I always trim my bands down so that only the last two holes of the grey part remain. I use a pair of scissors for the initial cut and then fingernail clippers to round off the edge of the edge a little. It works really well that way.
Thanks for this advice -I may have to do the same.. Just thought that it might be a good time to remind others who need to do this to only trim the PLAIN end ( not the end with the smaller Mickey Head.I always trim my bands down so that only the last two holes of the grey part remain. I use a pair of scissors for the initial cut and then fingernail clippers to round off the edge of the edge a little. It works really well that way.
as I am sure I will still be decorating until the wee hours and might be so tired that I cut the wrong end and end up w/ no prongs to attach itself to !!! ( Probably why the designers put the Small Mickey there !!! )
I am in the process of doing our MBS and since this was our first time decorating we tried putting just the stickers on DD's band first and then tried to coat with base coat. The stickers almost immediately started to pop off the bands where it bends so attempted to put more base on top and edges. Now that I'VE read through this thread almost 90% of the pages I realize I should have base coated all our bands with clear base first ( and yes I used the combo Sally Hansen Base /Top combined which someone mentioned did not work as well as another strictly base coat ) Thankfully I found a new base coat today and have more stickers and also tattoos now so may need to re-do hers in parts which could work since just original pink band and no polish . DH'S has many many coats of dark blue polish which was gloppy halfway into painting and tried to remove some and start over but had layered it too thick by then so making other adjustments to design. Both DS1 and DS2 bands used black sharpie on theirs and I read that we shouldn't use the base coat to seal bc it will smear sharpie ink so hoping to use my Acrylic Spray or the Dura Coat Varnish. On mine I have used self adhesive rhinestones on Base +white polish + base again ,and so far so good but will post pics when all done.
Great job !!!!! Thanks for the list of polishes -especially the Glow in the dark one
Sally Hansen Diamond Strength clear for a base coat on all
(Tigger)
Dark Orange Stripes with China Glaze Riviting*. Glow in the dark tiger stripes with Ghoulish Glow by OPI* . Covered with China Glaze Black Leather*. Sealed with Sally Hansen Diamond Strength clear.
(RACING STRIPES)
I love Nail Art Stylo white for racing stripe, mickey.
It took several coats and the art stylo white cracked. I had to re-cover with French Manicure white nail polish by *Orly.
Multiple coats (3-4) of Ghoulish Glow by OPI* (this makes them black light reactive and glow in the dark).
If you don't put a lot of thin coats of the glow it will not react brightly - Frozen one reacts to black-light but some features are very faint in a dark room.
Top coat on Racing theme was Sally Hansen Diamond Strength #120 Diamonds on the white and Pure Ice "in the mood" for blue
Used a ultra fine sharpie to put checkered flag detail and mickey outline on racing band (I read that the sharpies smudge/run if you put top coat over them so I did this step last).
(Frozen)
I love Nail Art Stylo silver for swirls & dots
Nubar Nail Art silver glitter accent on the swirls.
I put hidden dots and swirls on the "frozen" theme band and made the entire racing stripe glow.
Top coat on Frozen was Sally Hansen Diamond Strength #120 Diamonds
(Tinkerbell)
I love Nail Art Stylo white for swirls & dots (sliver stylo for accents around Mickey)
Ghoulish Glow by OPI* for swirls mickey & hidden mickey
Top coat on Tinkerbell was Sally Hansen Diamond Strength #120 Diamonds
Seriously ??? Hoping this is based on a few isolated opinions by Disney management ( hoping to drive more business to their own "Disney licensed bling") and not any real issues with band performance with the scanners. After 168 plus pages here ( not to mention Pinterest and all of the Internet they should have figured out that custom decorating the bands is actually Making Them more Money - PEOPLE ARE BUYING ADDITIONAL BANDS Just to have more to CUSTOMIZE ! - ( Having worked in Marketing field this is where we would say to Disney "Hello Mc Fly ???" )Excellent job! These are awesome!
Just wanted to share that disney doesn't want us decorating our bands according to the person I just spoke to about our bands still not being shipped. I thought you all may want to be enlightened after this 168 page thread and the countless compliments we receive when wearing them at the parks. I was tempted to say, lady you got jokes!
I know, I know lol the look on my face when she said that. The entire phone call was just bizarre, she was nice but just......well, it was just not magical. I think we have it figured out by now what not to use that would cover up the rfid chip so much that it won't scan. I figured I wouldn't mention that there are some great "imagineers" here on dis boards and etsy even that are giving disney a run for their money with the boring plain bands and baubles they are selling.
I found some really pretty purple metallic acrylic paint and a black metallic for dh at Walmart. Couldn't find the glow in the dark clear paint someone posted previously. They only had the neon glow paints. Maybe I can get dh to run by hobby lobby and I will check there. They have a much bigger selection of paints. Excited to start painting these! As soon as we get them done I will post pics. Still haven't received our new bands, so If we do happen to receive them(which I'm doubtful of at this point lol) we end up with 2 painted sets.
Just wanted to share that disney doesn't want us decorating our bands according to the person I just spoke to about our bands still not being shipped. I thought you all may want to be enlightened after this 168 page thread and the countless compliments we receive when wearing them at the parks. I was tempted to say, lady you got jokes!
What a funny lady!!! I believe she meant to say that "disney" doesn't want us decorating our bands unless we are decorating with the things they sell us in their stores and online from their stores to decorate with. 
One statement from one CM no matter how informed they seem does not a blanket fact make. There are many many many CMs who have been known through the years to give out wrong info as fact. Especially from the call center. I wouldn't worry.
So true! Lol I've never had to call once for the other trips I've made, after the several phone calls I've had to make for this trip I was very surprised at the information I was given which seemed to change/progress each time I called. I work with a group who takes travel industry related calls so I should know as well as anyone that getting everyone on the same page for a consistent and correct answer is next to impossible. I have seen others mention this before here on the boards just haven't experienced it myself.
after doing all this work! They still show up active on our account so crossing my fingers all is good. Getting close to single digit countdown for us!!! 
Super late to this party! Spent my afternoon reading through this thread and cannot wait to customize our bands (which shipped yesterday)! So many great ideas and techniques. 
