How to Do Fourth of July Nails Posted: 04 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT On the Fourth of July, you want your patriotism to shine all the way down to the tips of your fingers! For the best Independence Day nail look, you can choose between stars and stripes, polka dots, and glitter to reflect your natural style and spirit. Experiment and let your creativity run wild for a unique look that's all-American and all you! [Edit]Painting Basic Stars and Stripes - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Paint your nails white, then let them dry. For a faster drying time, paint one thin layer of white polish, let it dry, then apply the second. Allow both coats to dry fully before moving on.[1]
- Paint 4-5 thin red lines on each nail with a striper. Place a strip of clear tape right under your cuticle. Then, using a nail striper and red polish, paint from just past the edge of your cuticle all the way up to the tip of your nail to create a thin, smooth line. Make 4-5 lines across the nail, spacing them equally as best you can.[2]
- Repeat on the nails you're painting, then let the stripes dry for about 15 minutes before moving on.
- If you don't have a striper, you can make your own or use a toothpick. You can also buy a striper online or in beauty stores.
- Create a thicker horizontal blue line across the top of the nail. Use a regular nail polish brush to dab a blue line across the top half of your nail. Start from about the middle of your nail and use short strokes towards the tip to make a straight blue line.[3]
- If you want your line to be perfectly straight, place a piece of scotch tape over the lower half of your nail and paint from the edge up to the nail's tip.
- Repeat on all your stars and stripes nails and let them dry for 15 minutes.
- Place 5-8 white dots across the blue with a dotting tool. Dip a small dotting tool into your white nail polish and use it to carefully dot the blue of your flag. You can add as many dots as you want, but 5-8 placed in a scattered, random formation tends to look best.[4]
- Let the dots dry for 10 minutes on each nail.
- If you don't have a dotting tool, you can use a toothpick or the tip of a Q-tip. To buy a dotting tool, look in beauty stores and online.
- Paint a flag on all your nails or just 2 for an accent. You can paint this busier pattern onto your thumb and ring finger, then fill out the rest of your nails with a solid blue or cherry red for a trendy, eye-catching look. You can also apply the flag design to all your fingers for a more uniform style.
- Apply a top coat to finish. After your flag nails have dried, paint on a clear topcoat to seal the design and prevent it from chipping. Remember to wait until your nails are completely dry to avoid messing up your design.[5]
- Buy a nail sticker kit for an easier application. Most Fourth of July nails require some time and effort, including applying different coats and using a few different tools, like a striper and dotting tool. If you don't have the time or the tools, use a Fourth of July nail sticker kit for a cute but lower-effort look.
- With a nail kit, you'll paint one solid color and stick patriotic stickers on top. Many kits come with simple stars and stripes as well as "USA" stickers and other patriotic designs.
- You can buy a kit online or at craft and beauty stores.
- Follow the instructions in the kit to apply and remove your nail stickers.
[Edit]Making Red, White, and Blue Polka Dots - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Apply a white polish to start your design. Paint the white in 2 thin coats to help it dry more quickly. Then, let the polish harden and dry for 15 minutes or so before going on to your polka dots.[6]
- Add different-sized red dots to your nail with a dotting tool. Starting with a large-sized dotting tool, place 2-3 red dots in the lower, cuticle portion of your nail. Switch to a medium size to add 3-4 dots towards the middle of your nail, then use a small dotting tool and put 4-5 dots in the top portion. Leave a strip of white at the top to create a tapering effect.[7]
- Continue adding red dots on each of your nails and allow them to dry for about 10 minutes. You can add dots to all your nails, or just to your ring finger and thumb for a bubbly accent.
- You'll be using your dotting tools with different colors, so clean them as per their package instructions before moving on.
- If you don't have a dotting tool, you can use a toothpick or the tip of a Q-tip. To buy a dotting tool, look in beauty stores and online.
- Use blue and silver polishes to add more polka dots. Use the same dotting process with a royal blue color on each nail, then switch to silver. Allow some of your dots to overlap to create depth, going for a natural, scattered look.[8]
- Let the dots dry for about 10 minutes in between colors.
- Apply a top coat to finish. After your dots have dried, paint on a clear topcoat to seal the design and prevent it from chipping. If you're applying the polka dots as an accent, wait for the topcoat to dry before painting the rest of your nails bright red or royal blue.[9]
[Edit]Creating Patriotic Glitter Nails - Apply a clear base and let it dry. A base coat of clear polish will protect your nails and help the colored polish stick. Apply it to all of your nails and let it dry before moving on.
- Paint on a metallic silver polish. After your clear base coat dries, apply 2 thin layers of metallic silver, giving them time to dry in between. Let the polish harden for about 15 minutes before moving on.[10]
- This Fourth of July nail art looks best with all fingers, rather than mixing with solids as an accent.
- Apply a red glitter polish from your cuticle to halfway up the nail. Using a regular nail polish brush, paint a coat of dark red glitter onto the lower half of your nail. Start with short, careful upwards strokes from the cuticle to midway up the nail, then neaten the edge of the layer by painting horizontally.[11]
- Repeat on all your nails and let them dry for 10-15 minutes.
- Use a blue glitter polish on the top half of your nail. Using a regular nail polish brush, apply a dark or royal blue glitter polish from the tip of your nail to the middle, leaving a strip of silver just above the red. Repeat on the rest of your nails and let them dry for about 15 minutes.[12]
- Paint silver over the middle, overlapping with the red and blue. Reinforce the middle strip by covering it with silver glitter polish, using a nail striper for the best application. Paint horizontally right over the strip, then spread small, thin vertical strokes over the red and blue sections.[13]
- Continue adding vertical silver stripes, stretching them almost to the tip and cuticle of the nail, until the transitions between colors start to look more seamless. Repeat on the rest of your nails.
- If you don't have a nail striper, use a toothpick to apply the silver.
- Blend the silver with small strokes of blue and red. Repeat this blending, striping process with the same red and blue glitter colors as before. Extend short strokes of red up into the silver, and paint stripes of blue downwards to subtly blend the colors.[14]
- You don't have to wait for the silver polish dry before adding the red and blue stripes. Applying them while the silver is wet will allow the colors to mix and create a smooth gradient.
- Repeat on all of your nails. The finished look should have a natural fade from red to silver to blue.
- Remember to clean your brush in between coats so you don't mix colors.
- Let your nails dry and apply a clear topcoat. Let the glitter polish set and dry for 15-20 minutes. Then, apply a clear topcoat to seal and smooth out the design.[15]
- For a simpler, more subtle look, go with a solid coat of red or blue, or alternate red, white, and blue between fingers.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Basic Stars and Stripes - Nail sticker kit (optional)
- Clear nail polish for base coat
- White nail polish
- Red nail polish
- Blue nail polish
- Nail striper or toothpick
- Dotting tool or Q-tip
- Scotch tape (optional)
[Edit]Red, White, and Blue Polka Dots - Clear nail polish for the base and topcoat
- White nail polish
- Red nail polish
- Blue nail polish
- Silver nail polish
- Dotting tool or Q-tip
[Edit]Patriotic Glitter Nails - Clear nail polish for the base and topcoat
- Metallic, glittery silver nail polish
- Glittery red nail polish
- Glittery blue nail polish
- Silver glitter nail polish
- Striping tool or toothpick
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
How to Open a Beer Bottle with a Key Posted: 04 Jul 2022 09:00 AM PDT Cracking open a cold beer is a great way to wind down from a long day or liven up a party. But if you don't have a bottle opener, it can be hard to get to the beer! Luckily, the keys jangling in your pocket or bag provide a convenient solution to your problem. Whether you pop the lid right off or pry the ridges first, it's easy to open a beer bottle with a key! [Edit]Popping the Lid Off - Grab the neck with your non-dominant hand. You should be holding the bottle securely so that it doesn't slide in your hand when you push against it. Don't worry about squeezing it too tight, a firm grip is enough![1]
- Put a strong key, like a car key, under the cap. This is not a job for a small file cabinet key or an aluminium house key. Pick a strong, larger key like a car key or a heavier office key. It's best to pick a key with multiple ridges at the tip--it will be easier for it to get under the bottlecap's ridges.[2]
- Twist the key upwards until you hear the beer bottle pop off. Move the key in your dominant hand so you're twisting the key up towards you. It's the same motion you'd make if you were turning your car on. Since the key is lodged under the bottle cap, the key should pry the cap open![3]
- Try a different side of the cap if it didn't pop off immediately. Depending on the bottle cap, the strength of your key, and your experience with this method, the cap might not pop off on your first try. I fit doesn't, turn the bottle until a new part of the cap is facing you, and try again![4]
[Edit]Prying the Ridges Open - Look for any bent ridges. If there are any ridges on your bottlecap that are already bent slightly, start there! If not, you can pick any ridge to get started with.
- Slide the tip of the key under a ridge. Work your key tip until it's slightly under one of the bottlecap ridges. It's okay if it doesn't go all the way under -- all you need is a little bit of leverage.[5]
- Twist the key until the ridge bends upwards. Twist the key back and forth gently but firmly until the bottlecap ridge starts to bend. Be careful not to press the ridge against the bottle -- you want the ridge to be pointing outward or upward when you're done.[6]
- Repeat until at least 4 ridges in a row are up. Keep twisting the key under the ridges until you have at least 4 in a row that are pointing up or out from the bottle. Make sure they're all next to each other -- it won't work if they're scattered around the rim of the bottlecap.[7]
- Grasp the bottle firmly in your non-dominant hand. You should be holding the bottle tightly enough that you don't injure yourself or anyone nearby. Don't squeeze it too hard, though--you may be strong enough to break the bottle![8]
- Push the key tip under the bent ridges. Press the tip of the key underneath the bent ridges as far as you can. It's okay if it only goes in a little bit. You just need enough space to actually use the key as leverage.[9]
- Press the key upwards until the cap pops off. Grasp the key firmly in your dominant hand and press upwards until the cap pops off. Be careful not to press too hard. If you're too rough with the bottle, you might break the top off![10]
- Be careful of the ridges--they can be very sharp!
- Check if the bottle is a twist-off before trying to open it with a key![11]
- If you often find yourself without a bottle opener, consider purchasing a bottle opener keyring for your keys!
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
How to Photograph Fireworks Posted: 04 Jul 2022 01:00 AM PDT Fireworks look beautiful in photographs, full of light and color. You may wonder how you can best capture fireworks in an image without issues like over or underexposure, blurriness, and graininess. To photograph fireworks well, start by picking a good shooting location. You can also use camera settings that will help you achieve a high-quality image. Then, set up the camera on a tripod to keep it steady and frame the fireworks with landmarks, a skyline, or even people to capture interesting photos. [Edit]Selecting the Shooting Location - Look for a high spot in an open area. Try to position yourself on a spot that is high up, such as a ledge in a field or a high slope by a main road. Check that you can see the spot where the fireworks are supposed to be in the sky from your vantage point and that you are at a 45-degree angle from the ground when you look up.[1]
- Keep in mind if you want to include people in some of your shots, you may pick a high spot that you can move down from easily so you can be closer to crowds.
- Check that the spot is upwind from the fireworks so you get a clear shot. Shooting downwind from the fireworks can cause smoke to get into your images as the fireworks go off. Prevent this by making sure your shooting location is upwind from where the fireworks are set to go off.[2]
- To determine the wind conditions, check the weather beforehand. Note if it is going to be a windy night and plan accordingly.
- Pick a spot that has a view of the skyline or a landmark for a unique shot. You may want to include a beautiful city skyline or a historic landmark in the area where the fireworks are set to go off. Find a shooting location that allows you to see the skyline clearly below the fireworks. Or go for a spot where a landmark or building appears in one side of the frame or in the foreground.[3]
- You can always shift your shooting location slightly while the fireworks are going off to get different objects in the foreground, as well as no objects at all in the shot. Try to find a spot where you can move around and play with different compositions.
[Edit]Setting up the Camera - Switch your camera to manual mode. You do not need an expensive camera with a lot of different settings to photograph fireworks well. In fact, you can use a film camera or a digital camera to get a great image as long as it can be switched to manual mode.[4]
- Make sure the focus mode reverts to manual when you switch to manual mode, as this will allow you to focus the camera as needed during the fireworks show.
- If you are shooting with the camera on your smartphone, download an app that allows you to have a slower shutter speed on the camera, such as Slow Shutter Cam.
- Some digital cameras will have a "Fireworks Mode" on the settings dial or in the menu options on the camera. Use this mode, if available, as this allows the camera to adjust the settings for you so you do not need to do it yourself.
- Turn off the flash to limit distractions around you. Switch the flash off, as it is not strong enough to illuminate the foreground in the dark. It can also distract you when you are taking pictures and bother others around you.[5]
- Use a wide or telephoto zoom lens to capture the fireworks. Look for a telephoto zoom lens that is 70-200mm or 70-300mm, as this will allow you to capture the fireworks in full from a distance. You can also use a wide lens that is 24-70mm or 24-120mm if you are shooting a bit closer to the fireworks.[6]
- It may be good to have both lenses on hand so you can switch between them to suit your vantage point.
- Start with a slow shutter speed of 2.5-4 seconds. Using a slow shutter speed will allow the camera shutter to stay open long enough to capture the long light trails of the fireworks. Avoid going lower than 2.5 seconds, as a shutter speed that is too low can cause the fireworks to appear blown out or overexposed.[7]
- You may need to play around with the shutter speed as you photograph the fireworks, shifting between 2.5-4 seconds. Try a few different speeds once you set up your camera to vary the types of images you get.
- Set the camera to a low ISO level and a narrow aperture field. Start with an ISO that is at 100, as this will allow you to use a low shutter speed. You can usually leave the ISO at 100 as you shoot. The aperture, or how wide the lens opens, should be around f/5.6-f/8. This will keep the aperture just narrow enough to capture the fireworks without letting in too much light.[8]
- You can try playing around with the aperture field as you photograph the fireworks, bumping up to f/11-f/16 depending on how bright your images appear.
[Edit]Taking the Photographs - Arrive early for the fireworks to reserve your shooting spot. If you know the fireworks show is going to be popular, you may aim to get to the location 30 minutes-1 hour early so you can set up your camera gear and be ready for the show.
- If you are not sure about the details of the location, you may visit it a day early to stake out a good location for shooting the fireworks.
- Try to find a spot where you'll be able to include the launch site in your photos, especially if you can frame it with an interesting background.[9]
- Put the camera on a tripod to get a steady image. Always use a tripod when you are shooting fireworks, as this will ensure you get a clear, high-quality image.[10] Set up the camera, or your smartphone, on a tripod in the shooting location. Make sure the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture have already been set, as you do not want to have to touch the camera too much once you start shooting.[11]
- Look for a tripod that fits your camera model at your local camera store or online.
- Get a remote shutter release to avoid touching the camera. The remote shutter release attaches to your camera and is controlled by a small remote you hold in your hand. This feature is ideal when you are shooting fireworks, as touching your camera while shooting can cause the images to appear blurry or unclear.[12]
- You can buy a remote shutter release at your local camera store or online.
- Focus the camera on a distant object near where the fireworks are going off. Look into the lense and adjust the focus manually so it is on an object that is fairly far away, just beside or in front of where the fireworks are going to explode. This will then ensure the fireworks appear in focus when they enter the frame.[13]
- You can also try zooming out or in and focusing on the fireworks to get a different perspective. Your wide or telephoto zoom lense should make doing this fairly easy.
- Frame the fireworks with people, objects, or a landscape. Use your surroundings to make the photographs more interesting and unique. Try placing a landmark in one corner of the frame and focusing on it as the fireworks go off. You can also focus on the skyline just below the fireworks to get a nice landscape in the foreground.[14]
- Including people watching the fireworks can also make the photographs more interesting. Try shooting at a lower angle to capture people in the foreground or background of the image.
- Reduce the shutter speed if the fireworks appear blurry or unclear. If you notice your images are coming out blurry or unclear, it may be because your shutter speed is not slow enough. Bump it down 1-2 speeds so the lense stays open longer and you can capture the full effect of the fireworks.[15]
- You may need to also play around with the aperture setting when you reduce the shutter speed to find the right balance.
- Use "bulb mode" to experiment with exposure. To do this, press the shutter down as the fireworks are launching. Continue to hold the shutter for several seconds until the burst fades and then slowly let it go. This allows you to create a long exposure that will capture the fireworks as it explodes.[16]
- Use a remote shutter release to do "bulb mode" as this will prevent you from touching the camera and causing it to shift or move, which can ruin the photograph.
- You may want to use a wider aperture setting in bulb mode—start somewhere around f11-f9.[17]
- Shoot in RAW mode, rather than JPEG mode, if you are using a digital camera. RAW mode will make it easier for you to edit RAW images later to remove shadows or blurry area in the images.[18]
- If all you have is a handheld camera, like a smartphone, you may get better results by taking videos instead of still shots.[19]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - A digital or film camera with a manual mode
- A tripod
- A remote shutter release
- A flashlight
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
How to Cook Hamburgers on the Stove Posted: 03 Jul 2022 05:00 PM PDT Everyone loves hamburgers cooked on the grill, but what about hamburgers cooked on the stovetop? Do they still taste good? The answer is a definite yes! You can cook juicy, flavorful hamburgers in the comfort of your kitchen without having to fire up the grill. You might even find that your stovetop burgers rival their grilled counterparts. [Edit]Ingredients - of ground beef
- Salt
- 4 buns
- Cheese, optional
- Toppings, optional
Servings: 4 [Edit]Making the Patties - Buy good beef with a meat to fat ratio of 80/20. If your beef is too lean, it won't cook up well as a burger. Avoid anything that's 90% or above, for instance. If you want to go a little leaner, 85/15 will work, but 80/20 is a better option.[1]
- Try buying beef that's freshly ground at the butcher counter for the best quality.
- Make patties that are about apiece. If you can, use a kitchen scale to quickly measure them out. Otherwise, estimate the patty size based on the amount of meat you have.[2]
- For instance, if you have of meat, you can make about 4 portions.
- Form the patties as gently as you can. The less you mess with the meat, the more tender it will be. Form a loose patty as quickly as you can before moving onto the next one. To form the patty, roll the meat into a light ball, then flatten it out into a patty.[3]
- You don't need to mash the patties or knead the meat. That will make the meat tough.
- Press a dimple into the middle of each patty. Patties tend to create a dome-shape when cooking. To combat this problem, push your thumb into the middle of each patty, creating a dimple.[4]
- However, if you prefer your patties to puff up, you can skip this step.
- Put the patties in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. Cover the patties up, and let them chill. Chilling the patties helps them stay together better when you cook them, and the center won't cook as quickly.[5]
- Don't leave the patties out at room temperature, as that can encourage bacteria to grow.
[Edit]Getting the Patties in the Skillet - Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Place the pan on the stove, and turn the burner on high. Let the pan heat up on its own before you put the burgers in. You can splash a little water in to see if it's ready. If the water instantly sizzles, the pan is likely hot enough.[6]
- You can also use a griddle pan or another type of skillet, but a cast iron skillet helps sear the crust.
- Salt the patties right before you cook them. Salt pulls out moisture if you leave it sitting on the patties, which you don't want to happen with hamburgers. Sprinkle salt on the outside before you put the patties in the pan to help retain the juiciness.[7]
- You can also add a little pepper, if you'd like, or even use a seasoning mix like seasoned salt.
- Place the patties in the hot skillet. Gently set each patty in the skillet. Be sure to avoid any popping grease as you do! The patties should start making noise as soon as they're in the skillet, beginning to create a nice, seared crust.[8]
- If you have one, use a splatter screen to avoid popping grease from the pan.
[Edit]Cooking the Patties - Flip the patties after 2-4 minutes. On high heat, the first side should be done within a couple of minutes. When you flip the patty, you should see a nice golden-brown crust on the other side. Even if you prefer your patty to be rare to medium, you still want the crust on the outside.
- Use a thin spatula for flipping. A thin spatula makes it easier to get under the seared crust.[9]
- Cook the patties no more than 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the patties will definitely be well-done. If you want yours medium or medium-rare, cook the patties for less time.[10]
- Check the temperature by inserting a meat probe from the side. Ground beef is well-done at . The Food and Drug Administration recommends cooking ground beef to this temperature.[11]
- Push broken pieces back together. Sometimes, your patty will fall apart. If it does, just use the spatula to move them back together. If it cooks that way for a few minutes, it should stay together.[12]
- It helps to add cheese at the end, as it will help the patty stay together.
- Add cheese in the last minute of cooking. If you want cheese, place the slices on the patties at the end. Cover the pan with a lid or aluminum foil, which will reflect the heat back down to melt the cheese.[13]
- Many cheeses work well with hamburgers. American cheese melts well, but cheddar, Gouda, Monterrey jack, blue cheese, or Swiss are also be delicious.
- It can help to add a small dash of water to the pan. The water will instantly turn to steam under the lid, and the steam will help melt the cheese.
- Remove the patties and serve them. Use the spatula to take the patties out of the pan. Place them on a plate, or move them directly onto toasted buns. Add in extras you like, and dig in!
- You can use condiments like mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, or bbq sauce.
- For toppings, try raw onions, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, grilled mushrooms, cooked bacon, or avocado slices, just to name a few.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Thin spatula
- Skillet or griddle
- Skillet lid or aluminum foil
- Plate
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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