Left hand drive

Left hand drive or “how to paint nails with your non dominant hand”

Firstly, love both hands the same, however, like 85-90% of humans, if you are right-handed, the left hand tends to betray us. In particular, when it comes to following directions, the brain gives it.

What is more, even if you have the patience of a Saint. On the contrary, this does not apply to painting the nails on the right hand.

Importantly, when you are a Nail Technician having beautiful nails is the best way to advertise your skills. Known to have noticeably short nails with no polish. In other words, downplaying the fact the nails were unkept. The lack of confidence with left-hand painting can deter us. Ultimately, being a perfectionist encourages the right hand to look up to scratch. Especially since it is the dominant hand.

Booking a weekly manicure to binge practice was the plan. To secure the trust that the manicure skills with the right hand / for clients is top tier please check out the photo gallery for proof.

Non dominant hand practice

Unsurprisingly, the 1st few manicures went to plan… When painting with the right hand! Once moving onto the left-hand drive, strangely enough, the main issue was not to go over the side walls. Importantly, was the ability to paint in straight lines. But, when near the cuticle area there was a struggle to keep a strong steady hand. This is the only way to get that perfect curve at the base. The biggest struggle was flooding the cuticle area when stroking to the left.

Eventually, after weeks of trying to limit shortcomings, and enough weekly practice to produce 3 out of the 5 nails to a good standard. The thumb had a left-hand side cuticle flood and middle finger had a right-hand side cuticle flood.

non dominant hand

Step by Step

How to paint nails with your non dominant hand.

  • Use a solid flat surface
  • Cap the free edge first – just along the edge of the nail to stop chipping
  • Keep hand firmly pressed onto the flat surface – to ensure only movement comes from your fingers making brush strokes
  • Keep fingers holding brush secure but joints loose – this enables a more controlled brush stroke
  • Place brush down onto the nail before the cuticle area
  • Push the polish from the brush back to the cuticle line and then stroke forward – this stops the liquid flooding the area
  • Repeat this until there is colour on all the nail – depending on the brush and or nail shape this could be 1, 2 or 3 stokes
  • Do not drag over colour already laid down
  • Repeat this for each layer – always base 1st, 2 colour coats and topcoat last.

Lastly, after these manicures and the progress the left hand has made, one thing is clear. Practice does always make perfect!

Happy nail painting.