Do-It-Yourself Manicures at Home
The advantages of giving yourself a manicure at home include saving
money — up to $20 or more depending on the salon — and saving time
because you don’t have to wait your turn or make an appointment. And, of
course, the most important reason: A good manicure keeps your hands
soft, smooth, and well-groomed.
10 Steps to a Master Manicure
1. Start with clean nails. Carefully remove all
traces of existing nail polish with cotton balls or pads and nail polish
remover. A non-acetone remover is gentle on your nails, but can take a little longer to work, according to Helga Surat, President of About Faces Day Spa & Salon in Tow son, Md.
2. Shape your nails with a file. Make sure your nails
are dry; then use a fine-surfaced file to shape each nail. .There are
three basic nail shapes: square, round, and oval. Oval nails looks best
on most people, but for those who do a lot of work with their hands,
keeping the nails short and square will help avoid breakage. File your
nails from the corner to the center, first left to right and then from
right to left. File in one direction only, not in a back-and-forth
sawing motion
3. Treat hands to a soothing soak. Soak your hands
for 5 to 10 minutes in a bowl of warm, soapy water to soften dry skin
and rough cuticles. After soaking, dry your hands, apply a hand cream,
and put on cotton manicure gloves. Leave them on for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Dry hands thoroughly. Use a clean washcloth to pat the hands dry. Lightly rub the cuticle of each finger with the edge of the towel.
5. Treat cuticles with tenderness. Gently
push back the cuticle of each nail with an orange wood stick. “Never cut
your cuticles, as this can lead to infection, inflammation, and pain,”
says Surat. “That is the number one manicure mistake that even
professionals make.”
6. Clean under the nails. Use the pointy end of the orange wood stick to remove dirt and oil.
7. Lather on lotion. Next, apply a hand lotion and massage it into your skin. Surat suggests a moisturizer
with reactants, which attract moisture to your skin and help lock it
in — look for that word on product labels when you shop for your home
manicure beauty aids.
8. Prep nails for polish. “Next, thoroughly wash
nails so that no oil remains to interfere with nail polish adhering to
nails,” says Pam Messy of Mary Kay Cosmetics. Pat your hands dry. This
is the key secret to a longer-lasting manicure.
9. Remove every trace of oil. As a second
cleansing step, Messy suggests that before polishing your nails, you
clean them with an orange stick that has been wrapped and dipped in nail
polish remover. “Rub it over the surface of each nail to ensure you
have removed all oil from your nails,” she explains.
10. Try the 3-stroke polish plan. Polish each nail
in three strokes, one stroke down the center and the other two strokes
on each side of the nail. Let the first coat dry for three to five
minutes, depending on the thickness of the polish, then apply a second
coat. Finally, finish your manicure by applying a clear topcoat to make
your nail polish last longer.
Treat yourself to a manicure weekly to keep your hands looking beautiful, healthier, and younger.