March 2020

Excited to share our feature in Better Homes & Garden’s article “The Best Ways to Remove Any Type of Nail Polish at Home, Without Causing Damage.” Celebrity Nail Artist Jess Alexander-Snyder, @omg_jess on Instagram, speaks on her favorite butter LONDON nail treatments, Nail Scrubbers,  Horse Power Base Coat and Quick Dry Drops and their powerful effects.

“As I’m approaching week three of my dip nails, it’s when I’d normally head to my salon to get the old color removed while enjoying a relaxing manicure appointment. However, things are a bit different now, so I’m going to have to take it off myself and do my own nails at home. Although I’ve visited my technician plenty of times, I’m certainly not an expert on the process, but I know that if done incorrectly, the removal process causes damage. (And the last thing I want to do is damage my nail beds after overcoming my bad biting habit.)

So, I enlisted the expertise of celebrity manicurist, Jess Alexander-Snyder (who’s worked with actresses Mindy Kaling, Amber Heard, and Aidy Bryant, among others) to find out the best ways to remove any type of polish, including regular, gel, dip powder, and acrylics, right at home. She offers step-by-step instructions for how to remove nail polish and enhancements the right way to help keep our nailbeds healthy.

How to Remove Regular Nail Polish

Although traditional polish doesn’t last as long as other options, it’s by far the easiest to take off. “The best tip with regular polish is to soak a cotton ball in acetone and hold it on your finger for a few seconds before rubbing your nail bed,” Alexander-Snyder says. (You can buy a bottle of acetone for just $.99 at Target.) She adds that dark colors, reds, and glitters can be stubborn, so soak those shades with remover for at least a minute. She often uses Butter LONDON’s nail scrubbers that come in packs of 10 for $10, which have a rough side for scrubbing to get off those problematic colors.

Once your nails are naked, Alexander-Snyder recommends applying a nail strengthener, such as Horse Power Nail Rescue Base Coat from BUTTER London, $18. She says you’re free to add polish as soon as you’d like. “There is no such thing as letting your nails breathe,” she explains. “There are no pores. Nails are made of dead tissue.” However, she does recommend moisturizing “like crazy” before and after you apply polish with BUTTER London’s P.D. Quick Dry Conditioning Drops, $18. “After all of that soaking in acetone, you need as much moisture as you can get.”

Does anything say “self care” more than a flawless pop of colour at the tip of your finger? We might be biased, but we think not! Mastering an at-home manicure is an art like no other, but rest assured butter LONDON has all the tools you need to nail that DIY mani. Whether the salon is closed, you have a nail polish emergency or you’re simply in need of a little pick-me-up (aren’t we all), bring the spa home with our brilliant step-by-step guide that promises to make “me time” feel extra special. 

Clean & Shape

Every manicure should start with a clean slate! Begin my removing any dirt, oil or old polish from your nails using a non-toxic remover like butter LONDON’s Nail Scrubbers. These new and improved dual-sided scrubbers prep the nail with a conditioning boost of vitamins and lift away stubborn nail polish in one simple swipe—try it yourself! Once your nail is squeaky clean, shape it into the perfect square, round or almond tip by gently moving the Signature Banana Nail File in one direction… it’s uniquely curved for an easier at-home file.

Show Your Cuticles Some Love

It’s important for your cuticles. butter LONDON loves a clean and easy-to-do approach to self care, which is why we created the Melt Away Cuticle Exfoliator to gently remove dry, overgrown cuticles without the clippers. No matter your method, ensure that your manicure has well-shaped edges by softening your cuticles and gently pushing them back to create an elongated nail that is ready for a pop of enviable nail colour. 

Lay the Base

Let the nail polish painting games begin. Use our award-winning, high-quality Horse Power Nail Rescue Basecoat to help restore damaged nails, prevent future nail breakage, and prep the nail for an impeccable long-lasting manicure. Applying a thin, base layer before your nail colour ensures an even application and a chip-resistant finish.

Coat in Color

Finally, the part we’ve all been waiting for! Painting on a nail colour can be the most rewarding or difficult step to a DIY mani—depending on your steadiness of hand. But remember, practice makes perfect! butter LONDON Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer makes it easy to colour inside the lines with its unique, curved brush that hugs the nail for full coverage nail lacquer colour that shines. Simply select the nail hue that speaks to your mood, then apply a thin layer to your prepped and primed nail bed, repeating if necessary.

Top it Off

Work smarter, not harder. Now that your manicure is almost complete, it’s time to make it last! Protect your DIY mani with a superstar topcoat that will help lock in nail colour and add an extra layer of chip protection. Our Hardwear Shine UV Topcoat features a high-performance, ultra-glossy formula that adds brilliant shine and a smudge-free finish to freshly painted nails.

Quick Tip: Patience is a virtue, but not when you’re hands free. After proudly completing your at-home manicure, apply a few drops of P.D. Quick Dry Conditioning Drops to accelerate dry time and nourish cuticles- your nails will thank you!

Warmer weather, floral dresses, vivid colors and more—what’s not to love about the sunny season that awakens the world from cold days and winter grays. Spring has finally sprung and so have the newest colours in butter LONDON’s Patent Shine 10X Nail Lacquer Collection— introducing Strawberry Fields, Yellow Submarine, and Cotton Buds. If you can’t tell by the names, these effervescent and classic white nail polish hues embody spring’s vibrant vibes and are inspired by popular nail colours that are sure to grace every finger tip this season. Spring breathes new life into the world of fashion and beauty, so butter LONDON designed our newest nail colours to keep you ahead of the trends while rejuvenating your nail polish wardrobe.  Find the perfect nail colour to compliment a pastel top, airy skirt or flowy dress by shopping spring’s most popular nail colors, featuring our newest shades.

Hot Pink

Bright colours are taking over Spring 2020! Pep up your manicure with Strawberry Fields—a playful, neon pink nail polish shade that will enliven any spring look. Pair this show-stopping nail polish colour with a simple, summer dress or add a fun twist to your next French Manicure by applying this bright colour to the tip of your nail.

Neon Yellow

The sunny weather is on its way and it’s dialing the glow all the way up to neon. With humble beginnings on store front signs and disco party attire, neon has become the most featured nail polish shade on runways this season. Vibrant yellow has quickly risen to a fan-favorite, it-girl status, with nail shades like Yellow Submarine adding cheerful pops of colour to hands across the globe.

Pastel Purple

As we switch gears from our last nail trend, now is a great time to note that Spring 2020 truly has a shade for everyone. Pastel nail polish hues continue to thrive during springtime, thanks to their effortless ability to make a subtle statement while providing a lovely punch of colour. Delicate purples have taken the lead this season, adding a feminine touch to everything from bridesmaids’ dresses to brunch attire.

Crisp White

Clean linen, cotton fields, and blooming daises—a crisp white colour truly captures all the lovely things that arrive in the spring.  butter LONDON knows no one can go wrong with a universal white nail polish, which is why we brought back our much-loved Cotton Buds nail lacquer in our Patent Shine 10X formula for a chip-resistant shine that’s just as fresh as spring.

Citrus Orange

Imagine laying on a beach surrounded by white sand, crystal blue water and a fruity drink in your hand. Well, you’d have the inspiration behind spring’s zesty nail polish trend. Citrus orange is a soft nail colour hue influenced by the natural tones of juicy fruits like grapefruit, mandarin and orange. A cross between bright neon and powdery pastel, this playful nail polish shade is the perfect compromise for anyone looking for a burst of colour with a muted finish.