2020 has been a rollercoaster ride; and though we never expected it, some of our favorite “self-care” services have been put on pause. Amongst many businesses, nail salons have been closed for months and even though you may miss your favorite nail tech it's not as easy going out to get your nails done these days. Whether you are avoiding the nail salon for health reasons, or due to financial hardships, you may want to tend to your nails at home instead. That’s why we’re going to go over what you need to get the perfect at home manicure.
Get Your Essentials
Before we go over the step by step process of doing your manicure you are going to need to get some tools. You’ll need the following items on hand:
- Emery Board or Crystal Nail File
- Nail Buffer
- Nail Clipper
- Nail Polish Remover
- Nail Polish (this includes the polish, base coat and top coat)
- Cotton Swabs
- Cuticle Pusher
- Cuticle Oil or Gentle Face Wash or Shampoo
Once you have your tools, clear off a space for you to work. You may want to lay a paper towel or an old towel down on the surface of your space so you don’t damage your furniture.
Let’s Get Started
Step 1: Prep Your Nails
Clean your nails by removing any old polish off them. Trim them down to the desired length you want. Then you can start filing your nails to the preferred shape of your choice. Do you like square nails? Round nails? Coffin or stiletto shaped? There are so many choices! Once you decide on your shape start filing your nails. To avoid nail damage it is best if you file in one direction.
Step 2: Smooth Your Nails Out
Once you filed your nails you are going to want to smooth and buff out any remaining nail imperfections. Go over the edges and over the tops of your nails with your buffer. Buffing your nails will also help your nail polish last longer.
Step 3: Cuticle Care (it’s ok to skip this step if you want)
When you go to a salon they usually cut your cuticles, but since this area is so sensitive and one wrong clip here can cause a nail infection, we’re just going to push back the cuticles today. Use cuticle oil and massage it into your cuticles. If you don’t have a cuticle oil then soak your nails for 2 to 3 minutes in warm water mixed with a small amount of face wash or shampoo. This will soften and hydrate your cuticles. Now gently push the cuticle back away from the nail. This would also be a good time to remove any hang nails with your clippers.
Step 4: Polish Time
Before applying your polish gently wash and dry your hands to remove any excess oil or nail debris. Now you can start by applying your base coat to your nails. Your base coat prevents nail staining and it will help your manicure last longer. Once the base is dry you can apply your nail color. You will most likely need to apply two coats to get the desired color you want. After your nail polish has dried it’s now time to follow up with a top coat. The top coat will also help your manicure last longer and give your nails a nice shine.
Step 5: Moisturize Your Hands
Once your polish has fully dried it’s time to pick out your favorite moisturizer and massage it in your hands. Applying moisturizer regularly will help with keeping the skin on your hands soft, healthy and hydrated and it will prevent your cuticles from drying out as well.
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