers of color, wait for them to dry out, and voila!

To some, it sounds as easy as painting your lips, but if you’re just starting, it’ll be a bit harder than that.

So here are some tips to help you paint your nails like a pro!

First of all, why use nail polish? To start with, you can create the illusion of longer and more feminine fingers.

Also, applying nail polish is one great way to transform your whole image in a few minutes.

If you’re going out to the streets, it’s way better than wearing a wig and high heels because people won’t recognize you straight away.

Painting your nails is a great thing, but there are some important steps before this procedure, as well as a little secret you might not know.

I’m going to be honest with you: I love painting my nails because it’s relaxing, but it took me practice and many tries to get it right.

The information here is meant to help you avoid some common mistakes and make painting your nails an effortless and pleasant journey.

1. Consider What Colors of Polish to Buy

Perhaps this is the most important tip, especially for beginners.

Remember that you’ve just started doing this, and it’s okay to fail a few times before mastering the technique.

Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend buying expensive Polish brands because they can be tricky if not applied correctly – but please experiment with them!

I haven’t tried gel nails, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to try.

If you can afford it, go for it! I’d also recommend investing in a base coat and topcoat.

They protect your nails, making the polish last longer, so they’re worth buying.

Whatever you decide to buy, make sure you are comfortable with the color.

If you are unsure whether you will like the color, it is okay to buy a few of them so you have different choices.

I’d suggest buying nudes or light pink shades for beginners, as they are easier to handle.

You can be more daring when your technique gets better!

2. Find a type of nail art that you enjoy and create a plan for the design

Examples of nail art include chevrons, horizontal lines, vertical lines, and even general designs like hearts.

It’s way easier to get inspired when you can see pictures rather than reading about them.

Once you’ve chosen the design, keep in mind that it needs to be appropriate for your age and profession!

For example, if you’re a college student, consider doing a simpler design rather than something too advanced.

You can go with colors that are more “in” at the moment, like pink or green. After all, you are out for maximum fun!

Finally, please write down your plan or print out pictures to help you paint them.

I find this to be super helpful, especially if you’re a beginner!

3. Purchase some nail polish remover, cotton swabs, and acetone

I use cotton swabs to clean around my nails and acetone to remove the excess polish.

Oh, and don’t forget a nail file! If you have long nails, it will be way easier for you to shape them with a file.

Starting on clean nails is the key to achieving a perfect manicure.

If you’re wondering what acetone does, rest assured because it only dissolves the polish, so don’t worry about your nails at all!

I know some people who use regular nail polish for this purpose, and they swear by it. Please let me know how it goes if you try it, okay?

Before applying the first coat of base color, introduce yourself to one of the most important nail painting tips: you have to clean your nails.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but I still think it’s ridiculous!

Trust me; the results are much better when nails are well-prepared, so try to do this step even if it seems unnecessary.

4. Get your nails prepped by trimming them and using cuticle oil

My secret to achieving perfect nails is doing this step before painting them!

It’s also a great time for me to relax.

For example, I like using cuticle oil because it makes my skin silky smooth and smells delicious (of course, this step is optional).

Anyway, you don’t need to get crazy with this; just take a small amount of oil on your fingers and massage it onto your nails.

You can find the best cuticle products right here.

When you’re done, cut the excess skin around your fingernails carefully so they won’t be sharp to touch after painting.

I don’t think it’s necessary to cut them short; just go easy around the edges.

Now that you’re done with this step, let’s start painting your nails!

I hope you’ve already chosen a color for this purpose because if not, now is the time to do so.

5. Paint your nails with designs to make them unique

Before you start painting, don’t forget to shake that polish! It might not seem important, but it really is.

I’ve made the mistake of forgetting this step many times, and my design would be messier than expected.

When you’re done with shaking, go ahead and paint your nails carefully, following the lines or pattern of your choice.

Feel free to experiment with the designs!

I don’t suggest doing this step when you’re in a hurry because it takes time, but nothing can stop you from creating new and amazing patterns once you get the hang of it.

Let your hand movements be natural, but make sure you’re always in control of what you’re doing.

The most important tip about painting your nails is to wait for each coat to be completely dry before applying the next one.

I usually give it around 10 minutes, but every nail polish brand has its own special drying time that can be found on the bottle.

Whatever designs you choose, don’t forget to let them dry before going to the next step.

6. Apply a base coat to keep the color from fading or cracking

I always use a base coat to protect my nails and, at the same time, make them look stronger.

It’s very similar to the top coat, but in my opinion, it makes much more of a difference, so I’d recommend using one or the other.

Since you’ve already waited for your nails to dry completely, apply the second color of your choice.

I suggest leaving a little space from the edge so it won’t look messy!

Don’t forget to wait for the color to dry again because if you don’t, this part might smudge, too.

If you want a stain-like finish, use a base coat and another color on top rather than using the topcoat.

This way, the base will show through, giving your nails a really pretty finish.

7. Add some sparkles or glitter for an extra punch

This is an easy step, and you can use either clear or colored glitter.

I like using the loose kind (glitter powder) because there’s no risk of it sticking to my other fingers, unlike with the gel type.

Of course, this part isn’t necessary, but if you want your nails to look even more spectacular, add a touch of glitter.

I also like to use this step when my nails are in bad shape because the glitter covers the flaws nicely, making them look almost invisible.

8. Paint on two coats of color with thin layers in between each one

This step is important when you want your nails to look smooth and neat.

As I’ve mentioned before, the layers have to be thin to dry faster.

Take your time with this step because your design might get smudged if you paint too thick layers.

9. Use a top coat to seal the design and give it that glossy look

Remember the extra step I recommended in the previous part?

If you don’t want to use glitter or sparkles, this is your chance to seal your design with a topcoat.

Nicely done nails boost your confidence as a crossdresser, and as we’ve seen, there is enough room for experimenting with different designs.

Don’t forget the most important rule for painting your nails: have fun!

As we’ve seen, pretty nails make for a pretty and more confident crossdresser, and I hope this article will give you some insights on how to paint them yourself.

Following the tips here will ensure good results, and you’ll be able to make your nails look special without having to pay much money.

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to experiment!

Have fun opening up your new (or used) nail polishes because now you can see their potential.

Remember to have fun and show your nails off to other crossdressers!

Learn More：

The 5 Best Crossdresser Nail Painting for Summer