A quick tip from celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees is to apply two coats of white polish over natural nails before applying any neon polish. "Neons especially have spaces and gaps where they are see-through and they can look watery on the nail. Putting on a solid white really makes those neons pop so they look just like they do in the bottle."

Kyees showcased this trick when she did Katy Perry’s nails for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Perry sported China Glaze’s neon Yellow Polka Dot Bikini to contrast with her bright blue wig.

The nail on the left has been treated with two coats of white polish to act as a primer and make the neon brighter than if it had been applied directly onto the nail plate like the nail on the right.