Hands & Nails

To keep your hands looking good, your nails need to be clean and well-cared for.  But sometimes theirs just not enough time or money to go to the salon and get them professionally done.  So what’s a girl to do?  Learn how to do a home manicure, of course.     

Here’s what you’ll need:

• non-acetone
• nail file
• bowl of warm water with antibacterial soap
• orange stick or cuticle pusher
• cotton balls
• hand lotion
• base coat
• nail polish
• top coat

1.  Remove Old Nail Polish

With a cotton ball, apply nail polish remover to nails and wipe clean.  Non-acetone remover is always recommended over one with acetone because it does not strip your nails of vital oils.

2.  Shape Nails

Use an emery board to file  your nails into shape.  Always file your nails going from one edge to the middle of your nail.  Use long, single strokes.  Don’t use a saw motion when filing your nails!   

3.  Soak Hands

Put your hands in a small bowl of warm water mixed with a little bit of antibacterial soap or moisturizing soak.  Let your hands sit in the solution for a few minutes.  Dry your hands completely and with an orange stick clean any dirt underneath your nails. 

4. Treat & Remove Cuticles

Apply cuticle oil to the skin around your nails. 

Use  the end of a wooden pusher wrapped in cotton or a metal pusher to gently push back the cuticles.  Then using circular motions, gently scrape cuticle tissue from your natural nail plate.

5. Apply Hand Lotion

Wash your hands to remove any loose dead skin from your nails.  Dry hands thoroughly.  Apply a nourishing hand lotion and with your thumb massage it into your hand and fingers.  This step will improve the circulation in your hands. 

Before you apply any polish to your nails, take an orange stick wrap the end in cotton and dip it in a little bit of polish remover.  Now go over each one of your nails and remove any grease left on your nails from the hand lotion. 

6.  Apply Base Coat  

Apply a base coat before you apply nail color.  Base coat is an important step because not only does it make your nail color last longer but it prevents your nail plate from staining.

7.  Apply Color

Apply two coats of a nail polish color that matches or complements your makeup or outfit.  Allow the first coat to dry before you apply a second coat of color. 

If you get any of the nail polish on your finger tips or the sides of your nails, use a cotton ball to wrap the end of an orange stick.  Now dampen it with nail polish remover and carefully wipe  away any polish blobs.  

7.  Apply Top Coat

Seal and protect your polish from peeling and chipping by applying a top coat. 

Now let your newly painted nails dry…duh!

Tagged as: Basic Nail Polish Application, Beauty Tips, Hands & Nails, Home Manicure, Manicure, Manicure & Pedicure, Nails

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