Beautiful manicures look and feel elegant, but they can be quite expensive over the course of a year. For a DIY manicure at home, you’ll need our essential steps for saving time and money. It is best to reserve 1-2 hours for this self-care ritual so you can relax without feeling rushed.
Getting the Perfect Manicure at Home
(1) Gathering essential tools is the first step. Ensure that you always have the following items assembled and ready in a tote.
- Nail-polish remover and cotton swabs or pads
- Callous/cuticle remover
(2) The second step is to remove any nail polish that has already been applied. Is it better to use acetone or not?
(3) It’s important to remember the following when choosing nail polish remover: Non-acetone nail polish removers are gentler than those containing acetone, but the acetone-based remover works faster and is in contact with the skin for a shorter period of time than the non-acetone-based remover. The trade-off is that even non-acetone-based polish removers aren’t kind to the skin.
The third step is to shape the nails. If necessary, clip your nails and gently file them. You can be as creative as you like, but generally, a slightly rounded nail shape or square-rounded edge is best.
To minimize splintering, do not use metal or extremely coarse nail files. Instead, use emery boards or crystal files that are gently abrasive. Make sure the nails are smooth on top and sides with a slightly abrasive buffer but don’t buff too smooth because the polish won’t adhere well and can literally come off.
(4) The final step is to soak. Relaxation … ahh. Make sure you put your hands in a bowl of warm (not too hot) water and add your gentle face cleanser to the water. Before trimming the cuticle, soak it for three minutes or less to avoid damaging the skin or nails.
(5) The fifth step involves applying callous/cuticle remover. Applying a bit of cuticle remover will help to remove the thickened skin around the nail! Our favourite product of all time is Be Natural Cuticle Eliminator. It’s powerful stuff, so don’t let it sit on the cuticle area for too long.
(6) After you have removed the excess cuticle and callus around the nail, you should proceed to step 6. Gently push the cuticle back away from the nail using your cuticle pusher, but do not push it too far because it can damage nail growth or fray the cuticle.
It is extremely important not to pull, lift, tear, rip, force, or cut into the cuticle in any way. Using metal cuticle nippers, snip off the free edge of the cuticle, not into it. Because the cuticle helps protect the nail bed from all sorts of problems, it’s better to underdo this step than to overdo it. Now’s also the time to also remove hangnails around the sides of the nail, but again, be careful not to cut into the nail itself or to cut into the skin too deeply.
(7) The seventh step is to moisturize. To hydrate and replenish the skin on the hands, massage rich body butter, moisturizing body balm, or silky, fragrance-free oil into the cuticles.
(8) In step 8, you prepare your surface for polishing. Leaving moisturizing ingredients on the nail will prevent the polish from adhering properly. Apply nail polish remover to the nail’s surface using a cotton swab or pad. Although you should avoid getting remover on your cuticle because you want to keep that area moisturized, don’t worry if you do because you will apply moisturizer again after the polish has dried. The most important part of this step is to make sure there is nothing oily or emollient on the nail.
(9) Painting nails in layers is the ninth step. You can strengthen weak or brittle nails by applying ridge-filling nail polish as a base coat. It also prevents nails from staining (especially if you like red nail polish) and chipping. Let each layer of color polish dry completely between coats before applying the next one. Adding a gloss topcoat after the first two coats of color polish should be sufficient.
Use a lighter shade of polish if you’re new to painting nails; any mistakes will be less noticeable.
Every other day, use a single coat of top coat to touch up your manicure. Keep up that “from the salon” look and durability by doing this. Now all you have to do is check for and fix any errors-and you’re almost done! Nails take time to fully dry, so be patient. It helps to use a fan, but do not use heat (like from your blow dryer) to prevent the polish from chipping and peeling. Don’t put your nails too close to the airflow of the fan, either, or you’ll end up with bubbles.
(10) The next step is to reapply your moisturizer! Keep your hands and nails healthy-looking with moisturizer. This essential product is essential to having great hands and nails.
With the right tools and the right techniques, you can definitely give yourself a beautiful manicure. For special occasions or to pamper yourself, getting a professional manicure is fine, but knowing how to do it yourself can save you a lot of time and money!
(Credits: Pexels)
